CCMI ministers to Johannesburg Correctional Facility
Crystal Clear Ministries (CCMI) ran their first prison fellowship programme at Johannesburg Correctional Facility in 2014.
CCMI trained as facilitators for Prison Fellowship International (PFI) on their sycamore Tree Project. Their model is one of Restorative Justice. The first group consisted of 20 maximum sentenced male prisoners. The eight week course covered a range of different subjects with classes encouraging involvement and communication.
Of the 20 initial participants, only one did not complete the course; due to illness. During the course the facilitators also provided one on one spiritual care assessments with participants. The course was concluded with a celebration that was attended by many senior prison staff members. Those who completed the course were presented with certificates of completion and a specially printed Bible.
One of the participants is quoted as saying, “I have learned to admit, accept and forgive. I have learned to be honest. I realized we thought we were clever. I forgot God was alive.”
