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What’s in a name?

Sometimes I struggle when I try to explain to others what it is, exactly, that I do here in my role with unCUFFED. When I’m speaking to church folks, the easiest connection for me to make is ‘youth ministry.’ I mean, that’s essentially what I am doing: I am building relationships with kids, hopefully encouraging…

Grateful for Re-connections

You often hear the good stories from us of young men and women who are making choices to change their lives but prison ministry, especially with kids, can be an uphill struggle at times. For every kid we make a connection with, another one walks away. The lure of the street and the easy money…

Hey Miss Kim

I heard those words shouting out of a window on East Madison Street ​last night. They were actually the answer to a crazy prayer I had offered up 90 minutes earlier​. Last May, I first met Dan (pseudonym) on the youth tier of the Baltimore County Detention Center. He was warm, energetic, open and eager…

Lost Hope

Isaiah 22 discusses the attitude of the Israelites, during a time of tribulation. They have no confidence in God’s providence nor fear of His judgement. Without the hope of a future, temporal or eternal, their only sane choice is to say “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!” We meet so many young…

The View from Here

This is an article by a female detainee that we have had the pleasure of working with for a year. God has truly ministered to her through the faithful commitment of unCUFFED volunteer, Sarah Molling. Amanda also created the painting above with Sarah’s help. It is a great symbol of hope in the midst of…

Looking for a Father figure

I met 17 year old Jack (a pseudonym) about a month ago.  He has been incarcerated for 5 months and was recently transferred to the juvenile tier at the Baltimore County Detention Center. He is well spoken, thoughtful and curious. During a recent Impending Class we were discussing mentors and who these boys follow. Jack…