Pastor Paul Witmer, Minister of Reentry and Congregational Care for Women at the Well at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women at Mitchellville, Iowa, will be coming to the Waterloo area in August to offer a Reentry Team Training. It will be at Kimball Ave UMC on August 12, from  1 - 4 p.m. 

For more information, contact Pastor Paul Witmer, Minister of Reentry and Congregational Care for Women at the Well,  [email protected]; 515-313-6916 (cell)

Reentry teams are faith-based teams of men and women who provide non-financial support for a woman leaving Mitchellville and reentering society. The women fill out an application and go through an interview process to be assigned to a team. The team commits to meeting with the woman approximately once a week for about one hour for up to one year. It is recognized that team members will occasionally miss meetings due to other commitments. Support can involve praying, helping the participant to set goals for the week which are based on short and long-term plans, determine a budget based on expected earnings and expenses, explore options to achieve and maintain independence, connect with resources to meet needs, and help her to develop healthy relationships and avoid previous unhealthy ones. The team does not have the authority to tell the participant what to do but provides encouragement, faith, and non-judgmental, loving guidance.

I hope you'll think about coming to learn more, and possibly join this important ministry.

Existing team members would be welcome, both for a refresher on their part, and to share their experiences and insights with new folks.