12 Jun 2025, 08:12Pastor Seth AdjareKing's Lynn, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
Faith In Action: Opening Doors SEC Hosts Inaugural Prison Ministries Convention
In a groundbreaking step toward reshaping the Seventh-day Adventist Church's role in the criminal justice system, the South England Conference (SEC) Prison Ministries Department held its inaugural convention under the theme “Faith in Action: Opening Doors.”
From May 28 to June 1, 2025, over 120 delegates, chaplains, volunteers, and justice reform advocates gathered at the serene Hay's Wood Retreat Centre. Backed by the British Union Conference (BUC) and the Trans-European Division (TED), the event set a new precedent for what prison ministry can become: a coordinated, Spirit-led movement of hope, healing, and restoration.
A Movement Takes Shape
The convention was organised under the leadership of Pastor Seth Adjare, SEC Prison Ministries sponsor, and transitioned from fragmented outreach to strategic engagement. With the full support of TED and BUC, the gathering signalled that prison ministry is no longer a peripheral initiative but a defining feature of the Adventist mission in Europe.
Pastor Dr. Kirk Thomas, SEC President, opened the event with a stirring message based on the account of 2 Chronicles 33. Using the story of Manasseh, Dr. Thomas stressed how sometimes God allows our world to collapse so we can finally hear Him, driving home the need to view prisons not as places of punishment but as potential mission fields.
Pastor Eglan Brooks, President of the BUC, captured this momentum in his Sabbath message, preaching from Isaiah 61:1. Pastor Brooks emphasises that the church must be a refuge where the wounded find healing, not judgment. He praised the gathering as an intervention, aligning with the territory's BUC vision.
Pastor Dr. Patrick Johnson, TED’s Ministerial Director and Devotional and Commitment speaker for the event, reignited passion for mission in Europe, emphasising prison ministry as a door of opportunity. His messages were a timely reminder of a profound truth that “Everyone is living a story, and the story one lives out shapes how they see God, themselves, others and their future. TED’s involvement underscored the broader significance of the event. With nearly 92,000 members in over 1,100 churches, the Division’s support opens the door for large-scale, systemic impact.
Yet, there were other voices of Vision and Experience as the convention featured a blend of theological insight, practical training, and global experience.
Adding international perspective, Elder Daniel McManus from the USA equipped attendees on adapting North American prison evangelism models for European contexts. UK-based experts like Chaplain Bob Wilson and Emily Green (The Welcome Directory) enriched conversations around rehabilitation and post-release care.
Specialised breakout sessions tackled issues often left untouched, including but not limited to the following;
Ministering to Gang-Affiliated Youth – Pastor Chaplain Maxim Sofanov (USA)
Mental Health First Aid for Prison Volunteers – Thembi Mapingire, Cornerstone Counselling
Understanding the Criminal Mind – Elder Trevor Vincent Attaz, retired UK police officer
Esafety - protecting oneself in a digital world – Pastor Emmanuel Asamoah, former IT educator
These sessions reflected the convention’s trauma-informed, multi-disciplinary approach, recognising that true healing often requires both prayer and practical tools.
Concrete Outcomes, Immediate Impact
Beyond inspiration, the event produced tangible outcomes already taking root:
Policy Dialogues: In a groundbreaking meeting, the SEC Faith Advisor and the Trans-European Division (TED) Ministerial Director met with the Free Church Faith Lead to explore faith-based rehabilitation models. Discussions centered on how the Seventh-day Adventist Church can play a vital role in national efforts to restore lives through spiritual and practical support.
Resource Development: The SEC unveiled a draft Prison Ministry Vision Document and proposed a Volunteer Training Handbook. These resources aim to standardize and elevate volunteer engagement across the region.
Powerful Testimonials:
“I never saw prisons as mission fields until this week.” — SEC Lay volunteer
“Finally, a blueprint to unite churches and justice systems!” — Local Church Prison Ministries leader
These statements underscore a deepening sense of mission and national resonance of the SEC’s model.
