Strengthening the Indigenous Church in Prison
CMCA webinar moderated by Don Allsman with panelists: Charles Anderson, Matt Thomas, contributions by Mark Walker
The Church’s faithful evangelism has produced thousands of mature disciple-makers in the culture of prison. Now we can pivot to strengthening these indigenous leaders in ministry, both inside and after re-entry.
Resources to Strengthen the Church Inside
Resources to Strengthen the Church Inside
https://tumientree.com/products/capstone-curriculum
Capstone Curriculum is a 16-module training program, taught at a seminary level, which is designed to serve as the most essential knowledge and skill learning necessary for effective urban ministry and church leadership.
For more information contact Bob Stevenson: bobs@worldimpact.org
https://www.prisonseminaries.org/the-prison-seminary-model
The four-year educational experience is framed in an ethos of service. In addition to theology, students receive education and training in: math, science, English literature, history, leadership, counseling, conflict management, grief and trauma support, and peer-to-peer ministry development.The goal of the program is to equip inmate students serving long sentences (15+ years) as agents of change within and beyond the prison walls.
For more information contact Denny Autrey: jdautrey@outlook.com
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Grant
https://worship.calvin.edu/grants/info
Through the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants Program, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship seeks to foster, strengthen, and sustain well-grounded public worship throughout the United States and Canada. Individuals ministering inside facilities may work with individuals inside facilities to plan and deliver worship services.
Webinar Panel

Don Allsman is CEO of Completion Global, a networking ministry seeking to accelerate Great Commission innovation. He helps form citywide ministry coalitions for gospel collaboration and has authored books on re-entry, discipleship, and leadership. Don has served for 35 years in urban missions and leadership development for the incarcerated.

Pastor Charles Anderson is the Founder and CEO of Epiphany Life Change. With over 15 years’ experience working in corrections in Illinois, Missouri, and Texas, Charles Anderson developed a heart and compassion for the literal and figurative captives inside the prison walls. Committed to the lives of those behind bars and their families, Charles works with former inmates to help them understand that they’ve been bought for a price, their lives are not their own, and that they are here to accomplish His work for the good of God’s Kingdom. He works to impart to those still behind bars that all people have eternal value and strives to instill the concept that serving God can help others.

As a former convict who found God and reaped the benefits from an aftercare program in Arizona, Matt saw the great need for a similar kind of program here in the Midwest after moving to Wichita in 2011. After two years of prayer, planning, brick walls, and dead ends, God’s spirit began to move in a mighty way. An unlikely team of people was brought together, and doors that had been closed for years began to open. Matt is as a published author, preaches, and consults with organizations focusing on re-entry housing. As the Executive Director, Matt provides visionary leadership and oversight for the organization.

Mark Walker is Founding Director of The Cell Church, a prison ministry in Colorado. He became a disciple of Christ in prison and was released in 2008 after serving five years. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Moody Bible Institute and Gateway Seminary, respectively, and is pursuing a PhD in Bible and Theology at Calvary University. He was ordained in 2018, and now also ministers as teaching pastor of a house church and professor for a seminary-level ministry training program associated with The Cell Church.