Rehabilitation and redemption are at the core of Christian Journey Courses’ approach to helping incarcerated people address both their spiritual and practical needs. Previously known as Christian Job Corps until earlier this year, the nonprofit offers targeted programs to jail inmates and probationers to foster personal growth, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.
To hear one graduate tell it, Christian Journey Courses (CJC) began to change her life as soon as she arrived at the Kendall County Jail. “I remember walking into the tank and seeing one of the girls sitting at the table working on a workbook,” Chelsea shares in a written testimonial. “I inquired as to what she was doing and she told me that she was in the [CJC] program and that I should sign up for the next round of classes. Thank God I did.”
Hers is just one of the stories of lives changed by CJC and its approach based on the understanding that criminal behavior often stems from deeper, underlying issues. Many incarcerated individuals have experienced significant trauma, lacked educational opportunities, or have not been exposed to the life skills necessary to make sound decisions. That’s certainly true of Chelsea’s story. “I was raised in a single-parent household with a father who was addicted and in and out of prison my whole life,” she says. “I was always missing something.”
So, when she came to CJC, she found something different. Instead of focusing solely on punishment, CJC approaches rehabilitation by addressing root causes, helping individuals—both convicted and awaiting trial—understand how their past experiences contributed to their actions, and providing them with the tools to build a better future.
“I will never forget my first class and meeting Monay and the other women who volunteer their time,” Chelsea recalls. “Walking into that first class was the first step into my life being changed forever.” CJC’s training method is entirely group-focused, emphasizing participation and discussion. Participants engage with the material by reading aloud, responding to video lessons, and actively participating in discussions. This allows for a collaborative learning environment where individuals can learn from each other’s experiences and insights. Chelsea adds, “Week after week, class after class, I was being filled.”
The curriculum is structured to guide participants through self-reflection while building a sense of faith and purpose. Through a combination of Bible study and personal growth exercises, the program provides a holistic path for individuals seeking to transform their lives. Topics include financial literacy, community engagement, dealing with anxiety, and processing trauma. “I was gaining knowledge that gave me the power and courage to overcome my past,” Chelsea says. “It was because of this program that, within the walls of Kendall County Jail, I was healing.”
Ultimately, Christian Journey Courses believes that when individuals are presented with the opportunity to heal from trauma, acquire essential life skills, and find purpose, they can break free from the patterns that led them into the criminal justice system. Instead of being trapped in a cycle of failure or victimhood, participants learn that they have the power to create change—not just in their own lives but in the lives of their families and communities as well.
Chelsea completed the CJC program just days before she was released. She went on to earn her high school equivalency diploma and work as a behavioral health associate at an area recovery and rehabilitation program. But on the day she left the jail, she says she already felt a sense of accomplishment, meaning, and hope: “I walked with my head held high, knowing that I was a child of God, that God had a plan for me, and that I have a purpose to fulfill.”
Christian Journey Courses programs and community service opportunities are available in both Kendall and Bandera Counties. If you would like to give, volunteer, or learn more, visit cjcboerne.org.