Epafras is looking for volunteers in Thailand to visit detainees
The Epafras Foundation offers pastoral care to Dutch prisoners abroad. Do you live in Thailand and are you interested in visiting prisoners in Thailand on a voluntary basis as a chaplain? Please contact the Epafras Foundation.
Many prisoners have indicated that they appreciate the specific pastoral care of Epaphras and experience a conversation partner with whom they can share their deepest needs, concerns, questions, guilt and considerations in full confidence and in complete secrecy and often pray together as indispensable .
Since 1984, the Epafras Foundation has been providing crisis pastoral care to Dutch prisoners abroad. Epafras receives a subsidy for a network of volunteers living abroad who visit Dutch prisoners. In consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Epafras focuses on the countries that need the most pastoral care, such as South, Central and North America, Africa, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Lebanon, Nepal and Morocco. Currently there are more than 60 local chaplains worldwide, but the future calls for more volunteers.
This is what the Epafras Foundation can do for you if you are willing to visit the Dutch prisoners at least twice a year:
Extensive information about and equipment for the job.
- Expenses of (local) travel, accommodation costs and diaconal expenses are reimbursed.
- Access to the prisons in the countries of concern is arranged by the Dutch embassy or consulate.
- Epafras will keep you informed of developments online, by telephone or skype.
For more information and contact:
- Martien Agterberg, director of spiritual care
- [email protected]
- www.epafras.nl
Source: www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl
Surely….I was in prison and you visited me….and whatever you did to the least of mine, you did to me!
Yet I don't see that praying like that. Is there also a humanistic department?
Do I understand correctly that this only concerns prisoners who have something to do with the church?
If you are in prison as a non-believer then you are out of luck?
I can well imagine that people who are imprisoned here in Thailand need a visit and want to talk to someone of Dutch descent, for family and acquaintances it is quite a bit to catch the plane and grab him € 700 for the flight only to count down.
In my view, it is not so much about the Christian background, but much more about being a listening ear for detainees, whether they are Christian, Mohammedan, Buddhist, non-denominational or Hindu. Detainees of Dutch origin have their needs, questions, fears, concerns and it does not matter what your background is. Then it is very nice that there is a listening Dutch ear. And that listening ear may be helpful in a number of practical matters when you are detained in Thailand.
If the organization wants to be part human then let them call up ordinary people who would like to visit someone in prison for a chat, bring some humanity and something they want, soap, a cigarette
Thea