Volunteer

At the Elkhart County Jail Ministry we believe that healing and growth are found in community. Jail Ministry volunteers experience community with people who so often find themselves on the margins. Relationships with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals serve to transform and build up everyone involved.

The Jail Ministry is looking for volunteers! Inside the jail, there are a limited number of positions for volunteer Assistant Chaplains. While those positions are currently filled, they do come open from time to time. We also need volunteers for our Transportation Ministry to give rides home from jail when people are released and don’t have anyone to pick them up. Another way of helping is by donating new large print Bibles, yarn for the Program Ward, new sweatshirts/sweatpants, or backpacks of hygiene items (freedom bags) for people who are being released. Feel free to follow up with us for details about any of these ways of giving by calling 574-891-2279.

Volunteers are needed at the Work Release facility in Goshen to lead Bible Studies and other programs, help facilitate spiritual retreats, monitor the Jail Ministry computer lab, participate in an already existing class, and provide transportation for participants who have court appointments or employment interviews. Join Chaplain Martin on Sunday mornings for Holy Alliance, a community Bible Study started for men and women at Work Release. Attending is a great way to meet people and build relationships.

The Elkhart County Jail Ministry’s Reentry Housing program offers opportunities for people to help with maintenance and home repairs, as well as delivering care packages or meals to the men and women living in our reentry homes.

In addition to the above opportunities, there are many other ways to be involved. What are your ideas?

If you are interested in volunteering, please follow these steps:

  • Complete the volunteer application linked here: Volunteer Application
  • A Jail Ministry staff member will contact you after your application is reviewed.
  • Most of our volunteer positions require a criminal background check. We will email you the link when your application is approved. There is a fee for this background check. Please let us know if that is a barrier for you, and the Jail Ministry will pay for it.
  • Please review our Rules of Engagement

Frequently Asked Questions about volunteering:

What ministry opportunities are available at the Elkhart County Jail?

We have a wide variety of opportunities for volunteers within the Elkhart County Jail:

Tutor an Inmate

The jail offers GED classes for inmates who never graduated from high school. There is always a need for personal tutors to assist inmates through their course work.

Mentor & Disciple an Inmate

Many inmates request to have a mentor assigned to them who will meet with them regularly to help them navigate through life and their journey with God.

Help Out in the Library

The jail has a 10,000 book library! Cataloguing, shelving and distributing books provides volunteers with many opportunities to serve.

Join a Bible Study

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the many ongoing Bible Studies and programs the Elkhart County Jail Ministry has to offer. Group leaders welcome fresh volunteer faces in their classes!

Children’s Ministry

If you have a heart for children, we have a need for volunteers who will ‘babysit’ children in the lobby of the jail while their parents and/or guardians are visiting with incarcerated loved ones.

Give Someone a Ride Home

Many inmates have no transportation home after being released from jail. Our transportation volunteers have the exciting opportunity to tangibly show the love of Christ one last time by offering rides to inmate who have no transportation home.

Join Services & Holiday Events

Joining inmates for Sunday church services is a great way to begin to build relationships. You can also bless them by helping to distribute Easter cards and sing Christmas carols during the holidays.

How do I get involved in the ministry after I am approved to be a volunteer?

Once you are an approved volunteer, you can join in with your church if they have an existing ministry inside the jail, or contact Chaplain Martin who will plug you into a ministry that fits your schedule and your gifts.

What can I bring with me when I visit the jail?

The ONLY items you are allowed to bring with you as a volunteer in the jail are:

  1. One piece of paper
  2. Bible
  3. Car or locker keys
  4. Photo ID

Am I allowed to give letters, books, Bibles or other items to inmates during my visit?

NO. Volunteers are not permitted to give any items or materials to inmates. Doing so is considered Trafficking and is a prosecutable offense.

Am I allowed to take items from inmates to bring home with me or to deliver to someone on their behalf?

NO. Volunteers are not permitted to receive any items or materials from inmates. Doing so is considered Trafficking and is a prosecutable offense.

Can I visit anyone I want to once I am a registered volunteer?

No. As a volunteer you are not permitted to visit face to face with a relative, an inmate of the opposite sex or inmates who are in a Segregation Ward.