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Japan: Prison Chaplaincy
Japan: Prison Chaplaincy
When compared internationally, Japanese prisons have a very strict discipline. The United Church of Christ in Japan (KYODAN) visits people in prison and provides them with pastoral care.
"Nobody looks after the prisoners and they are really in distress," says a Japanese pastor who cares for prisoners in his spare time. "That's why we must look after them." God gave every person dignity and the possibility of transformation, even if they have been in prison for a long time. For over 60 years, volunteers and pastors of both genders from the KYODAN church have provided prisoners with pastoral care and counsel them after their release.
Ministry and practical help for prisoners
One thing that impresses is that most pastoral carers work voluntarily in their spare time. They support prisoners regularly or over long periods of time and they help them with visit applications and family problems. They prepare people in prison to resume life outside and to meet their children – many of the prisoners have not seen their children for over 20 years. The most important thing is spiritual ministry – as a practical witness of God's presence and, in the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:36: "I was in prison and you visited me." Questions concerning guilt and forgiveness also play a role in their work.
Japan
126 million inhabitants, of which 56,000 are detainees
Training and networking volunteer pastoral carers
Since Christians are a small minority in Japan, the church has very little financial means.This is why the EMS supports the valuable work of the church with prisoners and gives pastoral carers the vital opportunity of having regular exchanges of experience with each other. The EMS helps with travel costs for network meetings and participation fees for further trainings or conferences on the subject. It also supports the exchange of experience between volunteers by newsletter.
Project goals
The Diakonia Sisterhood from Korea has made it its mission to help children, the elderly and the sick. Since state benefits such as pensions, healthcare or family benefits are relatively low in Korea, many Koreans suffer from poverty and are dependent on help. The Sisterhood supports these people in the South Korean port of Mokpo and surrounding area.
Project work
Together with a network of volunteers, the Sisterhood makes house calls in the poor district of the port of Mokpo. They work with local organisations such as church communities, the YMCA, women's advice centres, social welfare institutions and medical facilities. Together with the city authorities, the Sisterhood runs several welfare centres and supports young adults in their vocational training.
Project partner
The Diakonia Sisterhood in Korea was founded in 1980 by eight young women as a Protestant convent near the city of Mokpo in South West Korea. The Sisterhood is a community whose members live together in prayer and in service to others. They have been looking after the needy for over 40 years. First they helped tuberculosis sufferers with a health programme. Teir work includes nursing, pastoral care, and care for the dying. Today, they are committed especially to the care of elderly people and impoverished families.
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