There is a place for you
Faith for Families of the Incarcerated
Yes, there is a place for you too. When someone is incarcerated, a whole family serves a kind of sentence with them, in the visits, the phone calls, the shame that is not yours, the loneliness. The Bible tells the church to remember those in chains as though bound with them, and that remembering reaches to you, the ones who wait on the outside.
If this is you
When you love someone behind bars, you carry a weight few people see. There is the missing them, the worry for their safety, the money, the long drives to visit, the questions from others that you learn to dread. Sometimes there is shame that belongs to no one, or anger, or grief for the person and the years. Children feel it too. It is a heavy and often lonely road, and you did not choose it.
God remembers the whole family
Scripture does not only speak to the prisoner; it tells the community to stand with those in chains and with everyone bound up in their suffering. And Jesus is drawn, again and again, to the ones left grieving and waiting on the edges.
An honest word
Faith will not bring your person home sooner or make the hardship disappear, and it does not ask you to carry it with a brave face. What it offers is a God near to the broken hearted, a shame lifted off shoulders it never belonged on, and a community meant to stand with you rather than judge you. You and your family matter to God in your own right, not only as someone's relatives. Let people help; reach out when the weight is too much.
Come and see
You do not have to clean yourself up first, or have the words, or feel any particular way. The living Christ welcomed people exactly where they were, and he still does. You are invited to come as you are and see for yourself. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin, and it asks nothing of you but a little quiet and an honest look.
Read the Gospel of JohnMeet JesusAsk for prayerJesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I feel ashamed of my loved one's crime?
- The shame is not yours to carry. You are not defined by another person's actions. God draws near to the broken hearted, and a healthy community will stand with you, not judge you, for loving someone in prison.
- How do I explain this to my children?
- Gently, honestly, and at their level, letting them know they are loved and that the situation is not their fault. A trusted pastor, counsellor, or support group for families of the incarcerated can help you find the words and carry the load.
- Where can I find support?
- Many churches and community organisations support families of the incarcerated. You can ask for prayer, look for help near you, and lean on people who understand. You do not have to walk this alone.