We begin with Jeff’s background.  Interestingly, he uses the third person to talk about his life growing up the son of ’60s hippies and ending up in group homes and foster care.  He also talks openly about his time in the US Marine Corps and how he was a rebel against authority, which is probably not the best thing for somebody in the military.  Nonetheless, this background helped shaped who he is and helps him relate to many of the individuals he ministers to in prison.  The story also moves through his conversion to Christianity in 1989 and how that changed his life.  We follow him then through a series of jobs and, more importantly, into the world of a cappella singing.  While seemingly unrelated to prison ministry, it was singing with a Christian a cappella group that brought him into his current career.

A good portion of the middle part of the interview is spent talking about what went on with his a cappella prison ministry.  We talk about what a typical show would be like and the various constraints faced by the band.  Jeff notes how enthusiastic inmates were to see folks “from the outside,” but that prison regulations limited the time that they could have with prisoners.  He discusses how they would get their message across in between songs and with some short conversations after the performance.  We also learn the difference between jail and prison at this point, and Jeff points out that the transitory nature of jail makes it more difficult to reach out to the folks as compared to prison where the inmates know they are there for a longer period and approach life behind bars with greater seriousness.

We then move along to discussing how he obtained his current position as a prison chaplain.  We talk about the educational background he had, as well as “learning on the job” as a certified religious assistant (CRA).  We talk about some of the different challenges prison ministers face, including attempts to “game the system” by inmates, as well as some of the heavy psychological toll that this can take on the pastor.  Jeff shares a wonderful story about when he was significantly down and a number of the prisoners rallied around him, providing him with insight to how much of an impact he was having on these individuals.  He also discusses some of the legal issues that need to be managed, including a new Supreme Court religious liberty ruling on facial hair.  We finish with the three things Jeff has learned throughout his several decades of prison ministry.  First, you need to relate to people as they are and not as you want them to be.  Second, God doesn’t make trash.  And finally, you have more impact on people than you might think.  Good lessons for prison ministers and all of us as well.  Recorded: April 3, 2015.

RELATED LINKS

First Day Music, Jeff’s a cappella group’s website.

Holt v Hobbs, Supreme Court case regarding religious facial hair.

Harding School of Theology.

RELATED PODCASTS

Byron Johnson on Religion & Delinquency.

Byron Johnson on More God, Less Crime.

Robert Kinnune on Military Chaplains.

Daniel Stiles on Cowboy Churches.

William Wubbenhorst on Serve, West Dallas.

Jason Jewell on Why Christians Should Read the Great Books.

Jason Jewell on John Locke and Religious Toleration.

A list of episodes from practitioners.

We begin with Jeff’s background.  Interestingly, he uses the third person to talk about his life growing up the son of ’60s hippies and ending up in group homes and foster care.  He also talks openly about his time in the US Marine Corps and how he was a rebel against authority, which is probably not the best thing for somebody in the military.  Nonetheless, this background helped shaped who he is and helps him relate to many of the individuals he ministers to in prison.  The story also moves through his conversion to Christianity in 1989 and how that changed his life.  We follow him then through a series of jobs and, more importantly, into the world of a cappella singing.  While seemingly unrelated to prison ministry, it was singing with a Christian a cappella group that brought him into his current career.

A good portion of the middle part of the interview is spent talking about what went on with his a cappella prison ministry.  We talk about what a typical show would be like and the various constraints faced by the band.  Jeff notes how enthusiastic inmates were to see folks “from the outside,” but that prison regulations limited the time that they could have with prisoners.  He discusses how they would get their message across in between songs and with some short conversations after the performance.  We also learn the difference between jail and prison at this point, and Jeff points out that the transitory nature of jail makes it more difficult to reach out to the folks as compared to prison where the inmates know they are there for a longer period and approach life behind bars with greater seriousness.

We then move along to discussing how he obtained his current position as a prison chaplain.  We talk about the educational background he had, as well as “learning on the job” as a certified religious assistant (CRA).  We talk about some of the different challenges prison ministers face, including attempts to “game the system” by inmates, as well as some of the heavy psychological toll that this can take on the pastor.  Jeff shares a wonderful story about when he was significantly down and a number of the prisoners rallied around him, providing him with insight to how much of an impact he was having on these individuals.  He also discusses some of the legal issues that need to be managed, including a new Supreme Court religious liberty ruling on facial hair.  We finish with the three things Jeff has learned throughout his several decades of prison ministry.  First, you need to relate to people as they are and not as you want them to be.  Second, God doesn’t make trash.  And finally, you have more impact on people than you might think.  Good lessons for prison ministers and all of us as well.  Recorded: April 3, 2015.

