Targeting Transformation
Targeting Transformation
Jeff Peck
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Editor’s Note: More than three years ago, former Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley became the president of Prison Fellowship. Under his leadership, and with much prayer, PF has refined its mission statement and clarified its vision for ministry. With the beginning of a new year and a new era for PF, Jubilee Extra editor Jeff Peck talked with Mark about these developments and--as you will read--the key concept of transformationQ: In your three years of leadership, how has PF changed its objectives for prison ministry?
A: One, I think PF is changing its focus on working with prisoners--not simply here and there as, in John Wesley’s words, a “butterfly might flit from flower to flower” and take a sip and move on; but as an ongoing transformation where we’re sticking with prisoners over the long haul and trusting God that they will become disciples and laborers in the harvest.
One implication of that: continuing to disciple prisoners after their release is becoming the vital center of churches’ prison ministry as opposed to an afterthought. The other thing I think has changed is a sense that everybody on PF’s staff has a calling to nurture his or her personal walk with Jesus Christ.We have nothing to give unless we’ve been to the well daily to be replenished.
Jesus said in John 15, “Apart from me you can do nothing, but if you abide in me and I in you, then you’ll bear much fruit.”
