Freedom from prison isn’t the end of the journey; it’s just the beginning. For many men and women, release day marks the start of an uphill battle. They face broken relationships, limited job opportunities, housing instability, and the weight of stigma. But they also carry something else: the potential for redemption and restoration.
At Balanced Life Ministry, we believe that true transformation happens when people are given both hope and practical tools, and the Church is uniquely positioned to offer both. This blog explores how faith communities can walk alongside formerly incarcerated individuals, providing transitional support, spiritual care, and real opportunities to rebuild.
Why the Church Must Lead in Prison Reentry Support
Jesus’ ministry was full of restoration. He healed the sick, restored the broken, and dined with outcasts. Supporting men and women after prison isn’t just a community service; it’s a biblical calling.
Key Scripture Foundations
- Matthew 25:36 – “I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
- Isaiah 61:1 – “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives…”
- Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
These aren’t just poetic verses. They’re a call to action, to recognize the humanity, dignity, and divine potential in every returning citizen.
Understanding the Challenges After Prison
Let’s ground this in reality. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely to be homeless, and unemployment rates hover around 27% after release, higher than at any point of the Great Depression.
Common Barriers Faced by Returning Citizens:
- Housing insecurity due to a lack of income or rental history
- Employment discrimination because of criminal records
- Family strain and broken trust
- Mental health challenges or trauma from incarceration
- Lack of community or spiritual connection
Without strong support systems, the risk of recidivism (returning to prison) remains high. That’s where the local church can be a lighthouse, guiding people from survival to thriving.
1. Provide Transitional Housing Rooted in Dignity
Many men and women leave prison with nowhere to go. Churches can partner with organizations like Balanced Life Ministry or launch housing initiatives themselves.
Ideas for Church Involvement
- Donate space (parsonages, unused church buildings) to transitional housing programs.
- Provide volunteer support (meal prep, mentorship, transportation)
- Fundraise to sponsor short-term housing scholarships
- Create a “Room Ready” ministry where members donate essentials: bedding, hygiene items, and work clothes.
Churches in Tennessee and beyond can use transitional housing as a launchpad, a place to meet physical needs while fostering spiritual and personal growth.
2. Offer Job Opportunities & Skill-Building Support
Work isn’t just about income. It’s about purpose, confidence, and belonging. But after prison, job interviews can feel like landmines.
Churches can take tangible steps to help men and women re-enter the workforce with dignity.
How to Help
- Hire individuals in recovery for roles in church maintenance, landscaping, administrative support, or childcare.
- Start a “Second Chance Job Fair” hosted at your church
- Partner with businesses that are open to hiring returning citizens
- Provide job readiness workshops: resume writing, interview prep, digital literacy
Balanced Life Ministry actively builds these pathways, but it’s through community partnerships, like yours, that doors truly open.
3. Build a Discipleship Pathway After Release
Many men and women leave prison hungry for God, but unsure where they fit in a church community. That’s where intentional, trauma-informed discipleship matters.
Best Practices
- Train mentors who understand the reentry journey (or are willing to learn)
- Avoid shame-based language; focus on God’s grace, not past mistakes
- Host small groups specifically for individuals in transition
- Include recovery-informed theology in sermons and devotions
Discipleship is not fixing someone. It’s walking with them, just as Jesus walks with us.
4. Break the Stigma Inside the Church
Sadly, stigma doesn’t stop at prison gates. It often continues in the pews. To be a healing place, the church must lead in breaking harmful assumptions.
Ways to Shift the Culture
- Invite testimonies from people who’ve walked through incarceration
- Educate your congregation with facts and real-life stories
- Address topics like reentry and recovery from the pulpit
- Offer grace-based language, not labels like “ex-con,” “felon,” or “addict”
The language we use creates the culture we build. If we want our churches to be safe places for second chances, it starts with our words.
5. Support the Families Left Behind
When someone goes to prison, their whole family serves time with them, emotionally, socially, and financially.
Churches can be an anchor for families navigating the return of a loved one.
How to Support
- Offer support groups for spouses, parents, or children
- Provide transportation assistance for prison visits
- Host family nights or reunification events
- Connect families with counseling, especially faith-based trauma support
A strong family system is one of the most significant predictors of successful reentry. Let the church be a bridge, not a barrier, to restoration.
6. Create Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Not every church can start a housing program, but every church can do something.
Here are ways your church can get involved right now:
| Type of Support | Example |
| Time | Volunteer to mentor or teach a workshop |
| Talent | Offer resume help, haircut services, or transportation |
| Treasure | Donate to ministries like Balanced Life Ministry |
| Testimony | Share your story or help others share theirs |
| Teamwork | Partner with other churches to build broader networks of support |
Many stories. One mission. The Body of Christ is strongest when we work together.
7. Donate or Partner with a Christian Nonprofit
Balanced Life Ministry exists to walk alongside individuals post-recovery or incarceration, providing housing, job training, and Christ-centered community.
We’re based in Tennessee but serve as a model for churches across the country.
Why Support Balanced Life Ministry?
- We offer transitional housing for recovery, not just shelter
- We help people secure jobs after prison through business partnerships
- We build Christian discipleship after addiction
- We believe in long-term life transformation, not quick fixes
Your donations, volunteer hours, or church partnership can directly change lives, helping people live balanced, purposeful lives after prison.
Donate, volunteer, or learn more.
Real Lives, Real Hope: Stories of Transformation
The best way to measure impact is through changed lives.
“When I got out, I had no plan. Balanced Life gave me a place to sleep, but more than that, they gave me purpose again. Now I have a job, I’m in a church, and I finally feel like a man of God again.”, Michael, 38
“I used to think church people wouldn’t understand someone like me. But these folks loved me first. No judgment. Just grace.”, Tanya, 29
“After 15 years in prison, I didn’t think I had a future. Now I’m mentoring young men. God’s not done with me yet.”, Charles, 52
These stories are possible because churches and ministries partnered to say You’re not alone.
A Church That Walks With, Not Just Prays For
Too often, ministries stop at the prayer circle. But Jesus didn’t just pray for people, He walked with them, ate with them, and restored them.
The same is true for men and women returning home after prison. They need more than encouragement. They need a community that shows up, stays present, and points them to lasting hope.
Your church can be that place. Whether you’re a pastor, lay leader, or just someone with a heart for redemption, the call is the same:
Restore the broken.
Walk in unity.
Be part of the rebuild.
Join the Mission of Restoration
Balanced Life Ministry is not just a program; it’s a movement of hope, dignity, and second chances.
Whether you’re ready to start a reentry ministry, mentor someone rebuilding their life, or fund a housing program, we invite you to partner with us.
Visit Balanced Life Ministry to explore how you can:
- Volunteer with our recovery-focused ministry
- Partner with your church in second-chance discipleship
- Donate to support transitional housing and job creation
- Learn how to launch a prison reentry program in your community
Let’s show the world what redemption looks like, not just in word, but in action.
Balanced Life Ministry, Many Stories. One Mission. Restoring lives. Strengthening families. Uniting the body of Christ.