UPDATE:  I was just informed that one of our former guests, Jason Jewell, sang a cappella with Jeff Henig and I didn’t even know it!  Jason’s podcasts are listed below and I’m now considering putting together a Research on Religion “Preaching to the Choir” Scholarship Quartet!

RELATED LINKS

First Day Music, Jeff’s a cappella group’s website.

Holt v Hobbs, Supreme Court case regarding religious facial hair.

Harding School of Theology.

RELATED PODCASTS

Byron Johnson on Religion & Delinquency.

Byron Johnson on More God, Less Crime.

Robert Kinnune on Military Chaplains.

Daniel Stiles on Cowboy Churches.

William Wubbenhorst on Serve, West Dallas.

Jason Jewell on Why Christians Should Read the Great Books.

Jason Jewell on John Locke and Religious Toleration.

A list of episodes from practitioners.

Our conversation begins with a description of Northwest, including its history (starting as a Bible college in downtown Seattle 75 years ago) and current enrollment.  Joe talks about the recent transition from “college” to “university” and explains the rationale behind that decision.  He notes how NU is expanding into a number of branch campuses in Salem (OR) and Sacramento (CA), which are physical “brick and mortar” locations, and extensions in Nampa (ID).   Northwest is also developing online degree programs for continuing adult education, as well.  The purpose of these expansions is to go where the demand for higher education is, particularly with respect to ministerial training, which he says must be “close to the ground.” We also discuss how NU recruits students and while Dr. Castleberry reveals that most students come from Washington State, efforts to recruit abroad (both in the US and globally) often rely upon personal missionary networks, particulary via the Assemblies of God.

Our conversation then turns to Dr. Castleberry’s personal biography, taking him from Princeton Theological Seminary to a missionary and professor in El Salvador.  He reflects upon what he learned in that experience that has been helpful for him as a university administrator.  The key take-away from that time abroad was the importance of building networks and we chat about how this is helpful for recruiting students.

The next portion of the interview examines student life including how NU goes about finding students to attend their school and what they go through when they get to campus. Most of the traditional undergraduate live on campus and are required to attend a certain number of chapel services.  We also talk about whether these students are insulated from the more secular world and Joe points out that NU students actually have a very visible presence in the community around them, through missionary work and via “normal life.”  The faculty-student ratio also becomes a focus of our conversation, and Dr. Castleberry lays out the benefits of being at a smaller university and proudly recounts a number of significant achievements that NU students have earned over the years, including beating Harvard students in debate competitions.

We also discuss the role of the faculty at the university, including how to recruit faculty members who are willing to sign a statement of faith and what emphasis NU places on teaching relative to research.  Joe points out that their general philosophy is not “publish or perish,” but rather “publish to flourish.”  We conclude with a discussion of some changes taking place in higher education writ large, which includes the increasing prominence of online education and other forms of distance learning.  Dr. Castleberry lays out his university’s strategy to expand in this area.  Recorded: June 17, 2013.

RELATED LINKS

Dr. Joseph Castleberry’s bio at Northwest University.

Northwest University.

Dr. Castleberry’s blog in English and Spanish.

The Kingdom Net: Learning to Network Like Jesus, by Joseph Castleberry.

Your Deepest Dream, by Joseph Castleberry.

RELATED PODCASTS

Rick Walston on Distance Learning & Seminary Education.

Kimberly Conger on Being Christian in Secular Academia.

RELATED LINKS

 Real  Clear Religion.  (You can access Real Clear Politics, Real Clear Books, Real Clear Science and other portals at this website as well.)

Jeremy Lott’s Diary on Patheos.com (pithy and profound insights galore).

Mitt Romney’s Mormon-Christian Coalition by Jeremy Lott courtesy of Human Events (asks for your email to download).

In Defense of Hypocrisy: Picking Sides in the War on Virtue, by Jeremy A. Lott.

The Warm Bucket Brigade: The Story of the American Vice Presidency, by Jeremy A. Lott.

William F. Buckley (Christian Encouter Series), by Jeremy A. Lott.

I’ll Never Forget It: Memoirs of a Political Accident from East Baltimore, by Marvin Mandel, Jeremy Lott, and Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

RELATED PODCASTS

Jeremy Lott on Episcopalians, Ex-Athiests, Health Care, and German Circumcision.

Jeremy Lott on Real Clear Religion.

Philip Muñoz on Catholic Bishops, Religious Liberty, and Health Care Mandates.

Gerald de Maio on the Electoral Religion Gap.

Corwin Smidt on Religion, Elections, and the God Gap.