CHRISTIAN JAIL MINISTRY

The Poetry Program section contains poems related to Christian Jail Ministry's (CJM's) ministry. Some will be poems composed by inmates at the Howard County Detention Center in Jessup, Maryland, or by volunteers ministering to them. We even have poetry from HCDC staff. Two special non-inmate poems are a poem from Australia (by Anne, the first visitor to this website -- included in an email to us) and a poem by the leader of the CJM Poetry Program (written shortly after his first visit to HCDC). 

Purpose

To encourage inmates to express themselves through poetry and to help them to improve their poetic skills, especially poetry on religious topics.

The Program for Men

Inmates can submit a poem a week for review. The poems are to be given to Chaplain Smith at the Tuesday night Bible class. The poems will be reviewed by award-winning poet Mr. Art Milkes and returned. Once a month, inmates who have submitted poems for review can meet with Mr. Milkes for poetry discussions and his reviews of their poems.

Program Lead: Mr. Art Milkes, Award-winning Poet

Member:
International Society of Poets
International Society of Authors and Artists
National Authors Registry

Published:
In 72 anthologies
Four poems published/ for publication in Verses Magazine 1999-2000

Awards:
Feature Author, National Authors Registry
(Verses Magazine, 1997)

Poet of the Year (Nov 1999) + 8 Honorable Mentions 1997-99
Cader Publishing International Competition

President’s Award for Literary Excellence
1998,1999, 2000 Iliad Press 

The Program for Women

Since the program began in November of 2007, the poetry ministry for the female residents of HCDC has been very rewarding for its leader (Mrs. Geneva Colbert) and so much fun.  It’s been a time to share a favorite Scripture, a familiar song, and prayers of gratitude.  It’s been a time to just laugh and have fun sharing our God-given talents in writing one with another, even with those who have never written poetry before.  We welcome all who desire to fellowship with us during our twice a month meetings, just to come and share with us.  The ladies are given a particular subject for their poems, such as first animal or favorite spiritual song.  Sometimes we do a style of poetry where someone gives the first line followed by a corresponding line from each lady.  We close with prayer for needs and concerns, followed by a subject for homework to write a poem to share the next time we meet.

Mrs. Geneva Colbert has been a CJM volunteer since 1982.  She was its first one-on-one discipleship training volunteer.  As a CJM Board member, she initiated its Christmas for Inmate Children program.  In 2007, she was elected Vice-President of the CJM Board.