Summary
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry ("Good News") is a nonprofit entity which provides trained, ordained chaplains in jails and prisons to serve and meet the spiritual needs of inmates and correctional staff and their families. The ministry was established in 1961 by Dr. William L. Simmer and has chaplains ministering throughout the United States and in Latvia as well as Africa and India.
Good News chaplains also reach out to meet the spiritual needs of the correctional staff in the facilities in which they serve. Good News accepts no local, state or federal funds and is supported by churches and individuals interested in prison ministry. A Good News chaplain is responsible for preaching, counseling, teaching, administering the Bible Correspondence Course and training and working closely with lay people who volunteer their time inside the jails and prisons.The chaplain's ministry is a hands-on pastoral ministry; the inmates are his congregation - the jail or prison, his pulpit.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | P.O. Box 9760
Richmond, VA
23228-0760 |
| Website: | www.goodnewsjail.org |
| Phone: | (804) 553-4090 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 540703077
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Harry Greene |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
|
Fiscal Year End: |
December 31 |
| Board Size: |
|
Financial info from: |
|
| Founder: |
Dr. William L. Simmer |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1961 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1981 |
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry ("Good News") is a nonprofit entity which provides trained, ordained chaplains in jails and prisons to serve and meet the spiritual needs of inmates and correctional staff and their families.
The ministry was established in 1961 by Dr. William L. Simmer and has chaplains ministering throughout the United States and in Latvia as well as Africa and India. Good News chaplains also reach out to meet the spiritual needs of the correctional staff in the facilities in which they serve.
Good News accepts no local, state or federal funds and is supported by churches and individuals interested in prison ministry.
A Good News chaplain is responsible for preaching, counseling, teaching, administering the Bible Correspondence Course and training and working closely with lay people who volunteer their time inside the jails and prisons. The chaplain's ministry is a hands-on pastoral ministry; the inmates are his congregation - the jail or prison, his pulpit.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry's Mission Statement is:
To provide spiritually mature, equipped, and motivated men and women to serve as Christian chaplains in correctional facilities nationally and internationally.
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry's Purpose Statement is:
To meet the spiritual needs of both inmates and staff through ministry that includes evangelism, discipleship, and pastoral attention, while facilitating other religious faiths within the guidelines established by law and the individual correctional facility.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry has reported the following accomplishments:
- Good News now has more than 330 Chaplains serving in jails and prisons in the United States and overseas.
- They currently support Chaplains in Nigeria, Estonia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, India, Latvia, Siberia, Ghana, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Cuba, and America Samoa – with other nations requesting their immediate assistance.
- Requests for Good News Chaplains are currently at an all-time high, with their Ministry Development staff working on numerous opportunities to place Chaplains in institutions throughout the United States.
- The Good News web site, www.goodnewsjail.org, provides regular updates on Chaplains, along with current news on how Good News Jail & Prison Ministry is expanding its vision both at home and abroad.
- The Full Pardon radio broadcast is now being aired on 325 outlets in 45 states, plus: the US territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands; New Brunswick and Ontario, Canada; Palua; and the British West Indies. You may also hear this daily broadcast on their web site or at www.oneplace.com.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
The following is Good News Jail & Prison Ministry's Statement of Faith:
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand that the whole Bible is inspired in that holy men of God were "moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of God. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally to all parts of the writings as they appeared in the original manuscripts.
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and that these three are one God; co-equal and co-existent.
We believe that man was originally created in innocence and that he fell through sin and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, become dead in trespass and sins.
We believe that the eternal Son of God came into this world that he might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy, and become the Redeemer of a lost world. He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, received human body and a sinless human nature.
We believe that, owing to death through sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again. This redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, dying in our stead. We believe that the new birth of the believer is an act of God the Spirit and comes only through individual faith in Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the blessed Trinity, though omnipresent from all eternity, indwells every believer since the day of Pentecost, and by His baptism unites all of Christ's own into one body. He is the source of all power and all acceptable worship and service.
We believe that God has ordained that through the local church the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be spread and that it is the duty of everyone who is born again, to seek out a local fellowship for the furtherance of the Gospel and his own edification.
We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost. We believe that the supreme mission of God's people in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature, and we believe in the second coming of Christ according to the Scriptures.
In the late 1950's, God gave Bill Simmer the vision to minister to men and women behind bars. Good News Jail & Prison Ministry was officially established in 1961 by Dr. William L. Simmer. The starting point was that of one jail in Fairfax, Virginia. For the next 24 years, Bill and Helen, his wife, poured their lives into what became Good News Jail & Prison Ministry.
In 1983, Bill relinquished leadership of the ministry to his "son in the faith," Harry Greene, current president. Harry continued to build upon the foundation laid by Bill and Helen Simmer.
