In the chaos of a correctional facility, men and women need more than just a visit. They need a foundation. A prison cell is a place of isolation, but it can also be a place of construction.
Rev. Wesley Stephens and the Word of Grace team go directly into the local jails and prisons of Western North Carolina. We bring the order of the Gospel to a disordered world. Through weekly worship services, singing, and preaching, we declare the truth of Scripture.
our process
We Make Disciples
All across the United States, we guide prisoners through a rigorous educational path. We provide the tools, the books, and the instruction. The student provides the work.
The Basic Bible Course
Through one-on-one discipleship, we guide prisoners through a rigorous educational path. We provide the tools, the books, and the instruction. The student provides the work.
Laying The Foundation
The first stage introduces the student to the core concepts of the faith. We must clear the ground before we can build the house.
The Curriculum: The student receives three specific booklets: God: His Nature and Attributes, Man & Sin, and Salvation. These are the foundation books for this course.
The Tools: During this phase, we provide a King James Version (KJV) Bible for their studies.
The Result: When a student finishes this first course, they earn a Certificate of Completion and a brand new Bible with their name on it.
The Advanced Class
Once the foundation is set, the student moves to the Advanced Classes. There are five levels in this phase. At this point, the student begins using the New American Standard Bible (NASB) for precise study.
Class 1: Foundations of Theology
We study the reality of the human condition and the nature of God.
The Books: Students read Discerning the Plight of Man to see the severity of their condition. They also study Basic Fundamentals of the Faith, Knowing the Living God and Discovering the Glorious Gospel.
The Goal: To truly know God, not just facts about Him.
The Reward: Upon completion, the student receives a Key Word Study Bible. This tool helps them understand the original Hebrew and Greek terms needed for future work.
Class 2: Conversion and Repentance
This stage focuses on internal change and the daily walk of a believer.
The Books: We study Conversion and The Walk of Repentance. The student also completes a 12-week deep study of Psalm 119.
The Task: The student must write out their personal testimony. They must put into words how God has changed their life.
The Reward: We equip the student with professional study tools: a Strong’s Concordance & Vine’s Dictionary.
Class 3: Doctrine and Study Methods
Here, we deepen the student's ability to interpret Scripture.
The Books: The curriculum includes the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, two courses on Methods of Study, Studying the Holy Scriptures, and R.C. Sproul’s Everyone's a Theologian.
The Goal: To understand systematic theology and learn how to read the Bible correctly.
Class 4: The Nature of God and Grace
This class moves into the majesty of God.
The Books: We focus on the Doctrines of Grace and study Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically and Behold Your God: The Weight of Majesty.
The Reward: At this stage, we provide the student with a Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).
Class 5: Apologetics and Application
The final stage teaches the student to discern truth from error.
The Books: We study materials about discerning the true Gospel versus false gospels. We study through The True Gospel of Christ and The Truth War.
The Reward: Upon finishing, the student receives Willmington's Guide to the Bible. This is a massive resource designed to last the rest of their life.
Further Study
As long as a student is interested in continuing the course, and the funds are there to support them, we will continue providing study material for each student who continues past this point (Living by the Book, etc.).
We believe that resources should belong to the student. Every book and Bible we provide is theirs to keep. We are building a personal library for them to use long after they are released.
Digital Access: The courses are now available on tablets for inmates across North Carolina.
Spanish Curriculum: We offer these studies to the Spanish-speaking population, ensuring language is not a barrier to the truth.
