What is the Chaplaincy Program?
The Madison County Sheriff's Chaplaincy Program communicates and shares the saving power, hope and love of Christ to the imprisoned, victims, sheriff's department employees and their families.
Why do we need the Chaplaincy Program?
Inmates are searching for answers
When the steel doors of the Madison County Detention Center lock behind them, many new detainees are forced to face failure-wrong choices, bad friends, and a lifestyle which has distanced them from God. Questions like "How did I wind up here?" "What can I do to get my life back on track?" "Is there a better way?" are common. For some the search is fleeting. For others the quest runs deep. Will these persons find what is missing in their lives? Can they begin again and face their problems?
If a new way of life is to take hold, seeds of faith must be planted and nurtured. With your help, the Sheriff's Chaplaincy Program will be there to introduce them to the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ and to disciple them in a different lifestyle, a God-centered lifestyle.
The Chaplaincy Program Fights Crime
Conveying the love of God and transforming lives are the ultimate goals of the Chaplaincy Program. Yet, the Chaplaincy Program is also an effective crime fighter. Crime should concern all of us. More and more persons are victims of violent assults and property offenses. Cell doors all too often are revolving doors. We all pay the price-building more prisons, neglected children and broken families, higher welfare costs, and a feeling of insecurity. But the cycle of crime can be stopped. The Chaplaincy Program helps people replace the pain and disappointment of their lives with the hope and reconciliation of the Gospel. It presents the word of God and begins the difficult process of reordering lives.
The Chaplaincy Program ministers to the Sheriff's staff
The Chaplaincy Program ministers to law enforcement personnel as well as inmates. These men and women often put themselves in harm's way to make our community a safer and better place to live. They face stresses and risks every day-some like the ones common to all of us and others unique to their profession. The Chaplaincy Program seeks to meet officers and staff of the Madison County Sheriff's Department at their points of need. This may mean helping a member of the department cope with a death in the family, work through a personal or professional problem, or deal with his or her own spirituality.
What does the Chaplaincy Program do?
The Chaplaincy Programs's ministries include
- Worship services for men and women at the Detention Center and Madison county Youth Center
- Group and individual Bible study, worship services and other ministries and discipleship among inmates and volunteers through the "Go To Church Program"
- Church releases to permit certain inmates to attend Sunday services at local churches through the work release program
- Discipleship and support for inmates returning to the community after incarceration
- Youth Ministries: Chaplain at Madison Co. Youth Center, (Youth) Secure Detention Unit, Jail Tours, Youth, Groups, Straight talk about drugs, gangs, jail, and prison, etc.
- Support and encouragement to families of crime and accident victims
- Counseling, assistance and spiritual guidance to Madison County Sheriff's officers and staff
- "Ride Along Program" with officers
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News and updates
Bible Reading
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Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Matthew 25:36 (NIV)
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Romans 8:36-39 (KJV)
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Joshua 1:5-9 (KJV)
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Psalms 23:1-6 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Isaiah 53:4-9 (KJV)
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Psalms 91:1-7 (NLT)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.