Correctional Pastor- Aiken County, SC

Location: Aiken County, SC

Position: Full-time Male Chaplain

Vision:  

To disrupt the cycle of darkness and despair for all who are behind bars and their families by advancing the Gospel.  

Our Mission:  

To build and equip an alliance of passionate believers who boldly bring the light, life, and love of Jesus to the correctional communities of the world. 

Job Description: 

The Chaplain is responsible for providing comprehensive Christian pastoral ministry to the residents and staff of the correctional facility.  The Chaplain also provides other services to inmates, staff, public officials, and the community that will enhance the overall ministry. 

Job Duties: 

General day to day job duties include the following 

1. Provide comprehensive Christian chaplaincy services to inmates and staff: counseling, conducting/scheduling Christian worship services, Bible studies and arranging clergy visits, distributing literature and performing other pastoral and ministerial functions as appropriate.  
2. Facilitate access and ministry of religious volunteers for all faith traditions recognized by the facility.  
3. Handle emergency and death notifications among inmates and their families.  
4. Encourage and counsel inmates, correctional officers, and other facility staff.  
5. Recruit, supervise and train religious volunteers.  
6. Promote the visibility of the ministry in the community through jail tours and presentations to individuals, community groups and local churches.  
7. Fulfill administrative requirements of the facility and our ministry.  
8. Generate and file computer reports using a variety of software applications.  
9. Work with the local community (churches, individuals, organizations, businesses) to develop financial partnership and support for the ministry. 

Professional Qualifications 

The chaplain candidate should demonstrate the following specific experience and credentials: 

• Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited Seminary (preferred) 
• Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited Bible/Christian college with major/emphasis in Bible or Theology; OR  
• Bachelor’s degree with an additional of 30 hours of Bible from a regionally accredited University/Seminary, AND  
• Ministry experience demonstrating theological competency/equivalence  
• Ordained, licensed, or commissioned by local church/denomination  
• Incarceration Experience: An understanding of the correctional environment with practical service/ministry experience in a jail/prison preferred  
• Proven track record of ministry involvement and commitment  
• Experience in evangelism/discipleship/teaching  
• Agreement with GNG Doctrinal Statement  

Personal Qualifications 

The chaplain candidate should demonstrate the following knowledge and skills: 

• Ability to think, function and minister in accordance with biblical standards 
• Development of ministry programs 
• Appropriate methods and means of biblically dealing with human behavior situations 
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing 
• Ability to identify and develop human, financial and material resources for conduct of the ministry 
• Ability to connect with the community and encourage partnerships 
• General fiscal management 
• Basic computer skills using MS Office Suite (or similar) programs 
• Personal Finances in Order 

Since 1961, Good News Global has been a beacon of hope for those behind bars. We started with a simple belief – that everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done, has inherent worth in the eyes of God. This belief has guided us for over six decades, leading us to correctional facilities worldwide, where we’ve had the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of the Gospel.

Over the years, our understanding has grown, our expertise has developed, and our tools have evolved, but our core mission has remained the same. Today we are more than a ministry; we are a global movement of chaplains, volunteers, and partner organizations. We are a community of passionate believers, dedicated to bringing the light and life of Jesus to those within the correctional facilities of the world.

We’ve seen the ripple effects of our work, the way it transcends bars and walls and impacts entire communities. We’ve seen hardened hearts softened, lives changed, and stories rewritten. And every day, we’re inspired by the stories of redemption and transformation we hear from those we serve.