{"id":38990,"date":"2021-02-23T10:06:59","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T16:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/?p=38990"},"modified":"2021-02-23T10:12:22","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T16:12:22","slug":"freedom-on-the-inside-hlgu-ministry-in-state-prison-thrives-transforms-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/2021\/02\/23\/freedom-on-the-inside-hlgu-ministry-in-state-prison-thrives-transforms-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom on the Inside: HLGU ministry in state prison thrives, transforms lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

JEFFERSON CITY \u2013 <\/b>Imagine a typical university class of eager ministerial students, then imagine the same in a maximum security prison. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rodrick Sweet doesn\u2019t have to imagine: He knows both classrooms and sees little difference. His class at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC), he says, is all men and they\u2019re all in uniform. Other than that, teaching in the prison setting for him isn\u2019t so different than other college and university classrooms where he\u2019s taught.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Rodrick Sweet, director of Freedom on the Inside<\/p><\/div>\n

Sweet\u2019s full-time class now is at JCCC where he heads the Freedom On the Inside prison ministry for Hannibal LaGrange University (HLGU). <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really and truly just like being in a (non-prison) classroom. Students are students are students.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet feels safe teaching in a maximum security setting and says the challenges are often the same. For example, students still arrive at class tired after staying up late studying or watching a special event. Class engagement can be the same, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe get the challenging questions we\u2019d get in general classrooms at HLGU\u2019s campus. We get well thought-out questions. We get eye-rolls when someone doesn\u2019t like the answer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The similarities, he says, are because offenders at JCCC \u201cwere already engaging in religious practices and seeking to better themselves. We came along and offered them the opportunity to learn the Bible academically.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Each weekday he\u2019s at JCCC, helping 18 inmates of the class of 2024 toward their Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies degree\u2014an accredited, four-year program.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program\u2019s purpose, Sweet says, \u201cis to educate offenders with the skills of Bible, doctrine, theology, and preaching so that they will be able to turn around and be field ministers, or inmate missionaries.\u201d Upon program completion inmates will continue to minister to others while incarcerated.<\/span><\/p>\n

The degree program is the same HLGU teaches on its Hannibal campus. Up to 20 students at JCCC take five classes per semester, and Sweet is helped by two teaching instructors. Classes this semester include English, world history, hermeneutics (Bible interpretation), Old Testament history and spiritual discipleship. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet says there is interest from offenders outside JCCC who want to transfer to the institution for studies. Soon, program and correctional administrators will begin vetting offenders for the fall class of 20. <\/span><\/p>\n

The program began last August and has had an immediate positive effect on the prison population, Sweet says. People at the institution are noticing changes in the students. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Holy Spirit is at work.\u201d Correctional officers \u201care saying they see noticeable change in the students, and how the students interact with other offenders.\u201d Sweet says students now care about how they\u2019re communicating their faith walk to other inmates, correctional officers, and the facility administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had several of our students launch their first church (in the prison).\u201d He says, \u201cit\u2019s just a matter of time\u201d before professions of faith happen because \u201csome students are starting to ask important questions.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, isn\u2019t it, that when we introduce the light of Christ into entities and organizations good things happen,\u201d says Dr. Ray Carty, HLGU Vice-President of Institutional Advancement. Carty is in charge of finding financial support for the self-funded program.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) invited HLGU into the prison after evaluating the success of similar programs elsewhere. MODOC provides office, library and classroom space to HLGU.\u00a0 <\/span>It also accommodates students\u2019 schedules for class and study time. <\/span><\/p>\n

Freedom On the Inside is self-funded for several reasons. Federal and state laws make inmates ineligible for educational financial aid. Most offenders have limited monetary resources, Carty says. \u201cSomeone needs to help them\u2026if we\u2019re going to do the program.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Freedom On the Inside covers the full cost of student tuition, textbooks, and computers. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted this to be a separate ministry,\u201d Carty says, so funds from HLGU\u2019s tuition-paying students were applied to their education. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need other people to come alongside the program who see the benefit of introducing the light of Christ\u2026into one of the darkest areas of our society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The program costs about $175,000 a year. First year funds contributed by the MBC and other sources were mostly one-year contributions. Individuals, churches, or organizations interested in financially aiding the program can contact Carty at HLGU.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program also needs library materials, adjunct instructors, and inmate pen pals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A theological library has been started to support the program, and HLGU needs more texts. Theological book donations can be sent to the HLGU library and marked for Freedom On the Inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional qualified college instructors are desired for general education, Bible, and theology classes. A master\u2019s degree is a requirement. Interested educators can contact Sweet through HLGU. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPen pals\u201d to write students with encouragement or mentor them would be helpful because students, Carty says, \u201care at different levels of Christian maturity. They need some encouragement.\u201d Interested persons can contact Sweet for more information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt truly is a ministry,\u201d Carty says. \u201cGod tells us in Scripture not to forget the people in prison. We\u2019re about that because (offenders) can be an influence.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Carty can be contacted at rcarty@hlg.edu and Sweet can be contacted at Rodrick.sweet@hlg.edu. Carty says he and Sweet are are available to organizations interested in hearing more about Freedom On the Inside.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The program\u2019s purpose, Director Rodrick Sweet says, \u201cis to educate offenders with the skills of Bible, doctrine, theology, and preaching so that they will be able to turn around and be field ministers, or inmate missionaries.\u201d Upon program completion inmates will continue to minister to others while incarcerated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":38991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[177,40,45,8,47,48,15,17,21,293],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nFreedom on the Inside: HLGU ministry in state prison thrives, transforms lives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The program\u2019s purpose, Director 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