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The Rising Hope Program in Ministry and Human Services is an undergraduate course of study designed to prepare people in prison for ministry or work in the helping professions while in prison and after release. The program is open to prison inmates of any faith tradition who wish to grow intellectually and spiritually and serve others' needs. This is the path to personal transformation.
Program in Ministry and Human Services Goals:
- Provide prison inmates with the equivalent of 24-33 credit hours of undergraduate college education. Provide students with learning skills that will enhance their ability to earn academic degrees after release.
- Further the spiritual development of our students within their chosen faith tradition.
- Explore religions and religious practices from an academic, non-evangelistic perspective.
- Examine the divine call to personal transformation and service.
- Help students examine their lives in light of their own religious tradition.
- Create a community of learners who will encourage and support one another throughout the program and beyond. Encourage students to promote fellowship and peacemaking while in prison and after release.
The Program Focuses on:
- Achieving academic excellence
- Developing a richer spiritual life
- Encouraging personal responsibility and integrity
- Fostering community spirit among program participants
- Redefining one's role as a positive force in the community and society
- The practice of ministry and Human Services
- Peacemaking as a community-building tool
- Respect for all faith traditions
- Developing leadership skills
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| My participation in the program was and is a blessing. This endeavor
required me to exercise diligence. The academic expectations not only broadened
my horizons mentally, but they also rigorously stretched my sense of self-
discipline. The long nights provided me with a reminder that hard work breeds a
well-appreciated sense of accomplishment.
As far as my faith and beliefs are concerned, they were tried, tested, revamped
and reinforced. In other words, my faith and beliefs were taken to a deeper
level. Despite the various clashes of ideas, religions, and outlooks, a higher
purpose was served when I was forced to open my mind to see outside of my
particular box; within which I was previously quite comfortable. The result was
a greater propensity to see the common ground with others, rather than merely
allowing our differences to prevent cooperation.
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Anthony Knight |
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