Home-based opportunities (multiple positions available)
- Bible Study Correspondence Instructor
Hands-on Opportunities (multiple positions available)
- Discipleship Class Teacher
- Discipleship Class Teacher’s Assistant
- Evangelism Training Teacher
- Evangelism Training Teacher’s Assistant
- Mentoring
Offender Family Opportunities
- Angel Tree Coordinator
- Angel Tree Volunteers- various opportunities
- Children’s Mentoring
- Caregiver Relief: Kids Club
- Kids Club Games Leader
- Kids Club Games Assistant
- Kids Club Snacks Leader
- Kids Club Snacks Assistant
- Kids Club Registration Leader
- Kids Club Registration Assistant
- Kids Club Praise Leader
- Kids Club Praise Assistant
- Kids Club Craft Leader
- Kids Club Craft Assistant
- Kids Club Bible Story Leader
- Kids Club Bible Story Assistant
- Kids Club Small Group Leaders (multiple – one per five children)
Offender Outreach
Bible Study Correspondence
Bible Study Correspondence Instructor
Time Required: Flexible. Fifteen minutes biweekly for each Bible Study Correspondence student.
Description: Bible Study Correspondence instructor will provide encouragement and spiritual growth opportunities to inmates. The instructor will grade Bible studies which are filled out by inmates (and formerly incarcerated individuals who began their study while incarcerated) and return them with a new study. It takes approximately fifteen minutes to grade each lesson and an answer guide is provided. Seed Sowers can assign Bible study correspondence volunteers with as few or as many students as they would like.
Requirements: Each volunteer would be provided with an answer key book, Seed Sowers envelopes, stamps and CD containing a year’s worth of Bible Study Correspondences. Volunteer would be responsible for grading the lessons received, printing off a new lesson and mailing both back to the inmate.
Hands-On Volunteers
Discipleship Classes
Coordinator
Description: The Discipleship Coordinator oversees discipleship teachers at the local area prisons and provides encouragement and support to them. The coordinator will consult with teachers to make sure the classes are running smoothly, monitor scheduling, and make sure teachers have all needed supplies. The coordinator may also make occasional visits to observe the class and provide feedback and assistance.
Time Required: Four-Six hours monthly, depending on number of classes in session.
Requirements: Previous experience teaching “Untying the Lies” or other discipleship class. This position requires a school-year commitment. This position also requires Texas Department of Criminal Justice volunteer training, “Untying the Lies” training, Seed Sowers’ volunteer Training and signed Hands-On Volunteer Commitment form. (If teaching in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
Curriculum: “Untying the Lies” by Sandy Stiles
Teacher
Description: “Untying the Lies” teachers provide spiritual guidance and encouragement to inmates through preparation and teaching of a weekly discipleship class. As they teach the curriculum teachers are able to give the inmates spiritual tools to make permanent life changes. Teachers are paired with a teaching assistant. However, if the assistant is not available, the teacher would also be responsible for maintaining files, attendance and sending attendance report to Chaplain each week.
Time Required: Four-Six hours monthly, depending on number of classes in session.
Requirements: This position requires an eight to ten week commitment for first time teachers. After teaching one semester this position would require a school-year commitment. This position also requires Texas Department of Criminal Justice volunteer training, “Untying The Lies” training, Seed Sowers’ volunteer Training and signed Hands-On Volunteer Commitment form. (If teaching in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
Curriculum: “Untying The Lies” by Sandy Stiles
Teacher’s Assistant
Description: Teacher’s assistants impact inmates lives as they assist with the discipleship classes on a weekly basis allowing teachers to fully focus on teaching the curriculum. Volunteers are paired up with a teacher and maintain student files and attendance and send a weekly attendance report to the prison Chaplain. This volunteer position is perfect for someone with a desire to teach. It will allow the volunteer to gain experience and distinguish if God is calling them to become a teacher within Seed Sowers.
Time Required: Four-Six hours monthly, depending on number of classes in session.
Requirements: This position requires an eight to ten week commitment, Texas Department of Criminal Justice training, “Untying The Lies” Training, Seed Sowers’ volunteer training and signed Hands-On Volunteer commitment form. (If teaching in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
Curriculum: “Untying The Lies” by Sandy Stiles
Hands-On Volunteers
Evangelism Training
Teacher
Description: Evangelism training teachers provide inmates with the spiritual tools they need to share the gospel with other inmates using the Evangelism Explosion curriculum. EE Teachers prepare for and teach a weekly class. Teachers are paired with a teaching assistant. However, if the assistant is not available, the teacher would also be responsible for maintaining files, attendance and sending attendance report to Chaplain each week.
Time Required: Four-Six hours monthly, depending on number of classes in session.
