How to be a Prison Volunteer!
Presents: A Luncheon Workshop
Saturday July 12, 2025
11:00am – 1:00pm CST
Ever wondered how to be effective with prison chaplains, prisoners, and children of prisoners? There are multiple opportunities that take little time but a commitment pays dividends! Programs both inside and outside prison walls exist and need YOU to be a volunteer! This three part presentation with a Q&A will give you inspiration to be THE ONE PACE! The One Person who can change a persons Adverse Childhood Experience into an A-HA moment! From Kairos, a program designed like Cursillo, which is made for prisoners, to New Hope, a children’s Camp and After School program (featured on Good Morning, America!) to Girl Scouts, teaching, sending note cards, and helping with Transitional Housing (like Magdalene Houses) there are so many ways to become a beacon of hope for those with little or no hope!
Matthew 25:36 states “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Workshop Presenter – The Rev. Linda Paul, O. C.
Linda is currently writing a book “The Social Implications of Incarceration.” She began speaking on this topic at Rotary and Church meetings three years ago. Zoom presentations or traveling upon request.
ECW Diocesan Board Member, Chaplain
Trinity- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, Instructor
Nat’l Speaker “Social Implications of Incarceration”
Deacon- Retired Diocese of Oklahoma
Volunteer opportunities in all States!
- Kairos – Intensive weekend for inmates similar to Cursillo or A Walk to Emmaus kairosprisonministry.org
- Girl Scouts Beyond Bars – programs both inside and outside to help mothers reunite with their daughters and learn good parenting skills. gseok.org
- Approved Short Courses that shorten time:
- Anger Management, Unlock Your Thinking, Safe Sexual Practices, Building Social Networks, Better Communications, Teaching background not required but helpful. (Texas Institute of Behavioral Research TCU)
- Postcard, Christmas Card, Pen Pal programs – Usually must be preapproved by the Warden and Chaplain(s).
- AA or CR – Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery meetings need leaders.
- Play Day – volunteer to be present to help moms and their children for one day during spring break.
- Message Project – Video moms reading books to be sent to their children, along with the book. themessagesproject.org
- Poetic Justice – Arts and creative writing instruction – printing of newsletters. Can have scholarship opportunities. poeticjustice.org
- Church Sponsored Picnic for families! Grill hotdogs and hamburgers outside, bring inside with tables for trimmings, salads and DESSERT! Play games, karaoke. (great idea for Youth Group or Scout Troup for Community Service time!)
- New Hope – Originally a Deacon led program to provide Summer led programming for child of incarcerated parents, this was featured on ABC Good Moring, America, several years ago for its work with children newhopeoklahoma.org
- Church Services – both Lay and Clergy as well as Bible Study
- Choirs, plays, performances – talk with the Chaplain to be approved. Paperwork will include a background check.
Diversion and Housing
- Diversion Programs – Drug Court, Post Release, transitional programs for women, Helping Women Recovery by gkff.org
- Exodus Homes cjamm.org/exodushouse
- Oxford House oxfordhouse.org private church programs.
- Magdalene House By The Rev. Becca Stevens, and Episcopal priest and the current chaplain of Saint Augustine’s Chapel at Vanderbilt University. Through their work they have established 60 Sister Houses in 50 States, transitionalhousing.com/Magdalene-house and Thistle Farms for International! thistlefarms.org