During the Peak of the Pandemic, One Hundred Thousand of Tyndale's Life Recovery Bibles were Distributed to Incarcerated Men and Women
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Prison Fellowship®, the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, has reached a ministry milestone in the number of Bibles it distributes to incarcerated men and women. Prison Fellowship surpassed its goal of fulfilling requests and providing more than 100,000 Inside Journal® Life Recovery Bibles in just nine months to individuals currently incarcerated in prisons all over the country.
Prison Fellowship partnered with Tyndale House Publishers to offer the NLT Life Recovery Bibles, cobranded with Inside Journal®, the ministry's quarterly newspaper published for men and women behind bars, to thousands of men and women in English and Spanish.
Tyndale's Life Recovery Bible is available to the incarcerated at no cost to them in English and Spanish. The Life Recovery Bible is Tyndale's number-one-selling recovery Bible with more than three million copies in print. Since partnering with Tyndale in 2018, Prison Fellowship has distributed a total of more than 162,000 Bibles to incarcerated men and women.
"I'm amazed at how God created an incredible thirst for His word in prison during this unprecedented pandemic," said James Ackerman, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship. "We're beyond excited that these transforming Life Recovery Bibles are going to these men and women, many of whom are struggling with the power of addiction, which cost them their freedom, their health, their relationships, and their hope. But the healing power of the gospel is priceless and can bring freedom from the bondage of addiction!"
"We rejoice with Prison Fellowship in reaching this milestone of distributing 100,000 copies of The Life Recovery Bible in just nine months," said Scott Mathews, CEO of Tyndale House Ministries. "We value their partnership and are grateful for their efforts in getting God's Word into the hands of prisoners who need the freeing power of the Scriptures. Tyndale shares this mission of making the Bible accessible for everyone."
According to a Prison Fellowship survey of prison chaplains, most prisoners do not have easy access to their own Bible. And when Bibles are available behind bars, they're too often in difficult-to-read translations or printed in a font too small for the aging prison population to read.
To help meet the diverse needs of the incarcerated population, Prison Fellowship partnered with Tyndale House Publishers to offer these Bibles at no cost. With special devotional content based on the 12-step model, these large-print Bibles (offered in the easy-to-read translations of NLT for the English edition and NTV for the Spanish edition) are based on the bestselling recovery Bible that has helped millions of readers overcome their addictions and strongholds.
"These are such a wonderful resource, and the females are filled with gratitude for them. We are a small facility, yet you can see the work of God throughout the lives of the ones who want to let Jesus change their lives."
—Chaplain Bonnie Lisker, Somerset County Jail, Pennsylvania
"These books are lifesavers. Every time I go to the floors, I make sure I bring one of these Bibles, and I say, 'I don't know if you're interested in this, but here it is if you want it,' and eight times out of 10, they want it. The importance of [providing these Bibles] cannot be overstated. It’s like a second chance. When you supply one of these Bibles, you're changing somebody's life."
—Mac Mullings, Programs and Services Coordinator, Oklahoma County Detention Center
INSIDE JOURNAL
Inside Journal is a quarterly newspaper printed and distributed by Prison Fellowship to correctional facilities across the country. Written specifically for incarcerated men and women, each issue (offered in a men’s edition, a women’s edition, and a Spanish-language edition) explains the gospel in a fresh way, offers encouragement and motivation, and shares practical advice for the daily struggles of prison life. Distributed to prisoners via chaplains, program coordinators, and in-prison volunteers, Inside Journal provides a unique way to share the hope of Jesus with those who may never attend a chapel service or Bible study.
TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS
Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale's mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children's products that make God's Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale's independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.
Tyndale and Tyndale's quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Ministries.
ABOUT PRISON FELLOWSHIP
Prison Fellowship is the nation's largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading voice for criminal justice reform. With more than 40 years of experience helping restore men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship advocates for federal and state criminal justice reforms that transform those responsible for crime, validate victims, and encourage communities to play a role in creating a safe, redemptive, and just society.
For interview requests, please contact Jim Forbes, Prison Fellowship's Director of Communications, at (703) 554-8540 or email him at Jim_forbes@pfm.org.