Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • 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
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camps
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
  • 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
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

A Second Chance at the Academy: A Rule-Breaker Becomes a Leader

February 10, 2021 by Emily Andrews

Brooke was kicked out of the Academy once. Would she make it through a second time?

runner's bib

It's one thing to wish for change. It's another thing to take steps toward real transformation.

Brooke* took that first step in a jail cell, reading a biblical devotional. That's where she met Jesus and accepted Him as her Savior. With Jesus, she didn't have to face prison time alone.

Arriving at Minnesota Correctional Facility–Shakopee, she heard about the Prison Fellowship Academy®, a yearlong transformation program.

THE STARTING LINE

At select prisons across the U.S., the Academy guides men and women through targeted curricula with the help of caring staff and volunteers. Academy participants discover together how to uproot past ways of thinking and become good citizens. Embracing new values, participants have a positive influence on their peers and communities beyond graduation, in prison and out.

Soon after joining the Academy, Brooke realized that asking Jesus to be her Savior was easier than changing her behavior. She enjoyed the positive community of her Academy dorm. But even in prison, she was still drawn to the thrill of "the game"—seeing what she could get away with, if she could outwit the rules and the system. After a few months of poor behavior, Brooke had to leave the Academy.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP

The Prison Fellowship Academy helps participants grow into good citizens as they learn to adopt six core values:

  • Responsibility
  • Productivity
  • Affirmation
  • Community
  • Integrity
  • Restoration

Upon returning to the general prison population, Brooke gained a new perspective. Her short time in the Academy helped her realize she really could embrace a new path. Over the next six months, she re-evaluated her plans and goals for the future.

Brooke re-applied to the Academy and hoped for a chance to start over.

FINISHING STRONG

Joining the Academy for a second time, Brooke felt ready for change. And this time, she accepted the challenge, jumping in with her whole heart. She took her coursework seriously, listened to the wisdom of prison ministry volunteers, and took accountability for the damage she had done and the people she had wounded.

Brooke grew into an admirable leader in her Academy community. Classes like "Boundaries" and "Resolving Everyday Conflict" provided practical life skills and problem-solving strategies. She shared many of these lessons over the phone with her children and family.

Brooke has since become a tutor in the prison education department.

"[Brooke] works hard to exemplify the Prison Fellowship Academy core values and examine her daily lifestyle and decisions through the context of 'what would Jesus do,'" says Academy Manager Pamela Rubash.

Now, Brooke embraces every opportunity to live up to her God-given potential. She attends college classes and leads Bible studies to prepare herself for a career upon release, and she is living and growing alongside other women determined to change from the inside out.


*Name changed.

BIBLES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

Prisons across the country are on lockdown due to COVID-19, and Bibles are one of the only ways to still get hope behind prison bars. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Please give generously today and your gift will be doubled thanks to a matching grant!

DONATE NOW

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.

Filed Under: Prison & Prisoners, Prison Fellowship Academy Tagged With: Minnesota, Minnesota Correctional Facility–Shakopee

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

Prison Fellowship Responds to Inaction on Crack Cocaine Sentencing at Close of the 117th Congress

December 20, 2022

Criminal Justice Reform Achievements

December 16, 2022

Prison Fellowship Applauds Congressional Lawmakers for Passage of Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act

December 15, 2022

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

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

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • 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
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

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