Requirements: This position requires an eight to ten week commitment for first time teachers. After first semester is taught this position would require a school-year commitment. This position also requires Texas Department of Criminal Justice volunteer training, “Evangelism Explosion” or “You Can Tell It” CERTIFICATION, Seed Sowers volunteer Training and signed Hands-On Volunteer Commitment form. (If teaching in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
*There is a fee associated with Evangelism Explosion and You Can Tell It certifications.
Teacher’s Assistant
Description: Teacher’s assistants have an opportunity to make an eternal impact in inmates lives as they assist with evangelism classes on a weekly basis allowing teachers to fully focus on teaching the curriculum. Volunteers are paired up with a teacher and maintain student files and attendance and send a weekly attendance report to the prison Chaplain. This volunteer position is perfect for someone with a desire to teach. It will allow the volunteer to gain experience and distinguish if God is calling them to become a teacher within Seed Sowers.
Time Required: Four-Six hours monthly, depending on number of classes in session.
Requirements: This position requires an eight to ten week commitment, Texas Department of Criminal Justice training, “Evangelism Explosion” or “You Can Tell It” training, Seed Sowers’ volunteer training and signed Hands-On Volunteer commitment form. (If teaching in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
Hands-On Volunteers
Mentoring
Coordinator: Needed
Coordinator Description: Volunteer who weekly monitors mentors to motivate them, to make sure their relationships with inmates are running smoothly and that they have all supplies/training they need.
Time Required: Flexible. Two hours weekly or biweekly, drive time to prison/jail facility, thirty minute preparation time for each mentor meeting.
Curriculum: To be determined
Description: Mentors are paired with an inmate (or inmates) that match their personality and will be released back into their community. The mentor volunteer will develop a relationship with the mentoree(s) by consistent one on one meetings in the prison/jail (weekly or biweekly are preferred, but exception will be made on a case to case basis). The mentoring relationship will continue once the inmate is released for at least one year (unless released inmate discontinues relationship).
Requirements: Mentor training, Texas Department of Criminal Justice volunteer training, Seed Sowers volunteer Training and signed Hands-On Volunteer Commitment form. (If mentoring inmate in faith based dorm at Dawson – VIP training by Prison Fellowship.)
Offender Family Outreach
Children
Angel Tree
Coordinator: Needed
Coordinator Description: Maintain master data base of children and volunteers. Dividing children up amongst volunteers and keeping up with their progress. Coordinating necessary meetings and wrapping dates.
Coordinator Time Required: Approximately five hours per week.
Angel Tree Volunteers: multiple positions open year round but especially around the holidays.
Time Required: Flexible. Amount of time required will be based upon how much volunteer commits to.
Description: There are many things to be done within the Angel Tree outreach. Volunteers can pick as many or as little of the task below.
- Contact local churches and businesses to see if they would be interested in participating in Angel Tree through Seed Sowers.
- Contact caretakers for permission to send children gifts and to confirm address, children’s ages and sizes.
- Research phone numbers for caretakers who we do not have phone numbers for – or write them letters for permission and information.
- Purchase toys/clothes for children with donated funds.
- Collect and store gifts that are returned from gift drive until delivery date.
- Wrap gifts that are returned unwrapped.
- Deliver gifts to families in Collin County vicinity.
Life Coaches
Children’s Mentor
Mentor Description: Mentors provide positive role modeling and encouragement to children of incarcerated inmates, filling in for the parent’s absence in a small way. Mentors make at least one contact per month (though weekly is encouraged). Contacts may include attending a school activity as the child’s representative (mother’s day tea, donuts with dad, etc), attending the child’s sports game, helping with homework, or inviting the child on a fun outing. Mentors are encouraged to help their child get plugged into the mentor’s church.
Time Required: Approximately 3-5 hours per month.
Requirements: Desire to provide nurturing and encouragement. Requires a school year commitment and background check.
kids club
The purpose of Kids Club is to provide a respite for caretakers once a month in a setting that is safe, nurturing and provides spiritual outreach to children of inmates.
Kids club Coordinator
Coordinator Description: Organize monthly club event for inmates children (by invitation only) ages 4 years old (potty trained) – 5th grade. Recruit & train volunteers. Includes planning, organizing, setup, clean up, promoting and running of events. Write proposal to seek out new church locations.
Coordinator Time Required: Approximately 5-10 hours per month.
Requirements: Previous VBS experience, children’s ministry experience. Background check.
Other Positions Under this role:
- Kids Club Games Leader
- Kids Club Games Assistant
- Kids Club Snacks Leader
- Kids Club Snacks Assistant
- Kids Club Registration Leader
- Kids Club Registration Assistant
- Kids Club Praise Leader
- Kids Club Praise Assistant
- Kids Club Craft Leader
- Kids Club Craft Assistant
- Kids Club Bible Story Leader
- Kids Club Bible Story Assistant
- Kids Club Small Group Leaders (multiple – one per five children)