USA Missions Announces 2017 Jail and Prison Ministry Conference
Cleveland, TN–Speakers have been finalized and the schedule has been developed for the 2017 Church of God National Jail and Prison Ministry Leaders and Pastors Conference to be conducted on Friday, October 6 on the campus of the Church of God International Offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.
This biennial conference is designed for church leaders, pastors, staff persons, evangelists and lay workers who do ministry, or aspire to do ministry in jails and prisons. The objective of the conference is to provide interaction among these individuals, and to provide inspiration and information. The incredibly low registration cost of $29 per person will include pastries and coffee at 8:30am and a light on-site lunch at noon.
Historically a two-night/one-day conference, the meeting this year is being packed into one full day of non-stop inspiration and information, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Leadership and Communications Center and concluding at 5:00 p.m. at the Bradley County Correctional Complex (County Jail).
Featured speaker in the 9:00 a.m. session and at the County Jail will be Evangelist Frankie Palermo from Bradenton, Fla. Frankie grew up in the Palermo Mafia family. He became deeply involved in the inner workings of the Mafia, which led him to a life of crime including forgery, counterfeiting, bookmaking, burglary, interstate stolen securities of stocks and bonds, hijacking, arson, extortion, and murder. Frankie was given a 65-year prison term of which he served 15 years at the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. He served 12 more years on parole. While in prison in 1971, Frankie gave his life to Jesus Christ and became a new man. Now the Lord uses Frankie and His wife Judy to proclaim God’s love at prisons, churches, and conferences across America.
“There are more people presently under correctional supervision in the United States than the combined populations of Chicago and Los Angeles,” said Dr. James E. Cossey, conference coordinator. Currently, almost seven million persons are either behind bars, restricted by some type of work release program, or are on probation. While challenges still exist, county jails and state and federal prisons provide some of the most fertile soil for planting the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
One feature of this year’s conference will be testimonies of Church of God ministers and laity who were converted to Christ while incarcerated who are now living productive lives and advancing the Kingdom of God.
Additional speakers, devotional leaders, and panel participants include Assistant General Overseer J. David Stephens; USA Missions Director Mitchell Maloney; Michael Maddox, of Harvest Time Juvenile Ministries in Florida; Chaplain Eugene Wigelsworth, director of religious programs for the Mississippi Department of Corrections; Danny Smith, North Georgia Church of God Jail and Prison Coordinator; Russell Coffey of Anchor Point Foundation; Cy Harris of North Cleveland Church of God, and others.
Cossey is Conference Coordinator and Special Projects Coordinator for MISSION NORTH AMERICA/USA MISSIONS. He, along with the Divisional Director, Dr. J. David Stephens, and USA Missions Director Mitch Maloney, encourages everyone to “save the date” and make plans to attend. For more information, call 423-478-7103. Online registration will be available starting July 21, 2017.
