What it means to meet Him behind bars
In June 2024, Prison Fellowship unveiled our new mission: to encounter Jesus with those impacted by incarceration. This sounds simple, but it represents a shift in focus from our previous mission, which was to restore those affected by crime and incarceration. While we still diligently work for this kind of restoration, our new mission carefully and intentionally defines three things: our focus, our hope, and our posture.
OUR FOCUS: IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM
The name of Jesus is front and center in our new mission. That’s because we’re convinced that He alone is the key to true hope and lasting transformation.
Research-based programs, quality curriculum, and informed ministry are deeply important—and they hold the potential for real impact. God’s Word itself offers valuable, practical guidance for all who read it. However, the person and power of Jesus stands above all other things. We look to Him alone for salvation and new life—and knowing Him is the source of true joy. That’s why we’ve centered Jesus in our stated mission; He is our all in all.
OUR HOPE: ENCOUNTERING JESUS
Often, Christians think about ministry as an act of bringing something to people in need. With good intentions, we pack up our resources, our supplies, and our Bible studies. We leave our comfort zone and deliver these materials to those we feel called to reach. Maybe we share the Gospel, pray with others, and speak words of encouragement.
But in all these activities, the emphasis can often be on what we bring—the blessings we want to bestow. Within our new mission, we focus on encountering Jesus Himself.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to “encounter” means to come upon someone face-to-face. We see Jesus engage people this way throughout the New Testament. By the sea, at a well, in the synagogue, peering up through the sycamore leaves—Jesus calls people by name, looks into their eyes, and speaks truth to their hearts. His encounters are personal; no two are quite the same. And they are life-changing—no one walks away unmoved.
We believe Jesus still wants to engage us this way today—and that prisons are a great place to “come upon Him face-to-face.” We encounter Him this way in other areas of ministry, too. Whether serving families, training wardens, advocating for just laws, or working for second chances, we’re always looking for Him, watching to see where He is at work and joining Him there.
OUR POSTURE: WITH, NOT TO
If we imagine ministry as taking light into darkness, we’re missing an important truth: There is already light everywhere, because there is no inch of Creation untouched by His presence. And one expression of that light is the Church, which is alive and well behind bars.
Some incarcerated believers strayed from their faith—something many of us can identify with. Being arrested and imprisoned was a wake-up call to return to Him. Others met Jesus for the first time in prison. Whatever their story, our brothers and sisters behind bars often possess unique strengths. They often display a level of dependence on God and of accountability with one another that Christians outside don’t experience. We’re regularly encouraged and challenged in our own faith by theirs.
That’s why we talk about encountering Jesus “with” those we serve—not taking Him “to” them. Whether someone is walking with Jesus or just beginning to learn about Him, we are co-recipients of mercy. Side by side, we meet our Savior together. We benefit from one another’s stories and wisdom. And by His grace, we all come away changed.
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