What We Do

Our Mission is

To introduce incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth, men and women to Jesus. Our discipleship takes place in youth and adult jails/prisons as well as our discipleship house.

Cook County Prison Bible Study

Meet Vonte

Meet Austin

We haven’t found many organizations or agencies who are working to help incarcerated youth transition from Youth Prisons back to society the way we are. Philemon House heeds the calling and burdens from God to step in and bridge the equality gap by justly providing Christ centered in-Prison and in-House discipleship for you.

How Philemon House Discipleship Program Works

Discipleship Program is divided into two primary Ministries:

In-Prison Youth Ministry

The in-Prison ministry is intended to evangelize and make disciples. The youth ministry utilizes the Bible-based ministry materials and methods in small groups after sports, games and supplied fun food/snacks with the youth. The in-Prison Youth Ministry serves to identify youth that may be candidates for the in-House ministry.

Discipleship House Youth Ministry

The Disciple House ministry is focused on a select few youth with the intent to help them break the cycle of incarceration through a Christ centered life. The Christ centered life is modeled by the Philemon House husband and his wife team whom help the youth see and learn what living the Christian life is like.

Male youth who have participated during our in-Prison ministry, who have demonstrated change of heart, a desire to grow and become a productive member of society are given the opportunity to complete an application to be considered as a Discipleship House resident. Selected youth will experience the Discipleship House family life-model intended to modify their behavior in the following five key areas: spiritual, personal, financial, educational, and occupational. The two main objectives of the ministry are to break the cycle of incarceration and to make disciples.

Spiritual

We disciple and walk with them as they develop a relationship with Jesus.

Personal

We teach the importance of self-care, setting goals, and develop skills that benefit them in the long run.

Financial

We provide training on personal budgeting with a targeted savings goal for support at the start of independent living.

Educational

We guide our youth through a decision process to choose between enrollment in college, trade school, or a certification program.

Occupational

We make our youth employment ready with the ability to look for a job, apply for a job, interview for a job. Help them find employment in their field of interest.

Philemon House is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax ID number is 90-1079379.