Our Mission
We are an interdenominational Christian ministry that exists to meet the spiritual needs of past and present inmates and staff in the Chatham County Detention Center through genuine gospel hope and deliberate discipleship in biblical living.
We promise to be trustworthy, to manage our finances in a lean and efficient manner and to be a solid, biblical ministry making real and measurable differences for the Lord right here in Savannah.
Our History
Christians from churches across Savannah founded Coastal Jail Ministries of Georgia on February 25, 2008 as a 501(c)(3) Georgia non-profit corporation. It succeeded the work started in 1991 by Good News Jail and Prison Ministry at the Chatham County Detention Center. Today, this ministry serves inmates and staff inside the detention center (roughly 2,000 in total) and former inmates trying to start over on the outside.
CJMGA currently employs three chaplains (two for the male population at the jail and one for the female) as well as a transitional ministry coordinator. It currently operates both a men’s chaplain dorm and a women’s where Scripture and principles for Christian living are taught daily. It also oversees volunteer Bible studies throughout the detention center housing approximately 2,000 inmates.
In 2013, CJMGA formed its transitional ministry to former inmates and their families, offering multiple, weekly Bible studies and church homes. Participants receive training and preparation for job interviews, new workplace environments, and successful life skills. They also receive job opportunities through a network of local business owners.
As of April 2018, Chatham Transitional Ministries (CTM) is now its own entity. CTM is continuing its mission to help former inmates transition into productive members of the community. CJMGA is proud to continue working with CTM in this endeavor.
