Restorative Justice
A Biblical response to wrongdoing that emphasizes healing the wounds of victims, offenders, families, and communities — training counselors who minister in jails, prisons, and beyond.
Justice rooted in grace and reconciliation.
Therapon University's Restorative Justice program offers a Biblical response to wrongdoing that emphasizes healing the wounds of victims, offenders, families, and communities caused or revealed by criminal behavior.
This degree program focuses on training counselors who minister to convicts, ex-convicts, youth offenders, victims, and their families. All courses within the Biblical Counseling Curriculum may also be applied to this major. Students complete 80 coursework hours plus up to 40 hours of recognized life and ministry experience.
- Minister to convicts, ex-convicts, youth offenders, victims and their families
- Apply a Biblical restorative model to criminal justice and reconciliation
- Heal the wounds of victims, offenders, families, and communities
- Provide effective jail and prison ministry at every level
- Lead offenders to genuine spiritual transformation through Scripture
What it takes to graduate.
Authorized Courses.
All courses are 3 credit hours. Online Only courses: nothing to purchase.
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RJ-611 | Changing Lenses: A New Focus for Crime and Justice | 3 | Amazon |
| RJ-612 | Choosing to Forgive | 3 | Amazon |
| RJ-619 | The Criminal's Belief System | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-609 | Criminal Justice: Using the Restorative Justice Paradigm | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-607 | Effective Prison Ministry | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-604 | I Was in Prison | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-617 | Lifetime Guarantee | 3 | Amazon |
| RJ-613 | Philemon: A Message of Reconciliation | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-610 | Prisoner of the Lord | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-625New | Restorative Practices | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-606 | Shattering the Shackles of Shame | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-615 | Strategic Spiritual Warfare | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-621 | Walk Worthy | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-635New | When God Interrupts | 3 | Online Only |
| RJ-631 | You Came Unto Me | 3 | Online Only |
Course descriptions.
Changing Lenses: A New Focus for Crime and Justice
Howard Zehr proposes a restorative model more consistent with experience, the past, and the Biblical tradition. Based on the needs of victims and offenders, taking into account recent studies and Biblical principles.
Choosing to Forgive
Teaches how to increase your ability to forgive by learning to establish appropriate boundaries, achieving a balance between forgiveness and healthy anger, correctly managing and communicating your anger, and forgiving for the right reasons.
The Criminal's Belief System
Studies the common beliefs and thoughts of criminals that come out of a hardened heart, matching them one by one with truths from God's Word — revealing how thoughts lead to choices and actions that result in incarceration.
Criminal Justice: Using the Restorative Justice Paradigm
An in-depth study of the prison system and how the Restorative Justice paradigm can be implemented.
Effective Prison Ministry
A study explaining the Restorative Justice paradigm, the prison system and the offender, and teaching the steps to provide an effective prison ministry.
I Was in Prison
A guide to personal witnessing in jails and prisons, written for the lay counselor who wishes to become involved in jail ministry in their community or minister in state and federal prisons.
Lifetime Guarantee
Only one person can live like Christ — Jesus Himself — and He wants to live His life through every believer. Students discover the root of their problems, the key to victory in their true identity in Christ, and God's goal of conformity to Christ's image.
Philemon: A Message of Reconciliation
The short epistle of Paul to Philemon expresses a perfect portrait of Restorative Justice in the way Paul deals with the reconciliation of Philemon and his servant Onesimus.
Prisoner of the Lord
Messages drawn from the Word of God shared during decades of prison ministry. Written for those doing time in jail or prison and for those who want to minister to offenders and ex-offenders — giving anyone a new beginning and a new spiritual destiny.
Restorative Practices
Examines the right and wrong way to approach conflict resolution and restore relationships. What does the Bible say about confrontation? Practical Biblical steps to restore relationships after wrongdoing.
Shattering the Shackles of Shame
Shame is an emotion that will keep you forever shackled to the past. This course aims to shatter the shackles of shame — whether from personal sin, shame imposed by others, or an inherited cycle of shameful behavior — so you can rise to fulfill your God-given destiny.
Strategic Spiritual Warfare
Presents effective strategic spiritual guidelines for dealing with a very real spiritual enemy through a 15-step interactive program that guides students in facing the battles of life.
Walk Worthy
Delves into 229 biblical references regarding our "walk" as a believer — adjusting the direction and stride of our walk so that it lines up more and more with the Word, day by day.
When God Interrupts
Examines over 50 biblical interruptions — showing that when God interrupts a life, the person almost always receives a new assignment from the Lord. Inspired by the worldwide shutdown due to COVID-19.
You Came Unto Me
A training manual providing instruction for every level of jail and prison ministry involvement — from corresponding with an inmate to post-prison ministry upon release, including ministry to inmates' families.
How to enroll.
Apply Online
Complete the STI application with your personal information and a brief testimony of faith and ministry background.
Pay Application Fee
A one-time, non-refundable $20 application fee is required to process your enrollment.
Begin Your Studies
Upon acceptance, select your first course, obtain your textbook (if required), and submit your first assignment to begin.
Equipping Servants for the Kingdom
Shimba Theological Institute admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin.
99 Wall Street, Suite 5544, New York, NY 10005
info@shimbatheological.org · +1 (347) 501-6665 (Admissions)
+1 (575) 213-6136 (General Inquiries)
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