The Richmond Outreach Center: Spirituality in Prison is Essential to Reducing Crime

NEW YORK, NY, August 21, 2012 (Press-News.org) For many Americans, prison is a place where criminals go to serve time for whatever offenses they committed; it is a place to reflect and learn from their mistakes. However, with many budgets being cut, very few prisoners are offered the opportunity to grow from their experience through rehabilitation programs. However, according to a recent article from The Californian, one religious organization, Urban Ministry Institute has recently collected $2M in donations to expand its Christian Leadership Studies programs for prisoners. The Richmond Outreach Center, located in Virginia, commends this generous act and offers several prison outreach ministries of its own to curb crime and spread the Word of God.

According to the article, businessman Wayne Hughes and his wife, Wendy, have provided the $2M to extend the Urban Ministry Institute and its prison outreach programs. Hughes comments on his motivation, "Wendy and I are stepping up to the plate to expand a program that will make a huge difference in our prisons and, ultimately, in our cities." The mission of the Urban Ministry Institute is to prepare inmates to become Christian leaders after their release through nine-week courses run by trained Prison Fellowship volunteers. Although the new funding has given room for expansion, the program has already enrolled 256 participants in numerous Californian prisons.

The Richmond Outreach Center has provided inmates with very similar spiritual support system to those in the Virginia area. In addition to its ministries that perform visitation services, church members also provide religious counseling and education to those in juvenile detention centers in order to correct criminal behavior patterns early on. Pastor Geronimo Aguilar of The Richmond Outreach Center notes that this approach is successful, because it gives an often-ignored population a sense of hope.

Aguilar explains, "For many in prison, their stay is nothing but 'three hots and a cot'; no rehabilitation takes place and most approaches are unsuccessful. People don't care how much you know until they know how supportive you are and that is how our visitation ministries grow. Our prison ministries are designed specifically for leaders--who were previously incarcerated and have overcome many obstacles to become productive, successful citizens--to mentor and relate to the individuals incarcerated. The response is mind-blowing--inmates respond well to our outreach efforts because they know we care."

ABOUT:

Founded in 2001, The Richmond Outreach Center has provided many Christian-based services to improve the community through health, education and spirituality. The organization has been credited for reducing crime in the Richmond area, as well as helping many needy families and homeless individuals who suffer from drug addiction, hunger and poor health. The Richmond Outreach Center strives to improve the lives of these people through genuine encouragement and passing on the values associated with the Christian faith.

For more information about the Richmond Outreach Center, visit www.theroc.com.