Prison Fellowship

Remember Those in Prison

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • 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
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Overall
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Clinic
    • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree® Church Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • 2020 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

Singing a New Song with CityFest

November 12, 2019 by Alyson R. Quinn

  • SINGING A NEW SONG WITH CITYFEST

    At CityFest, 'StuntDudes,' Evangelist Andrew Palau, and Former Prisoners Bring Hope Behind Bars

    by Alyson Quinn

When former prisoners go back behind bars, it's usually because something went wrong, and they fell back into the snare of crime and incarceration. It's a common story, since two out of three prisoners will be arrested again within three years.

But in Tyler, Texas, this fall, some former prisoners went back behind bars for a good cause. They joined Prison Fellowship® and CityFest, an outreach of the Luis Palau Association, to bring a life-changing message—that in Christ, even the loneliest prison cell can be a place of freedom.

A new, bright future is possible.


'He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.'
Psalm 40:3


Prison Fellowship puts on Hope Events, evangelistic programs with inspiring speakers, musical guests, and other attractions, at prisons all over the country.

At this Hope EventTM with CityFest,  StuntDudes, a team of professional athletes who put on live action sports shows, demonstrated their skills with ramps and BMX bikes. Prisoners came out on the yard to cheer on their feats—and also to enjoy the music of Richard Andrew, a formerly incarcerated singer/songwriter.

cityfest
cityfest

CITYFEST AND HOPE EVENTS BRING THE GOSPEL

"I sing about the struggle and the victory at the other end of the struggle," says Richard, who gave his life to Christ in a prison chapel in 1993.  "I don't pull any punches, and I think that's why [my songs] work so well in the prison. I'm singing their song. I've been a drug addict, a criminal, a convict. I've come out on the other side because of my relationship with Jesus."

Andrew Palau of CityFest delivered the Gospel message to the many prisoners who had gathered in the yard to listen. A "sea" of people came forward for prayer, Richard recalls.

"It was really powerful. You could just feel the Spirit there on the yard," adds Jennifer Lowrey, Prison Fellowship's national director of Hope Events.

The impact of the Gospel message was deepened because the crowd could see its effects on the stage in front of them. In addition to Richard Andrew, two other people who spoke—Prison Fellowship staff members Chad Prince and John Henry—both testified to how the love of God has brought them out of the snare of crime and incarceration.

cityfest
cityfest

THE WORD BEARS FRUIT

The day after the CityFest event, a woman contacted Richard on social media. She wanted to share her joy and gratitude. Her father, a prisoner, had attended the Hope Event and given his life to Christ. "He is so excited about Jesus," she shared in her message. "It made me so happy!"

Richard, too, is grateful to be part of sharing the message of hope that changed his own life in prison. And he's optimistic that the work begun with Prison Fellowship and CityFest on that Texas prison yard will bear fruit for years to come.

"Most prisoners have lived through some stuff, like addiction, broken homes, or impoverished communities," he says. "When you take those people and they've given their lives to Jesus, now you've got some warriors working for the Kingdom of God. Prison Fellowship is out there preparing these warriors. I feel honored to partner with you guys."

cityfest
cityfest

WILL YOU BRING HOPE TO THOSE IN PRISON?

Prisoners can't just go to an evangelism event if it comes to their city. But Prison Fellowship puts on hundreds of Hope Events each year to bring the Gospel to where they are. You can help share the life-changing news that Christ came not to condemn those in prison, but to save them and give them new life in Him. As a Hope Event volunteer, you can bring the Good News to a prisoner who longs for a new beginning.

GET STARTED TODAY!

DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE?

Make sure you don' t miss out on any of our helpful articles and incredible transformation stories! Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, and you' ll get great content delivered directly to your inbox.

Your privacy is safe with us. We will never sell, trade, or share your personal information.

SUPPORT THE WORK OF PRISON FELLOWSHIP

SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

 

MORE FEATURED ARTICLES AND STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Statement Regarding the Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Prison Fellowship and CrossWalk Center Offer Hope in Reentry

Sincere Surrender: An Agent of Change Serves Life in Prison

Response to the January 6 Events at the U.S. Capitol

The Power of a Partnership

‘I Have Hope for the Future’: One Woman’s Letter from a Nebraska Prison

Free for Life

Congress Restores Access to Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students Seeking a Second Chance

A New Makeover for the New Year

Update on Prison Fellowship and COVID-19

Filed Under: Feature Stories, Prison & Prisoners Tagged With: Hope Event, Texas

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • For Wardens & Prison Officials

PF®

NEW ON OUR BLOG

  • Statement Regarding the Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Prison Fellowship and CrossWalk Center Offer Hope in Reentry
  • Sincere Surrender: An Agent of Change Serves Life in Prison
  • Response to the January 6 Events at the U.S. Capitol

FIND US ONLINE

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN

RECEIVE UPDATES

Sign up to receive news, stories, and information based on your needs and interests.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

PFM®

  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2021 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

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