Field Ministers teach men how to read

Studies show that the illiteracy rate in prisons is as high as 70%. The Field Ministers skillfully teach men to read. Learning to read requires a great deal of vulnerability and trust on the part of the student. The Field Ministers, as men of God, patiently and kindly teach men to read daily. Throughout the instruction time, the Field Ministers have the opportunity to pray with their student, listen to them, extend godly counsel, and display the heart of Christ as they share the good news of Christ.


Field Minister leader of the literacy program, Steve Mole, and Certified Literacy Instructor Field Minister Ferdinand Smith present a proposal to Warden Bridgett Hayes and Assistant Wardens Demoss and Radcliff. The proposal was to teach men to read who cannot ready who are also in G-5 (often known as solitary confinement). Warden Hayes accepted the proposal and literacy instruction expanded from the chapel to G-5 high security housing at Memorial on August 1, 2022.

Studies show that the illiteracy rate in prisons is as high as 70%. The Field Ministers skillfully teach men to read. Learning to read requires a great deal of vulnerability and trust on the part of the student. The Field Ministers, as men of God, patiently and kindly teach men to read daily. Throughout the instruction time, the Field Ministers have the opportunity to pray with their student, listen to them, extend godly counsel, and display the heart of Christ as they share the good news of Christ.

A man from general population learns to read from Field Minister Ferdinand.