MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Simmons, Huggins, Furniss

Senate Concurrent Resolution 574

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE POSITIVE NATIONAL AND STATE IMPACT OF THE BILL GLASS MINISTRIES "WEEKEND OF CHAMPIONS" PROGRAM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY. 

WHEREAS, a national study of the prisons in America was recently conducted by The Institute for Prison Ministries at the Billy Graham Center which estimated that 75% of all inmates return to prison within a relatively short period of time after they are released, and the chances of a juvenile (17 or under) offender not returning to crime when released is 15%; and

WHEREAS, this study further estimates that when inmates find Christianity, this "recidivism" rate drops from 75% to 32%, and if the inmate is discipled in prison and mentored after his release, recidivism drops to less than 10%; and

WHEREAS, there are over 110,000 active Christian volunteers in jail and prison ministry representing 450 prison ministry programs in America; and

WHEREAS, no other prison ministry in America has the impact of front line evangelism that Bill Glass Ministries is having, in that the Bill Glass Ministries' counselors present the Gospel in person to more prisoners than any other ministry in America and more prisoners make decisions for Christ each year through Bill Glass Ministries than through all chaplains of state and federal prisons; and

WHEREAS, the average cost for Bill Glass Ministries to turn a prisoner from a life of repetitive crime is less than $100.00, compared with an average cost of $75,000.00 to build a prison cell and a $23,500.00 annual incarceration cost per prisoner; and

WHEREAS, the estimated savings is $6.1 Billion nationally to taxpayers as a result of the inmates who have accepted Christianity during the past 10 years of the Bill Glass Ministries "Weekend of Champions" program:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the national and state impact of the Bill Glass Ministries "Weekend of Champions" program on prisoner recidivism rates and on the cost of prisoner incarceration, and we do hereby urge volunteer participation in this program on its 10th anniversary.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Bill Glass Ministries through the Mississippi Department of Corrections and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.