2017 Jail and Prison Ministry Conference Set for October 6
The Office of Special Projects in USA Missions announces that the final details have been arranged, and the 2017 Jail and Prison Ministry Conference will be held on Friday, October 6, 2017, in the Leadership and Communications Center on the campus of the Church of God International Offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.
What was previously a one-day, two-night conference has been condensed into a one-day event, jam-packed from start to finish with outstanding speakers and workshop leaders whose inspiring information will appeal to those who currently work in this field of ministry, as well as any who may aspire to do so.
According to Dr. James E. Cossey, Special Projects Coordinator and moderator, the conference will get underway at 8:30am with a continental breakfast, and the first session will begin at 9:00am. All events will be on the headquarters campus until 3:15pm, at which time the delegates will relocate to the Bradley County Correctional Complex for an on-site worship experience with the inmates and officers there.
Keynote speaker in the 9:00am session and at the County Jail in the afternoon will be converted mafia member Frankie Palermo. Born the son of the notorious crime boss, Frank “Blinkie” Palermo, Frankie literally grew up in the mafia, and as a young man, became deeply ingrained it its criminal activities, including forgery, counterfeiting, bookmaking, burglary, interstate stolen securities of stocks and bonds, hijacking, arson, extortion, and murder. He was ultimately convicted and served 15 years of a 65-year sentence in the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia before his release.
It was while incarcerated that Frankie turned to Christ and was gloriously saved and transformed. Upon his release, he served an additional 12 years on parole, and began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever God opened a door. Now the Lord uses Frankie and his wife Judy, to proclaim God’s love in prisons, jails, churches, and conferences all across America. Frankie’s story is told in his autobiography, A Trophy of God’s Grace, published by Palermo’s ministry, No Boundaries Ministries.
Rather than “let us tell you how” lectures, the day will be given to open discussion led by panels of experienced individuals who have accumulated hundreds of years of experience in this ministry. These participants will include Russell Coffey, a former National Evangelist for the Church of the Nazarene, who is now president of Anchor Point Foundation, located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Anchor Point ministers to persons who are enslaved to all manners of addictions, as well as to prisoners, and those who may be either on their way to, or about to be released, from jail. On the panel with Coffey to lead a discussion on resources, will be Bishop Doyle Scott, director of Black Ministries for the Church of God, and Bishop Jackie Smith, a Church of God Certified Chaplain from the State of Virginia.
Bishop Michael Maddox, of Harvest Time Juvenile Ministries in Florida, will join a panel with Bishop Ronnie Hepperly, director of Global Chaplains Coalition, and Dr. Mary Washington, a credentialed Church of God member who is a former NYPD officer, and a member of the New York Parole Board. They will lead the discussion regarding juvenile issues and gang violence.
Chaplain Eugene Wiggelsworth, a Church of God ordained bishop who serves as the Director of Religious Programs and Volunteer Services for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, will team for another panel with Mr. Danny Smith, a former police officer, and long-term jail and prison minister, who is the State Coordinator for Church of God Jail and Prison Ministries in North Georgia. Their topic will be “Can Do/Can’t Do Issues,” which will deal with current legal and cultural trends in jail and prison ministries. They will be joined by Pastor Cy Harris, who does regular services and weekly Bible studies in the Bradley County Jail. Cy is the Outreach and Assimilation Pastor at North Cleveland Church of God.
At 3:15pm, the delegates will relocate to the Bradley County Correctional Complex, where at 3:45pm, a brief, 45-minute service will be conducted with staff and inmates. Pastor Cy Harris will moderate this service, with Scripture reading and prayer by Bishop Doyle Scott, and a brief testimony from Frankie Palermo.
One of the highlights of the day will be that each session will begin with a brief testimony from individuals who were born again while they were incarcerated. These dynamic praise reports will underscore to the delegates the powerful effects of obeying Christ’s command to take the gospel to those who are in prison (Matthew 25:38-40).
Because of underwriting from financial sponsors who believe in this ministry, the registration fee is only $29 per person, which includes materials, a continental breakfast, and a catered lunch on-site. It is imperative that those planning to attend pre-register so as to determine how to prepare the meal and the supplies. Registration is available online and can be paid by credit card at www.usamissions.com. A printed registration form can also be secured by calling the USA Missions Special Projects Office at 423-478-7103.
