Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

More than Cutting Recidivism

July 14, 2016 by Mark Hubbell

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Increasingly, the great concern of legislators and departments of correction has been finding better ways to reduce recidivism—that tendency of former prisoners to relapse into criminal behavior. For too long, our nation has poured enormous human and financial resources in warehousing men and women who have committed crimes. Yet the best efforts of corrections officials have not significantly reduced recidivism over the years.

More than Cutting RecidivismAt Prison Fellowship, our primary focus is not on cutting recidivism, yet our efforts are making a huge difference in changing behavior!

Jesus made it clear.  His purpose in coming to earth as to seek and to save that which was lost. He didn’t come to reduce crime. He came to change men and women! And as He encountered them, they would repent of their past attitudes, words, and behaviors and surrender their lives to Him.

From our earliest days, Prison Fellowship has boldly proclaimed the Gospel in prisons around the world. But prison ministry is much more than evangelism. It includes making disciples—committed followers of Christ—who allow God’s word to shape every aspect of their lives!

A disciple is far more than one who no longer commits crimes.  A disciple is a man or woman who is being conformed to the image of Christ. Disciples learn to view all of life through a biblical worldview. Their minds are being renewed day by day.

As these changes occur we also seek to prepare prisoners for the challenges they will face upon leaving prison and returning to the community. Practical skills such as anger management, becoming a good spouse and parent, and learning how to function in a work environment are all necessary to live a new, Christ-centered life in the community.

Finally, we seek to unite Christian men and women leaving prison with a vibrant church that will intentionally welcome them into their congregation and to match them with one or two mentors from their church family.

Yes, recidivism can be reduced. But it is essential to address crime at its root:  the human heart. Our worldview shapes our values. Our values shape our behavior.

When the old things pass away, new things will indeed come!

 

Prison Fellowship is active in proclaiming the Gospel and creating disciples behind bars. Through evangelism events, mentoring, in-prison Bible studies, and reentry preparation, Prison Fellowship seeks to change hearts, preparing men and women to serve God in prison and beyond. To learn more about how you can be a part of this transformation, visit www.prisonfellowship.org/action/.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, Prison & Prisoners, Reentry Tagged With: Discipleship, Mentoring, recidivism, volunteer

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The Powerful Love of Moms Behind Bars

May 7, 2025

How Camp Can Change the Life of a Prisoner’s Child

April 30, 2025

Prison Fellowship’s Statement After United States Senate Declares April 2025 as Second Chance Month

April 29, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.