Be a Counselor

What is a counselor?

A counselor is a free-world volunteer that goes into the prisons with Pro-Claim to help us share with the students the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We take male counselors only into the male youth prisons and female counselors only into the female youth prisons. We are blessed to have the hand of God's favor that allows us to take the counselors back into the students' living areas to share with them on a one-to-one basis. This is what we call cell-to-cell visitation. During this time, students who probably would never attend a "church" service are reached with the gospel. It is also a time when students receive much needed individual discipling, encouragement and prayer. There is absolutely no substitute for an inmate having the undivided attention of a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ to look directly into their eyes, listen to what they have to say, love them, and encourage and pray for them. At Pro-Claim, counselor is another word for "friend" (John 15:13-14).
 
Counselors arrive for a Weekend of Excitement on Friday or Saturday morning at a hotel in the vicinity of the unit we are visiting. They then complete the registration process, and get an orientation session. A short free time period allows you to eat and get ready to head out to the unit. Most units are a 15-45 minute drive from the hotel. We arrive at the unit and begin cell-to-cell ministry as soon as possible. Late in the afternoon a service is held, either outdoors in the tent or indoors in the chapel or gym.
Saturday's schedule begins with breakfast and a prayer meeting. This is a special time we set aside to minister to our counselors and enter into a time of unified prayer for the day ahead in prison. The afternoon schedule is the same as Friday. After the service on Saturday night, counselors are dismissed to return home or spend an additional night in the hotel, usually by 8:30.

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