One Parish One Prisoner
With One Parish One Prisoner
we seek to equip parishes, faith communities small or large, traditional or rag-tag- in every American town to build supportive pre-release relationships with just one person returning to their community from prison.
They build release plans together, “roll away the stones” of reentry barriers together, and discover that we belong to one another. We believe this could empty the prison system over time. And transform each community.”
The whole model of OPOP is built on the story of Lazarus. Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb but he doesn’t do all the work himself. He turns to the community and says: You roll away the stone. You bind him. The miracle needed neighbors. Coming back to life was a project.
People aren’t released from prison with everything they need for a new life handed to them. In many many areas of life they will need to start over- often even in their closest relationships. And every where they go their prison record goes with them and often blocks the path to thriving.
Our OPOP team here at LFPPC is walking with one woman, Rachel, who comes home this September. They are in a turbo friendship- writing letters, building a release plan, becoming her people before she even walks through the gate. They don’t have years to let friendship grow slowly, just a few months to make sure that when she steps out, somebody is standing there.
There are stones in front of Rachel’s new life- housing, ID, stigma, positive relationships- and our job as a congregation is to start rolling. You will hear a lot about Racheal this summer and in the fall you will get t o meet her. She is becoming a apart of our community. Stay tuned in for more to come.