Volunteer mentors are the heart of Crossroads Prison Ministries. In order to provide ongoing training and encouragement for volunteers, we provide monthly newsletters called Just for Mentors. Each newsletter includes tips, ideas and encouragement from Doug Cupery, director of church mobilization at Crossroads, and important news and reminders for mentors. We hope these newsletters help you become the best mentor you can be!
Just for Mentors #22
Just for Mentors: JUNE 2019
In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the challenges for men and women released from prison reentering society and how you as Crossroads mentors can begin to prepare your students to thrive upon their release.
Just for Mentors #21
Just for Mentors: MAY 2019
For many Crossroads mentors, it is difficult to write letters to men and women you have never met. In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug offers practical tips on how to write meaningful, encouraging letters to your students.
Just for Mentors #20
Just for Mentors: APRIL 2019
In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug reminds us that Jesus is always present and at work in prison. He casts a vision for how we as mentors can continually point students to Jesus’ ongoing work in their lives.
Just for Mentors #19
Just for Mentors: MARCH 2019
Drawing on his own journey of incarceration and reentering society, Doug explains how mentors can help their students have a vision for restoration in their lives.
Just for Mentors #18
Just for Mentors: FEBRUARY 2019
In prison environments that are often full of hate, vengeance and violence, it’s hard to imagine even a moment of peace. In this month’s Just for Mentors, we discuss how to help our students be agents of peace in very hostile environments.
Just for Mentors #17
Just for Mentors: JANUARY 2019
In prison, real rest is hard to come by. But Jesus promises to give rest to all who are weary. In this edition of Just for Mentors, we discuss how to point students to the rest that can only be found in Christ.
Just for Mentors #16
Just for Mentors: DECEMBER 2018
Doug discusses what it’s like to spend the Christmas season in prison and how we as Crossroads mentors can bring hope and encouragement to our students during this difficult time.
Just for Mentors #15
Just for Mentors: NOVEMBER 2018
In this month’s Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the power of being present and how as Crossroads mentors we can be present to our students through compassionate and encouraging letters.
Just for Mentors #14
Just for Mentors: OCTOBER 2018
In this month’s Just for Mentors, Dara encourages us to ask good questions of our students – questions that encourage them to look inwardly at their hopes, dreams, pain and disappointment.
Just for Mentors #13
Just for Mentors: SEPTEMBER 2018
As a Crossroads mentor, you will likely encounter many students who have long sentences or even life sentences. How do you encourage someone who has little or no hope of experiencing physical freedom? Doug tackles this topic in this month’s Just for Mentors.
Just for Mentors #12
Just for Mentors: AUGUST 2018
Prisoners may not have much during their incarceration. But one thing they do have is time. In this issue of Just for Mentors, Doug shares how we can lovingly encourage our students to make the best use of their time behind bars.
Just for Mentors #11
Just for Mentors: JULY 2018
Stories are powerful. In this issue of Just for Mentors, Doug discusses the importance of sharing our stories of struggle, pain and victory with our students.