On a recent visit to a prison I met a man I’ll call “Tom.”
Tom’s past is typical of many stories I hear. He is a repeat, nonviolent drug offender. By day, on the outside, he was a truck driver, but he also sold drugs to supplement his income. When Tom went to prison again, his family, including three children, lost a breadwinner – and a father.
Tom entered a Prison Fellowship® pre-release program. The love of Jesus soon captured his heart, and Tom became a new creation. As he studied parenting in a life-skills class, he started reaching out to his children, including a young girl who loves to play chess. For the first time, Tom took an interest in her hobby. Now, they play chess matches by correspondence. Tom sends her a move by mail each day, and she sends one back.
Tom marvels at how, thanks to the love of God and truths from His Word, he has improved his parenting. “I have been a better dad in the last five months from inside jail than I have ever been in my kids’ lives, because of this program.”
By the grace of God, prison doesn’t have to be a dead-end. As the Gospel message is preached in word and deed by dedicated volunteers, a prison sentence can become a time of repentance, redemption, and restoration, setting off a new, hope-filled future for prisoners like Tom and their families.
The faithful support of friends like you allows Prison Fellowship Ministries to counter the despair in our prison system, and bring the Good News of Jesus to people and families affected by crime, and the communities that surround them. Will you join this important effort with us? It’s your move!