Prison Fellowship Ministries
Prison Fellowship partners with local churches across the country to minister to a group that society often scorns and neglects: prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. God, unlike the world, has always chosen to identify closest with those who are isolated and broken. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me . . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me? (Matthew 25:35-36, 40).
Prison Fellowship reaches out to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families both as an act of service to Jesus Christ and as a contribution to restoring peace to our cities and communities endangered by crime. For the best way to transform our communities is to transform the people within those communities?and truly restorative change comes only through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Prison Fellowship was founded by Chuck Colson, who served as special counsel to President Nixon and went to prison in 1975 for Watergate-related crimes. When Colson got out of prison, God radically redirected this former attorney’s career goals leading him to go back to prison, this time to minister to the men and women behind bars. Established in 1976, Prison Fellowship has grown into the largest prison ministry in the world, partnering with thousands of churches and tens of thousands of volunteers. Prison Fellowship’s logo is representative of Isaiah 42:3: A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.? The symbol reminds us that while society may cast aside those people it deems useless and unworthy, God continues to pursue them with His steadfast love, offering forgiveness and restoration.
The focus of our ministry includes fellowshipping with Jesus (including teaching others to live and look at life from a biblical perspective), visiting prisoners, and welcoming the children of prisoners.
For more on Prison Fellowship please see: www.prisonfellowship.org