Requesting a Bible Course

At the request of an inmate, the first course package is given out by the prison chaplain, or mailed directly from one of the two offices. The package includes the text book, exams, instructions and a postage-paid envelope. For many, this is the beginning of their spiritual journey with the Lord! After the student completes the course, he or she fills out the exams and mails them back. Once the exams reach the respective New Life office, they are marked and personally counselled by a mature Christian volunteer. In addition, personal letters are often written in response to questions or comments on the exams. Counsellors frequently send booklets or other resources to students in order to address specific spiritual questions.

As soon as a set of exams is received by the office, three more courses are mailed out to the student. The student is informed to complete course #2, mail it in, and continue with #3 and #4 while awaiting the results from the previous courses. NL strives to ensure that the student always has new courses on hand.

Award Books and Certificates

A certificate is awarded for each course successfully completed and is returned with the corrected exams. The certificates can give some students their first feelings of success and accomplishment, and are highly valued. For every increment of five courses the student completes, a larger certificate and an award book is sent to the student. Award books include such popular titles as:

Untwisted - Serge LeClerc
70 x 7 and Beyond - Monty Christensen
Taming the Tiger - Tony Anthony

Course Languages

Beside English courses, New Life also offers correspondence courses in Spanish and French. We are constantly striving to better serve the prison population by providing for our students’ language needs.

Origin of books

New Life Prison Ministry uses courses from a number of different publishers:

Emmaus Correspondence School
Everyday Publications
NavPress
The Mailbox Club

In addition to these courses, New Life has recently begun to write and publish its own courses. They are Canadian, contemporary, relevant, easy to comprehend, and include thought-engaging examination of Biblical truths.

The basic curriculum includes approximately forty-five courses, covering subjects in both Old and New Testaments. Some thirty-five additional advanced courses are provided for those desiring to continue their studies after completing the basic curriculum. There is also a less academically challenging series for students who experience reading or comprehension difficulties.

Continuing To Study Once Released

Students wishing to continue their studies after they are released are able to do so by simply informing the respective office of their release date and new address. The courses remain free of charge and the students continue to work their way through the curriculum as usual. Many students find it difficult to enter into society after their incarceration, and continuing to work through the courses often gives them a sense of stability and accomplishment.