Strategic Roadmap: SEC Prison Ministries’ Future Plans
Pastor Adjare, introduced a strategic roadmap designed to anchor the ministry in long-term effectiveness:
Initiative | Timeline | Objective |
Volunteer Certification | Q3 2025 – Q1 2026 | Train over 300 volunteers using TED-approved curriculum |
Family Support Networks | Q4 2025 | Launch “Hubs and Centres” to support families of incarcerated individuals |
Reentry Housing Scheme | 2026 | Collaborate with ADRA and housing partners for transitional support |
National Justice Summit | May 2026 | Unite UK churches and HM Prison Service for dialogue and reform |
Key Components of the Plan:
Digital Resource Hub: SEC’s online portal will be expanded in partnership with TED to include study guides, crisis management tools, and archived webinars.
Choir Ministry Expansion: In collaboration with the SEC Music Directorate, a “Choirs of Light” programme will be introduced to bring healing through music behind bars.
Global Connections: A Ministry on the Move
SEC’s model is attracting global interest and partnership:
North American Division Convention: SEC delegates will attend the August 2025 NAD Prison Ministries Convention in Toronto. The goal? Share best practices and foster cross-cultural collaboration.
TED’s GAiN Europe 2025: A prison ministry track at the November summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, will spotlight SEC’s work as a replicable model across the division.
Conclusion: A Vision Rooted in Restoration
This convention did more than share ideas — it launched a movement. Pastor Adjare summarized the mission powerfully:
“Our task is not just to visit prisons, but to dismantle cycles of crime with Christ’s redemption.”
With the full support of TED and the British Union Conference (BUC), SEC Prison Ministries is transitioning from reactive outreach to a systemic model of restorative justice — spiritual, practical, and post-release.
As Jesus declared,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to proclaim freedom for the captives.” (Luke 4:18)
Next Steps for Churches and Members
To sustain this momentum, the SEC is calling its members and congregations to action:
Churches: Appoint a Prison Ministries Liaison by July 31, 2025
Volunteers: Enroll and complete modules on the SEC’s training portal
Leaders: Advocate for Adventist representation in chaplaincy and local justice systems
Vision Targets:
Expand Adventist presence in the UK’s criminal justice system by 150%
Promote holistic rehabilitation: spiritual nurture, practical skills, and post-release care
Build a volunteer ecosystem: trained, sustainable, and empowered
Establish the Church as a community of advocacy and compassion
SEC Prison Ministries is not just imagining a better future—it’s building one.
In a groundbreaking step toward reshaping the Seventh-day Adventist Church's role in the criminal justice system, the South England Conference (SEC) Prison Ministries Department held its inaugural convention under the theme “Faith in Action: Opening Doors.”
From May 28 to June 1, 2025, over 120 delegates, chaplains, volunteers, and justice reform advocates gathered at the serene Hay's Wood Retreat Centre. Backed by the British Union Conference (BUC) and the Trans-European Division (TED), the event set a new precedent for what prison ministry can become: a coordinated, Spirit-led movement of hope, healing, and restoration.
A Movement Takes Shape
The convention was organised under the leadership of Pastor Seth Adjare, SEC Prison Ministries sponsor, and transitioned from fragmented outreach to strategic engagement. With the full support of TED and BUC, the gathering signalled that prison ministry is no longer a peripheral initiative but a defining feature of the Adventist mission in Europe.
Pastor Dr. Kirk Thomas, SEC President, opened the event with a stirring message based on the account of 2 Chronicles 33. Using the story of Manasseh, Dr. Thomas stressed how sometimes God allows our world to collapse so we can finally hear Him, driving home the need to view prisons not as places of punishment but as potential mission fields.
Pastor Eglan Brooks, President of the BUC, captured this momentum in his Sabbath message, preaching from Isaiah 61:1. Pastor Brooks emphasises that the church must be a refuge where the wounded find healing, not judgment. He praised the gathering as an intervention, aligning with the territory's BUC vision.
Pastor Dr. Patrick Johnson, TED’s Ministerial Director and Devotional and Commitment speaker for the event, reignited passion for mission in Europe, emphasising prison ministry as a door of opportunity. His messages were a timely reminder of a profound truth that “Everyone is living a story, and the story one lives out shapes how they see God, themselves, others and their future. TED’s involvement underscored the broader significance of the event. With nearly 92,000 members in over 1,100 churches, the Division’s support opens the door for large-scale, systemic impact.
Yet, there were other voices of Vision and Experience as the convention featured a blend of theological insight, practical training, and global experience.
