Juvenile Justice Ministry — Breakaway Outreach

Turning the tide of juvenile delinquency one child at a time…

For nearly 30 years, Breakaway Outreach has been offering chaplaincy services and mobilizing communities to minister to the needs of incarcerated youth and their families.

Our missions network connects caring individuals and church groups with opportunities to serve in juvenile justice ministry. We offer training and resources for volunteers to communicate the Good News of God’s unconditional love and mercy—engaging young people as they are met in a variety of youth-serving institutions (detention centers, probation, correctional facilities, group homes, residential treatment centers and emergency shelters). These valued relationships are sustained through ongoing involvement as they re-enter their communities.

Some of the ways our network has served with juvenile justice outreach:

Chaplaincy services and volunteer training
Training leaders to lead group Bible studies
Sports ministries for juveniles
Developing curriculum and discipleship resources
Life skills training workships
Counseling, pastoral care for families
Mentoring relationships
Aftercare assistance and re-entry support
Fostering a network for resources, community involvement
Camps and KidVenturez for younger siblings of incarcerated teens

Broken Families

Most of the kids who commit crimes suffer from the impact of a broken family, the lack of positive peers, and a cultural epidemic of violence and abandoned morals. Juvenile correctional institutions today are filled with kids from urban, suburban, and rural America.

Regardless of where kids come from, the majority of them will be going back to their communities, perhaps in your neighborhood. We can choose to discard them, but we cannot deny that Jesus Christ died for them. We must remember that those who deserve love the least need it the most!

What Do They Need?

One study indicated that 94% of incarcerated youth have never had one single positive adult male role model that was consistently present in their life! Another study indicated that 84% of the boys who become serious juvenile offenders have parents with criminal records. It is quite clear that at-risk young people are in desperate need of healthy relationships with adults.

These kids are desperate for a family, positive relationships, and godly influences in their lives. We can sit back and watch young offenders get caught up in the cycle of becoming “lifers,” or we can intervene today and help them “breakaway” from a troubled past and become socially responsible, contributing adults in our society.

We can restore hope, reshape destinies, and rewrite the stories of those who have been impeded by the chains of delinquency.

Every Youth, Every Facility

If you are interested in serving or launching a juvenile justice ministry in your area, contact us for more info about helpful resources.

What the Bible Says About Juvenile Detention Center Ministry

Breakaway Testimonies

“A wonderful ministry that serves children here and abroad. I first met the founder, Jimmy Larche, when he came to visit my church during mission conference. Since then I have served at Breakaway’s summer camp for trauma-impacted kids, as well as the sports in ministry in Dominican Republic. Jimmy has a powerful testimony that drives him to reach out with the love of God to kids who are struggling like he once was.”

Tyler

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Breakaway Outreach. My father was incarcerated and I was sent into foster care. I started camp as a tiny little camper and now I get to serve as camp nurse! I graduated from Lee University with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I am currently working as a Nursery and Postpartum Nurse. Breakaway Outreach is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an outreach of family and community that all come together because we truly care about God’s children.”

Lacey

“This camp has been wonderful. You have helped me to find Jesus, the Lord. I have let Jesus into my heart. You have so many amazing people here and you have given me so much hope. God has given us all a chance to know and love each other. Thank you so much and I hope that I can keep coming back to camp.”

Maya

“Before the first year at camp, it was the lowest part of my life. I had lost my mother and sister in a tragic car wreck. I was being bullied at school and was planning to commit suicide when I received an invitation with a scholarship to attend Breakaway camp. I decided to put off the suicide plan and attend camp. It was the best decision I ever made. I gave my life to Jesus at camp and then Breakaway helped me get involved with a local church. My life still has ups and downs but I know now that God has me no matter what.”