Kentucky Jail Ministries

“Remember the prisoners, as though in (jail) with them, and those who are ill treated, since you yourselves are also in the body”(Hebrews 13:3, NASB).

HISTORY
On a Saturday morning in April of 2004 three men, Tom Kelly, Tom Ison, and Dave Sturm met to discuss ministry opportunities in the Kenton County Jail. Sitting together in the Frisch’s Restaurant on Dream Street in Florence, Kentucky they began to put into words the dream that was on their hearts for jail ministry. It was on this morning that Northern Kentucky Jail Ministries was born. As the men continued to minister in the jail and meet together, the dream expanded. They realized that the dream of Northern Kentucky Jail Ministries was too small. It needed to be state wide, and so the Kentucky Jail Ministries was formed.

Terry Carl, the Kenton County Jailer, asked Dave Sturm to develop a program for the jail that would teach the men basic skills for reentry into society once released. Tom, Tom, and Dave put their heads together and developed the study course called Life Skills 101. Life Skills 101soon became the focus of the ministry.

The Kentucky Jail Ministry, under the anointing of the Lord Jesus Christ, began to grow by leaps and bounds. Over the last four years it has spread into Boone, Grant, Franklin, Jessamine, Breckinridge, Pulaski, and McQuery counties, and more are coming every month to either inquire about the ministry or to become an active part. There are sixty-five ministers and volunteers involved. Life Skills 101, worship services, Bible Studies, personal contacts, benevolence ministry, and reentry assistance are all now part of the services of the Kentucky Jail Ministry.

Presently, the ministry has recorded over 4,000 professions of faith, with over 600 having been baptized. Over 1200 men and women have graduated from Life Skills 101, and the jails where the ministry has come, have been mightily impacted for the good.

Paul W. Patton, former Chairman of the Faith Based Initiatives for the state of Kentucky, has set his seal of approval on the ministry, along with every jailer who has utilized the ministry in their jails. God is truly at work in the jails in the state of Kentucky, and the men and women of Kentucky Jail Ministries desires to join with God in what He is doing.

Mission
The mission of Kentucky Jail Ministries is simple: we desire to reach every incarcerated person in the prisons and jails of the state of Kentucky with the good news message of Jesus Christ, so that in Him they might find forgiveness, hope, and a new life.

In 2005 Kelly White, the now former Deputy Commissioner of Community Services and Local Facilities, of the Department of Corrections shared with The leaders of The Kentucky Jail Ministries some astounding Criminal Justice Statistics:

• The U.S. Population is 5% of he world’s population, but has 25% of the world’s incarcerated population.

• There are some 2.5 million incarcerated in jails and prisons in the U.S. today, and it is predicted that this count will increase to over 3 million by 2010.

• It takes approximately $60 billion dollars a year to operate prisons and jails in the U.S., and an estimated $120 billion by 2010.

• Over 6000,000 offenders return to their communities a year from federal and state prisons, and between 10 and 11 million releases from some 3200+ jails in the U.S. per year.

• Without programs while incarcerated or after release, a male offender could commit between 90 and 190 crimes in a year in large metropolitan areas.

• Mr.White estimated that if 3 out of 100 inmates could be kept from returning through these programs, it could save the taxpayers $3 million dollars a year.
The goal of The Kentucky Jail Ministries is to decrease the state’s jail population by transitioning each inmate into a full, fruitful, and abundant life. This will be accomplished by the power of the Gospel to change the hearts of people, through an anointed process of education and pastoral care, and the cooperation and communication between the jail system and the ministry.
Over the years spanning 2005 to 2007 Kentucky Jail Ministries recorded 19,009 professions of faith, 2,583 were for salvation, and1106 were to rededicate their lives to Christ. We gave out 2,153 Bibles, had 2,923 to attend Life Skills 101, with 378 graduating from the course. He ministry continues to grow by leaps and bounds, having a mighty affect on the jails that play host to the ministry.

Questions Comments?

Contact: Gary Wilson
Phone: (859)322-0687
Email: Dr.GaryWilson@gmail.com
Office Address: 8160 Dream St. Suite C
Florence, KY, 41042
Office Phone: (859)817-1110

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