So in my community I learned some news and I just have to write about it. In Bay Minette the Chief of police decided to do this program that people can decide if they were rather go to church than jail. This is coped from a local news channel.
(BAY MINETTE, Ala.) – A Baldwin County city is turning to churches instead as an option to keep criminals out of jail.
“It’s not a crime prevention program,’ Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland said, “It’s a crime intervention program.”
Pastor Bruce Hooks says he’s ready to give it a try.
“Oh, yeah! I’m excited, man. I’m eager, anticipating!”
The chief and the pastor are talking about a new initiative that, with the help of a judge, would allow some first time offenders to wind up in church rather than jail.
Fifty-six churches have agreed to take part in Operation ROC: Restore Our Community.
“What we wanted to do is target that group of people who most likely would have a chance to be more productive in our community,” Rowland said.
Judges who currently sentence offenders to jail time or community service would have another option to offer qualifying first time, non-violent offenders. Instead of going to jail for a year, that offender could choose to avoid a cell entirely and go to Sunday church services for a year.
“We’re hoping that,” Rowland explained, “through this program for the next year, we will take a substantial number who are sentenced and turn them around and let them become productive people in the community.”
It’s a partnership where pastors would monitor attendance and offenders would have to check in . If it works, the department and local clergy believe the idea could save money and restore lives.
“We want to teach them that they’re valuable,” Hooks said, “that God has a plan, God has a purpose. That they can be successful, that they possibly can become the person that God wants them to become.”
http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/New-Sentencing-Option-Church-Instead-of-Jail/0RzNQPUXB0-OqADCfXW3LA.cspx
I am just not sure how to look at this program. As a religion major and someone wanting to go into ministry I can understand the thinking behind the program. There are people who are in church and regularly attend that are hurting. So I just cannot see how making someone that is a non violent offender to go to church for a year is going to change them. These people need more structure than just a required attendance. I helped out a friend in Montgomery with a program called Celebrate Recovery. Which is kind of the same principle but with structure.
In case you are wonder about Celebrate Recovery. What is Celebrate Recovery?
Our society is becoming more and more complex. Kids now have three sets of grandparents. Sexual addiction for men and women is growing at an exponential rate. Divorce is at an all time high — for Christians.
This is our reality. 20 years ago, Saddleback Church launched Celebrate Recovery with 43 people. It was designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process. Celebrate Recovery has helped more than 17000 people at Saddleback, attracting over 70% of its members from outside the church. Eighty-five percent of the people who go through the program stay with the church and nearly half serve as church volunteers. Celebrate Recovery is now in over 19,000 churches worldwide!
In Celebrate Recovery groups across Australia and the world only one in three who participate in Celebrate Recovery are there for drugs and alcohol.
So why are they there? They want to celebrate their recovery from any kind of addictions — overeating, stress, worrying, sex, obsessive compulsiveness, anger, depression and a multitude of life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups.
Be a part of this proven program that takes a Biblical approach to overcoming addiction.
The Celebrate Recovery program involves 8 principles from the beatitudes of the New Testament, and 12 biblical steps of recovery.
This program is distinctly Christian, uncompromisingly biblical, and proven to work within the church. It has clearly brought people together to discover a new level of care, acceptance, trust and grace.
And, for those who seek to mature spiritually, making better decisions that will help them become Christ-like in character.
“Welcome to the ‘Road to Recovery.’ You are in for an exciting and amazing journey as you take the hand of the true and only Higher Power, Jesus Christ, and walk with Him toward healing and serenity.” — Pastor John Baker founder of Celebrate Recovery
http://www.celebraterecovery.com.au/
I am not sure how Paul when even deal with a situation like this. However, I am sure that Paul and others from the Bible would require more of people than just attending church for a year.
I just feel like if my community feels this strong about a program then maybe they should look at Celebrate Recovery since this is a program that has proven results. I would really like to see other comments on this and other people’s views on this matter.
amymariehall 