USA Missions Announces Jail and Prison Ministry Conference
Church of God USA Missions, in the Division of World Evangelization, has announced the dates and primary speakers for their biennial Jail and Prison Ministry Conference, to be conducted October 24-25, 2013 in the chapel of the World Evangelization Center on the International Offices campus.
Dr. James E. Cossey, administrative coordinator of the division, stated the conference opens on Thursday night with the ministry of Bishop Ronnie Hepperly, senior pastor of Restoration International (RIO) Church, Maryville, Tennessee.
“Having experienced a less than ideal past, Pastor Hepperly understands the problems associated with drugs, alcohol, crime and sin which gives him the ability to help make positive changes in other people’s lives,” Cossey explained. Hepperly leads Prison Ministry International, an outreach of RIO Church that is dedicated to reaching the worst prisoners in the worst prisons with the sole purpose of forcefully advancing the kingdom of God. Pastor Hepperly is a member of the Church of God Jail and Prison Ministry Advisory Board, and a member of the Tennessee State Council.
On Friday morning, four workshops will be conducted with each workshop being repeated in the second hour so more delegates can hear each speaker. Workshops to be conducted are:
“Establishing and Maintaining a Prison Ministry,” facilitated by Mr. Danny Smith, Coordinator of Prison Ministry for the North Georgia Church of God State Office, who is also an elder in the Buford (GA) Church of God. Now retired after a 20-plus year career as a police officer, Smith was called to jail and prison ministry during his time in law enforcement and has now been engaged in this ministry for over 30 years.
“Wives, Mothers, and Daughters Behind Bars” is the title of Lorraine Morris’s workshop. Morris, a pastor’s wife and active minister, is engaged with her husband and church in halfway house ministries in Georgetown, Delaware.
“Ministering to the Formerly Incarcerated” will be the workshop facilitated by Bishop Marvin Morris, pastor of Booker Street Church of God in Georgetown, Delaware. One of the ambitious ministries of this local church is helping the formerly incarcerated adjust to reentry into society, lead them to Christ, and disciple them in the Church.
“The Muslim Challenge in America’s Prisons” is an urgent topic because of the aggressive evangelism being done in jails and prisons by those of the Islamic faith. Dr. Jerry McNabb, retired military chaplain and adjunct professor at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary will facilitate. Chaplain McNabb spent many years in Muslim nations and has done extensive studies of the Islamic religion, including interaction with Muslims. He is also president of Global Institute for Ministry and Training, which is dedicated to instructing Christian believers who want to know how to better relate to their Muslim neighbors.
Following a noon luncheon, delegates will have the afternoon free before coming back for the Friday night service, which features a message from Reverend Keir Jackson. Convicted at age 19, Jackson served nine years in prison on robbery charges, and came to faith in Christ during his fifth year of incarceration. He spent the rest of his time in prison seeking to reach other prisoners for Christ, and upon release, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, called to ministry, and became involved in his local church. He presently serves on staff at two local Church of God congregations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wherever a door opens, Brother Jackson shares the Word of God and testifies to God’s grace in his life.
Registration for the conference is $59 per person or $99 for a married couple. The cost includes the Friday noon luncheon. The luncheon speaker has not yet been determined.
More information can be obtained by calling USA Missions at 423.478.7103 or online at www.usamissions.com.