Adding international perspective, Elder Daniel McManus from the USA equipped attendees on adapting North American prison evangelism models for European contexts. UK-based experts like Chaplain Bob Wilson and Emily Green (The Welcome Directory) enriched conversations around rehabilitation and post-release care.
Specialised breakout sessions tackled issues often left untouched, including but not limited to the following;
Ministering to Gang-Affiliated Youth – Pastor Chaplain Maxim Sofanov (USA)
Mental Health First Aid for Prison Volunteers – Thembi Mapingire, Cornerstone Counselling
Understanding the Criminal Mind – Elder Trevor Vincent Attaz, retired UK police officer
Esafety - protecting oneself in a digital world – Pastor Emmanuel Asamoah, former IT educator
These sessions reflected the convention’s trauma-informed, multi-disciplinary approach, recognising that true healing often requires both prayer and practical tools.
Concrete Outcomes, Immediate Impact
Beyond inspiration, the event produced tangible outcomes already taking root:
Policy Dialogues: In a groundbreaking meeting, the SEC Faith Advisor and the Trans-European Division (TED) Ministerial Director met with the Free Church Faith Lead to explore faith-based rehabilitation models. Discussions centered on how the Seventh-day Adventist Church can play a vital role in national efforts to restore lives through spiritual and practical support.
Resource Development: The SEC unveiled a draft Prison Ministry Vision Document and proposed a Volunteer Training Handbook. These resources aim to standardize and elevate volunteer engagement across the region.
Powerful Testimonials:
“I never saw prisons as mission fields until this week.” — SEC Lay volunteer
“Finally, a blueprint to unite churches and justice systems!” — Local Church Prison Ministries leader
These statements underscore a deepening sense of mission and national resonance of the SEC’s model.
Strategic Roadmap: SEC Prison Ministries’ Future Plans
Pastor Adjare, introduced a strategic roadmap designed to anchor the ministry in long-term effectiveness:
Initiative | Timeline | Objective |
Volunteer Certification | Q3 2025 – Q1 2026 | Train over 300 volunteers using TED-approved curriculum |
Family Support Networks | Q4 2025 | Launch “Hubs and Centres” to support families of incarcerated individuals |
Reentry Housing Scheme | 2026 | Collaborate with ADRA and housing partners for transitional support |
National Justice Summit | May 2026 | Unite UK churches and HM Prison Service for dialogue and reform |
Key Components of the Plan:
Digital Resource Hub: SEC’s online portal will be expanded in partnership with TED to include study guides, crisis management tools, and archived webinars.
Choir Ministry Expansion: In collaboration with the SEC Music Directorate, a “Choirs of Light” programme will be introduced to bring healing through music behind bars.
Global Connections: A Ministry on the Move
SEC’s model is attracting global interest and partnership:
North American Division Convention: SEC delegates will attend the August 2025 NAD Prison Ministries Convention in Toronto. The goal? Share best practices and foster cross-cultural collaboration.
TED’s GAiN Europe 2025: A prison ministry track at the November summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, will spotlight SEC’s work as a replicable model across the division.
Conclusion: A Vision Rooted in Restoration
This convention did more than share ideas — it launched a movement. Pastor Adjare summarized the mission powerfully:
“Our task is not just to visit prisons, but to dismantle cycles of crime with Christ’s redemption.”
With the full support of TED and the British Union Conference (BUC), SEC Prison Ministries is transitioning from reactive outreach to a systemic model of restorative justice — spiritual, practical, and post-release.
As Jesus declared,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to proclaim freedom for the captives.” (Luke 4:18)
Next Steps for Churches and Members
To sustain this momentum, the SEC is calling its members and congregations to action:
Churches: Appoint a Prison Ministries Liaison by July 31, 2025
Volunteers: Enroll and complete modules on the SEC’s training portal
Leaders: Advocate for Adventist representation in chaplaincy and local justice systems
Vision Targets:
Expand Adventist presence in the UK’s criminal justice system by 150%
Promote holistic rehabilitation: spiritual nurture, practical skills, and post-release care
Build a volunteer ecosystem: trained, sustainable, and empowered
Establish the Church as a community of advocacy and compassion
SEC Prison Ministries is not just imagining a better future—it’s building one.
