Ministry for Families of Incarcerated Parents

New Hope’s Prison Ministry is aimed at serving the prison population of Hawaii; a population comprised of both the incarcerated inmate, as well as the family left behind. And it’s many times those waiting on the outside who are the forgotten ones – a mother or father forced into single parent responsibilities, children who must adapt to living without the guidance of a father or mother.

One of the main components of New Hope’s Prison Ministry is a team of volunteers dedicated to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of families whose parents are incarcerated. In so many ways when a parent is locked away, so is the child. The child’s heart is locked from within. His/her future can be bound by shame. Studies have indicated that mentoring a child by a caring adult is the single most effective strategy for building character and curbing destructive behavior. And the those who benefit most are the most disadvantaged or at-risk children —especially children of incarcerated parents.

New Hope’s Prison Ministry’s goal is to provide a means that will develop Christ-centered relationships between children of prisoners and caring Christian adult volunteers who have been approved by the leadership of that church. Prisoners' children are matched with adult Christian mentors for at least a year, where through weekly meetings, a relationship and a mentorship is developed; it’s an investment in these children's lives—not just spiritually, but physically and emotionally through the message of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the year, New Hope’s Prison Ministry, under the leadership of Chaplain Roy Yamamoto, himself a former incarcerated parent, organizes events such as:

• Video Visitation – Once per month New Hope partners with Halawa Prison by hosting video visitation sessions that allow family members a 15 minute “video visit” (via telephone video hookup) with their loved one who had been transferred to mainland correctional facility (Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arizona, etc.). Approximately 70 sessions are scheduled each month, often times attended by the entire family, and in many situations provide the only opportunity to reunite with their loved.

Holiday Outreaches – Since the year 2000, New Hope’s Prison Ministry has sponsored a Christmas celebration reaching out to and targeting families of those whose parents are incarcerated. Gifts are either purchased and/or donated through the membership of New Hope and presented to the children, on behalf of their incarcerated parent, at a special luncheon catered and served by the Prison Ministry.

In addition, New Hope’s Prison Ministry has sponsored an Easter outreach where hundreds of volunteers participated in hosting a weekend celebration of carnival rides, petting zoo, games and prize donations, lunch, musical entertainment and guest appearances by prominent community leaders, such as Hawaii’s Lt. Governor James “Duke” Aiona and U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

• Family Camps – Weekend camps and getaways are also part of New Hope’s Prison Ministry’s agenda. There is nothing that rebuilds a family’s unity and strengthens the bonds between parent and child than camping in a Christian setting in the outdoors. Through activities such as surfing and fishing together, networks between families who suffer through the same loss of a loved one are also developed at these camps. Classes are offered in parenting, social skills, financial planning and other life skills to the parent, while activities for the children are provided to allow them to experience fun and friendship in an otherwise dark season of their lives.

Through events such as these, families are given a chance to experience fun and build memories that strengthen the family unit, while awaiting the release of their incarcerated loved one, opportunities they would not have had otherwise.

• Visitation Teams – While the above activities are designed to strengthen the families waiting on the “outside” of the prison walls, teams of volunteers are also organized who provide weekly visits to those incarcerated in our state and federal prisons. Visits are made to both the men and women correctional facilities, as well as to the boys and girls held in our youth correctional facility. These weekly visits are intended to support the spirits of those serving their time in prison, to prepare them for their eventual release. Each visit will include elements of worship and a message of the hope and strength found in Jesus Christ.