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Missouri has the eighth highest imprisonment rate in the coun- try. The source of the problem is the high number of non-violent offenders who are incarcerated in Missouri. About half of the population in Missouri prisons are non- violent offenders. These are our neighbors. 29 “The most important one,”


answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no command- ment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31, NIV) The restorative justice coali-


tion in Missouri helps us as people of faith to follow God’s call. Restorative justice has been used by indigenous peoples for


Office of Creative Ministries News


November 11, 2011


FOS, Restorative Justice partner with incarcerated neighbors With over 30,000 prisoners,


thousands of years to resolve con- flicts and respond to harm in their communities. It is supported by all major denominations. Restorative justice helps to bring together vic- tims, offenders and the commu- nity to help repair the harm and restore broken relationships. Restorative justice is a set of


principles which lead to a focus on healing the harm to the vic- tim; it helps the offender to take responsibility and be accountable, and as a result it strengthens the community as a whole. Increased relationships have


been developing through the donations to and from the Festival of Sharing. One of the instances is the


gardens seeds donated to a few correctional centers in the state in the last few years, as part of a restorative justice project. News stories of offenders in Jefferson City tending their gardens and


donating produce to the local food pantries and food bank were in the local papers, as well as St. Joseph and other communities. Sewing projects are additional


illustrations of congregations and offenders reaching out as neighbors to help the poor and hungry. Community Christian church in Jefferson City pro- vided fabric and thread so that offenders could make school bags for Church World Service school kits. Partnering together they made 66 school bags this year.


The women in the Chillicothe


Correctional Center worked together to sew and stitch a quilt that was donated to the Festival Quilt Auction. The quilt brought $260 that will provide blankets, tools and resources for refugees or persons in a developing coun- try to establish their new lives. Relationships are being repaired


This garden is part of a restorative justice project.


and strengthened through the material gifts collected at the Festival of Sharing. The women offenders have been recipients of the Women’s prison packs and are now giving back to others. Sewing projects such as these


This quilt was made by women incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Center.


are an integral part of a “restor- ative justice” which enables the offender and the community to cooperate together to discover ways of “healing the harm” and gives these offenders a chance to demonstrate to the com- munity their desire to “give back” and make “amends” for the harm they inflicted. More information about restorative justice can be found on this web- site http://www.morjc.org/ or


Contact Rev. Harold M. Johnson, Coordinator: Restorative Justice MO Conference of the United Methodist Church, hmjohnso@ sbcglobal.net or home office 816.537.5696. You can also help by donat-


ing items for the women’ prison packs. An additional 700 packs are needed before we can send the packs to the Chillicothe cor- rectional center this year. In 2012 we will need to prepare 1500 for the Vandalia correctional center. A list of the Women’s prison Pack contents can be found on line at www.umocm.com/festival/ kits.html. You can contact Terri Williams at festival@socket.net or 573-474-3332.


Volunteers provide needed services


By Jeff Baker The Missouri United


Methodist Annual Conference would like to thank Tim and Ellie Brubaker. Tim and Ellie, of Michigan, have come to Joplin to help with tornado clean up. In a previous life, Tim and


Ellie were both professors. Ellie is a licensed social worker in Michigan and taught social work for a number of years. Since retir- ing, they spend time helping sur- vivors impacted by storms. They bring with their experiences from helping after Hurricane Katrina, the tornado in Greensburg, Kansas, and other storms along the Gulf Coast. Tim and Ellie plan to be


Tim and Ellie Brubaker are shown here with Jamie Piper, volunteer coordinator in Joplin.


with us until Thanksgiving and


then return to Missouri after Christmas, if they are still needed. They are currently working with the Joplin Disaster Relief Coordinator, Jamie Piper, to help with volunteer teams. Tim has become a master at keeping the skid loaders operating as we con- tinue to help land owners remove concrete foundations from their property before the December 31 deadline. So far, we have been able to


remove concrete debris from nearly 100 lots around Joplin. One home owner had left town for a couple of days. When they returned they told Tim they had prayed about what they were going to do with the foundation on their property. Upon return-


ing, they found their lot cleared and raked smooth. It was truly an answer to their prayers. At an average cost of $3000-$5000 per lot to remove the concrete, many homeowners have struggled to find resources to make this hap- pen. If the deadline is not met, homeowners will be assessed the cost of removing the debris through contractors hired by the city of Joplin. Without the help of volunteers


like Tim and Ellie and the many volunteers from around the state and country, the work in Joplin would not get done. Thanks to everyone for your


continued monetary support as well as your prayers for this con- tinued effort.


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