All In Community is an initiative of The West Ohio Conference to train, equip, connect, and resource local churches to be bodies of Christ that embrace our neighbors who have been affected by crime and incarceration. Each episode covers a different aspect of All In Community ministry. Topics discussed include: discipleship with the incarcerated, caring for the families left behind during an incarceration, helping returning neighbors reintegrate into community, and partnering with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

In faith-based ministry with families who are walking with an incarcerated loved one, we tend to help with tangible needs. But what if the best help occurs when we walk with families in developing self-leadership. Join Michelle Smith-Lewis and Barb Vogt from Faith Freedom Life for this rich, deep and incredibly insightful discussion on the transformative impact of presence. Together, they reinforce Jesus’s model of discipleship and bear witness to the truth that hope happen simply through one’s presence.

Guests:

  • Michelle Smith-Lewis & Barb Vogt (Westwood UMC), Faith Freedom Life

In faith-based ministry with justice-involved person, we often believe we have to lead them toward a better decision, future or relationship. What we often miss is that we need to love them into a better version of themselves first.

Join Dr. Patrice Palmer – restored citizen, justice advocate, and disciple of Jesus Christ – from Chosen4Change and the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs for a robust discussion on leadership and transformation. In this session, Dr. Palmer and host Reba Collins talk strategic leadership, and Dr. Palmer testifies to how love and leadership go hand-in-hand for transformational outcomes. This session will challenge you and inspire you to be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus in new ways.

Guest:

  • Dr. Patrice Palmer, Chosen4Change and the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs

In faith-based ministry, how often do we pay attention to developing leaders within the ranks of those we serve? When we embrace leadership development as a form of discipleship, it leads to transformation. Join us for a series of live discussions with individuals who have overcome harmful and hurtful life experiences and are now leading others through a journey of transformation.

Join Donna Chapman, Danica Pingle and Kira Sowers from OhioGuidestone for this transforming discussion on leading families through recovery. Learn how faith in Jesus led them out of brokenness and addiction to positions of leading others out of darkness into the light.

Jesus developed leaders rejected by the world to change the world. So can we.

For those of us who are called to mentor a youth, a family or an adult, we are struggling to find solid footing in the midst of our current COVID-19 Pandemic circumstances. This podcast features a real and relevant discussion on best practices and pivots for effective pandemic mentoring. Mentoring expert Maggie Middleton, Director of Amachi Central Kentucky, gives helpful tips on how to set realistic expectations for both mentors and mentees, so that you can continue to be a life-giving presence and a stable relationship in these uncertain times. You’ll, also, learn how you can select, lead and support volunteer mentors during the pandemic. This podcast was originally recorded as a Live Video Chat on September 17, 2020.

Guest Speakers:

  • Ms. Maggie Middleton, Program Director for Amachi Central Kentucky

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Join Executive Director of the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood Kimberly Dent and President of the Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families Harold Howard for a discussion on building up healthy, engaged fathers who are vital to healthy families and healthy communities. In this podcast, our guest speakers connect the dots between responsible fatherhood, thriving families, and equitable outcomes in the community. In addition, you will learn a few tips on how you can support families better by supporting fathers in your church and community. Plus, you will get a sneak peek at what to expect at this year’s Ohio State Fatherhood Summit coming up on September 2-3, 2020. This podcast was originally recorded as a Live Video Chat on August 20, 2020.

Guest Speakers:

  • Ms. Kimberly Dent, Executive Director, Ohio Commission on Fatherhood
  • Mr. Harold Howard, President, Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families

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What can you do right now to prepare to go back inside later? In this podcast, join our panel of practitioners who are shifting their models for ministry and programming to continue serving inside our Ohio prisons and building capacity for remote engagement. In addition, ODRC chaplains provide guidance and tips as the first people to survey the mission field. They discuss current needs for care, priorities for future programming, and what you should be thinking about before restarting your prison ministry & programming. This is podcast was originally recorded on July 17, 2020, as a Live Video Chat.

