Jail and Prison Ministry Conference Is Next Week
Last-minute reservations are being processed for the upcoming Jail and Prison Ministry Conference, slated for next weekend, October 24-25, 2013. The event is sponsored by Church of God USA Missions.
The two night and one day conference costs $59 for an individual, with discounts for married couples and groups from the same local church. Registration is online and with Pay Pal at www.usamissions.com.
“This biennial conference is designed for pastors, local church jail and prison ministers, volunteers, and chaplains,” stated James E. Cossey, Administrative Coordinator of USA Missions . “Conference objectives are to inspire and edify these ministry specialists and to give them opportunities for fellowship and interaction.”
According to Cossey, statistics show that on any given day in America, no less than two million people are incarcerated in local, county, state, or federal facilities. Cult religions, and the Muslim faith in particular, have targeted this population as a primary focus for proselytization, and have experienced considerable success. The jail and prison population constitutes one of the ripest fields for USA evangelism.
Keynote speakers for the conference will be Pastor Ronnie Hepperly, from Maryville, Tennessee, and Minister Kier Jackson, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hepperly operates an extensive international prison ministry from the base of his multi-campus congregation (Restoration International Church of God), and Jackson is a staff minister for two Pennsylvania Church of God congregations. By his own confession, Hepperly is burdened for this ministry because of bad choices he made as a young man that landed him on the wrong side of the law. Jackson was converted to Christ during the fifth year of a nine-year sentence for armed robbery. Both have powerful stories to tell. A banquet at noon on Friday will feature entertainment, good food, fellowship, and the testimonies of people who have been transformed through jail and prison ministries. Workshops will be conducted during the day on Friday by individuals who are skilled and experienced in this ministry.
For more information call 423.478.7103 or log on to www.usamissions.com.
