Just for Mentors: APRIL

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug illustrates the darkness and suffering that many of our students face in prison. He encourages us to be active in drowning out Satan’s darkness with the light of Christ. As mentors and students, we can do this by providing an encouraging word to others, by praying and partnering with the Spirit.

Just for Mentors: MARCH

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug challenges mentors to remind their students that they are not forgotten. While incarcerated, Paul remembered the church on the outside, and the church remember him too. This brought Paul much-needed comfort and joy, and even resulted in many of the Epistles we are encouraged by today.

Just for Mentors: FEBRUARY

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the collateral consequences that affect people released from prison. Many people who are released from prison are caught off guard by these unforeseen obstacles, and they may be highly discouraged as they try to reintegrate into society. Consider encouraging your students to incorporate healthy routines in their days such as a prayer, reading Scripture, or listening to uplifting music.

Just for Mentors: JANUARY

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug speaks on the effects that the prison environment has on so many people in prison. The constant vigilance, oppressive routines and a lack of freedom to make your own decisions can cause severe damage over time. Many people who are released from prison are incarcerated again within three years! As you think about what to write in your letters this month, Doug encourages mentors to try a “breath prayer.”

Just for Mentors: DECEMBER

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the dark and somber experiences that people in prison have during the holidays. How can we as mentors be a light to our students during this difficult time?

Just for Mentors: NOVEMBER

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug brings up the topic of confronting our legacies. For many of our students, this can be a painful process because of the hurt that they have caused others. As you write your students this week, remind them that the broken pieces of their past do not need to define their legacy. God’s glory shines brightly in and through us when we are made new in Christ and live out this new identity.

Just for Mentors: OCTOBER

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug defines encouragement and the integral role that it played in his reentry journey. How can we as the Church encourage those that are struggling? What encouragement can we give our students?

Just for Mentors: SEPTEMBER

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug addresses the difficulties in writing to a student that claims they are innocent. What is our role as the Church in responding to this? What does Jesus Christ ask us to do?

Just for Mentors: AUGUST

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the role of the Church as it responds to the ongoing tragedies in the world. Some our students may not understand that the Church is not a building, but the reflection of Jesus in His followers. As His followers, how we act and how we serve others is our way of embodying the love of Jesus in the world!

Just for Mentors: JULY

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug brings up the steps to writing a letter to a Crossroads student. A letter can be simple but powerful. When you write a letter to a Crossroads student, a piece of yourself travels—sometimes great distances and beyond prison walls—to be with that student.

Just for Mentors: JUNE 2020

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the difficulties that formerly incarcerated individuals face with being told they are unwelcome. It is the role of the Church to tell them, “You belong here! We care about you. So does God.”

Just for Mentors: MAY, Part 2

In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses processing grief and how Jesus helps us to heal from it. In the same way, we can encourage our students to seek Jesus and bring their pain to Him. Only Jesus can bring true healing!