Guest Speakers:

  • Ms. Chris Money, Executive Director, Kindway Mr. Mike Swiger, Executive Director, True Freedom Ministries
  • Mr. Blake Tijerina, Senior Project Manager, The RIDGE Project, Inc.
  • Ms. Sylvia Moseley, Chaplain, Dayton Correctional
  • Mr. Eric Harmon, Chaplain, Mansfield Correctional

Originally recorded as an ODRC Live Video Chat on May 26th, 2020, this podcast is a conversation with our Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction partners. If you are in ministry with incarcerated persons, returning neighbors, or their families, this session is incredibly helpful for ministry going forward through the COVID-19 pandemic. In this podcast, ODRC Office of Reentry and Religious Services staff provide COVID-19 navigation tips to pastors, family members, and faith ministers. In addition, we discuss opportunities for current ODRC faith-based volunteers to remain engaged with their ODRC residents. Finally, we will explore emerging opportunities in prison ministry and reentry ministry. Guest speakers are Ms. Ronette Burkes-Trodswell and Mr. Gary Croft from the ODRC Office of Reentry and Dr. Mike Davis from the ODRC Office of Religious Services & Recreation.

On this podcast, three Project Team members from the Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Project – Professor Joann Sahl, Jana Hrdinova, and Holly Griffin -- answer questions about this new clemency process enacted by Governor Mike DeWine in December 2019. Initially recorded in May 2020 as a Live Video Chat, the project team members discuss how community members can assist people who qualify for the expedited pardon process and how organizations can partner most effectively to make this process available to the greatest number of people. Chat notes are also available below.

More information on the Expedited Pardon Project is available at https://www.ohioexpeditedpardon.org/.

Juvenile Justice-Involved Ministry Podcast: In this podcast, go behind the scenes of the Department of Youth Services with Rev. Donald Bean, Community Partnerships Administrator. Rev. Bean provides an overview of DYS’s work with young men and women who are adjudicated to the state’s detention centers. In addition, he offers a profile of this populations and discusses their spiritual and relational needs. Originally recorded on April 20th, 2020, participants explore with Rev. Bean new opportunities faith groups have for ministry with this young justice-involved population.

All In Community Podcast 1: Rev. Dee Stickley-Miner, Rev. April Casperson, and Reba Collins discuss hope, healing, God’s reckless grace, and multiplication of the Gospel message in this first All In Community Podcast. Find encouragement and empowerment as they explore more deeply our call to journey in discipleship with our neighbors impacted by crime and incarceration.

What happens at home when a spouse goes to prison? Join Heidi McDowell and Reba Collins as they discuss Heidi’s journey and the journey of Heidi’s church, Powell UMC, in becoming a Healing Community. In this podcast, Heidi opens up about finding hope, purpose, and a deeper faith in Jesus while living through her husband’s incarceration. She and Reba also discuss Powell’s use of the Healing Communities framework to provide support for her family and other families in the Powell community that are like Heidi’s.

“What we have found in our journey is that God has been very faithful to us.” – Chris Money

What God originates, God orchestrates with the right people at the right time in the right place. Join us in this third All In Community podcast for a powerful conversation with Chris Money and Tom Deuber from All In Community's Reentry Community Partner, Kindway EMBARK. In this episode, we explore Kindway EMBARK’s journey from broken hearts to beautiful new beginnings for people returning from prison. Chris and Tom also offer advice on how churches and communities can work together to foster successful transitions from incarceration to community.

For our final podcast, we sit down with Dr. Mike Davis from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) where Mike serves as the Bureau Chief for the Office of Reentry and Enterprise Development and Religious Services Director. In this episode, Mike speaks to us about the relationship between faith communities and the state's efforts in rehabilitation and reentry. He assures us that, “There is no reason to carry the whole reentry dilemma,” and encourages us to “trust the Lord for His provision and for His protection. He is going to guide us through.”  In addition, Reba and Mike discuss the church’s role in ministering to both victims of crime and those who commit crimes.