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Judson College

New Orleans Seminary Prison Program Models Kingdom Living

By Michael J. Brooks

BUFORD, Ga. (Judson College) -- The director of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's bachelor's degree program at Phillips State Prison in Buford, Ga., calls the program "incarnational."

"Jesus came to the most depraved--all of us sinners--and modeled what kingdom living is all about," said Dr. Jeffrey Farmer.

"In prison we work with inmates who will incarnate the life of Christ and minister to others inside these walls."

Farmer is the fourth director of the Phillips program which is part of the seminary's Leavell College, and he currently oversees the second group of students in their degree program. The inaugural class graduated in 2009 and graduates are now disbursed throughout the Georgia prison system serving as assistants to prison chaplains or in other ministries.

Many advocates of prison reform point to the alarming rate of recidivism. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, up to two-thirds of inmates are rearrested within three years of their release from prison. The Phillips program is one attempt to rehabilitate prisoners.

"We don't just educate," Farmer said, "we rehabilitate. If we don't rehabilitate, then all we have is smarter criminals! We want our graduates to model Christian behavior and to be missionaries for Christian culture."

Professors from the New Orleans extension "hub" in Atlanta are most often enlisted for teaching, including Farmer, and adjuncts are brought in as needed.

"We're limited in class size to 28 or 29," Farmer explained. "That's all we have room for. Inmates from around the state apply for admission and must have endorsements from their chaplain and other prison staff. Our local screening committee selects men for the program and we have a long waiting list."

Farmer explained the ideal seminary candidate has at least 10 years remaining in his sentence so that after graduation he can minister for four to five years in a prison. Upon release many of the graduates hope to serve in local churches or to start churches.

For this reason, Farmer explained, no sex offenders are admitted to the program since they wouldn't be able to work in churches.

"Some of the Phillips students have very long sentences," Farmer said," and may not be released. They are, nevertheless, committed to serving Christ in prison."

One of the Phillips students admitted to "syllabus shock" when he was admitted to the program and saw how much work is required.

"We tend to get mentally lazy in prison, but I'm working hard to make good grades," he said. "I have better writing skills and am learning to do better speaking." Continued...