In 1994, the Good News board of directors initiated a plan for growth called, VISION 2000, which included a national radio ministry called Full Pardon that was begun in1998.
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry provides over 200 staff chaplains, serving more than 120 institutions in 23 states and the countries of India, Nigeria, Latvia and Estonia, and considering several additional possibilities in Europe, Africa, Central and South America.
This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 70 | 12/8/2007 3:05:00 PM: Organization made financial information available greater than 7 ½ months. |
| Financial Information: | 100 | 3/30/2006 12:08:20 PM: Organization provided all financial information requested. Information was clear and thorough. |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 3/30/2006 12:08:23 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | 3/30/2006 12:08:27 PM: Answers to questions were thorough. |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Christian Growth Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 99 of 352 | 8 of 43 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 156 of 352 | 14 of 43 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 193 of 352 | 19 of 43 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 41 of 352 | 4 of 43 |
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2006 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
Prior MinistryWatch.com Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry. Previously listed from 2005 - 2007.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. The list is a sampling of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.
These ministries are called ‘Shining Lights’ because they are indeed models of letting their Christian light shine before men so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and God be glorified. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good works and other ministries may learn from their examples.
While identifying the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ, MinistryWatch.com believes that the list of 30 excellent ministries will be helpful to many. Each of the ministries has the following important features in common:
- Legitimate nonprofit ministry and purpose.
- Have shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of “A”.
- Are unashamed of being identified as an evangelical Christian ministry.
- MinistryWatch.com researchers knows of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.
A high MinistryWatch.com Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement for inclusion on this list although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.
This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com's Take
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry provides Chaplains worldwide, operates in a very open and transparent manner, and is as resourceful as other ministries in directing its financial resources towards the programs that accomplish its mission.
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry (“Good News”) provides trained, ordained Chaplains in jails and prisons offering pastoral care to everyone within a correctional institution, including inmates and staff, as well as their families. Just like the pastor of a local church, these Chaplains provide individual, marital, and family counseling; conduct worship services and Bible studies, and provide inmates with Bible lessons to complete. They also handle death notifications, make hospital visits and perform crisis intervention and many unplanned engagements.
Chaplains are generally on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and minister throughout the United States and in various other countries. While the ministry is very busy inside the jail doing what Chaplains love the most, this is only part of what goes on.
What takes place outside the institution is primarily focused on making churches, businessmen, and individuals aware of what they do at Good News Jail & Prison Ministry and then asking them to consider becoming a financial partner in the mission field behind bars. Unlike a local church, the “congregation” to whom they minister, the “Inside Church”, cannot support itself. The revenue model of the ministry is to make known its needs to praying friends and trust in the living and faithful God to supply all its needs in answer to prayer.
Chaplains not associated with Good News may be paid by a government institution. It is an important distinction to note that Good News Jail & Prison Ministry Chaplains are only paid through Good News. Many Chaplains may have a “staff” recognition, with authority over their designated institution; however, they are not paid from government funds; they are supported by God’s people.
Besides Chaplains, Good News has an essential support arm and volunteers. The support arm is known as the “National Grading Center” and they do the majority of the printing and mailing needs of all the Chaplains.
In addition, Good News provides a Bible Correspondence Course. There are more than 224 separate lessons in 14 books of the Bible. The volunteers are the hub of this Correspondence Course and have operated the Grading Center for its entire 40 plus years of existence. Each chaplain has his or her own local grading center, but when an inmate is sentenced and leaves that chaplain’s care, he or she can continue their Bible Course via the U.S. postal system. Graders pick up where their Chaplains have left off in ministering to inmates using the Bible Correspondence Course as the tool to train, encourage, disciple and challenge the student inmate. Many inmates take their first step in their Christian walk through this course. Good News has certified administrative leaders who train and certify graders as they come to volunteer in this unique ministry. The requirement for volunteers is that they know Christ as their Savior and that they would be willing to agree with Good News’ Doctrinal Statement.
The ministry’s operations are carried out in a very open and transparent manner as indicated in Good News receiving the highest possible Transparency Grade, “A”, from MinistryWatch.com. Most nonprofit organizations are classified as “exempt” from paying federal income taxes, but they are still required to file an annual, public information report with the IRS. This annual report is called an IRS Form 990. Good News happens to be an exempt nonprofit that does not have to file this report. The IRS has classified Good News as a “Church.” Although Good News has the legal right not to reveal financial information to the “outside” world, they go out of their way to be open and transparent.
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry is helping break the cycle of crime, one life at a time, while demonstrating superior transparency. MinistryWatch.com is able to conclude that Good News directs its financial resources directly towards programs in a manner comparable to other ministries and exhibits a great deal of openness to donors.s