Reconciled & Renewed Seminars
Kings Crossing Prison Ministries began conducting “Reconciled & Renewed” (R&R) Seminars in 2003 at the urging of Ron Goodman, then the Director of the National Federal Prison Outreach Ministry Seminars in Nashville, Tennessee. For several years, Buck Griffith (Director of Kings Crossing Prison Ministries), had participated with the Nashville “team” in seminars in Memphis (Tennessee), Beaumont (Texas), Marianna (Florida), Fort Worth (Texas) Phoenix (Arizona), and Forrest City (Arkansas). Other Kings Crossing workers (Sharon Wanzer, Cherl Hinton, Taryn Brooks, Glenda Watson) began participating, too. Brother Goodman asked Kings Crossing to form their own “team” to offer similar weekends in the Southwestern section of the United States. Thus, the R&R Seminars were born. Ron retired in 2015.
Today, the “Reconciled & Renewed” team consists of the following participants: Pat & Glenda Watson, Cherl Hinton, Pam Zapalac, Buck Griffith, Debbie Cullen, Dale & Karlene Underwood, and others. While seminars have occurred in male prisons, more take place in female units. We are always looking for more team members.
What do “R&R Seminars” look like?
We adopt a “theme” each year and develop the program around the theme. Samples of themes include “Putting On the Whole Armor of God” and “Getting a Handle on Anger” and “The Fruit of the Spirit.” Historically, we try to return to the same prisons year after year. This builds strong relationships with wardens, chaplains, prisoners, local congregations and volunteers, etc.
The seminars usually begin on a Friday evening and continue through Sunday morning with worship services and baptisms. Sessions involve fast-moving and varied activities such as Bible teaching, preaching, singing, and skits. The core group of offenders in attendance begins with those who have participated in an earlier seminar, or they already are studying with us through Bible correspondence lessons.
We believe it is important to involve volunteers in nearby local congregations who are ministering in the prison unit. Many prisoners attending an R&R are unaware of regular services offered there by local Christians. This gives us an opportunity to introduce them to local volunteers and encourage them to become active with the group going forward. Local workers are better at “following up” on the needs of these offenders. Huge numbers respond with requests for Bible studies, prayers, and to be baptized into Christ.