The Legacy of Hope award is recognizes a person or foundation that has enabled significant advancements in the mission of this ministry. This year’s award goes to David and Charlotte Cauwels and family, who have spent decades generously investing in the restoration of those affected by crime and incarceration.
Since the ministry’s early days, David and Charlotte have invested not only financial resources, but also countless hours of their time. They have helped coordinate teaching and discipleship ministries in prison. Serving with Christ-like humility, David and Charlotte have helped recruit, train, and equip others to reach their greatest potential in service. Through it all, they have relied on prayer and Scripture to guide them.
David has been visiting prisons weekly for nearly 40 years. He spent more than 31 years on the Prison Fellowship Board of Directors, become its longest-serving member, and afterward was appointed director emeritus. He and Chuck Colson were close friends, often traveling together to prisons all over the world. Chuck said of David, “He has been my closest confidante and advisor. I’ve trusted him on business questions where he has great skills, but even more on spiritual questions, because I know his whole life is rooted in the Word of God.”
Recently, David and Charlotte helped establish a new in-prison seminary in their home state of New Mexico. By giving generously of their time and resources in a variety of ways, they have helped make sure that Chuck’s legacy of hope continues.
David and Charlotte’s son, Paul Cauwels, has followed in his parents’ footsteps and engaged wholeheartedly in the ministry. Paul is a board member and a generous supporter of the ministry. He deeply respects the “least of these,” and his faithful service to the ministry has reflected that.
The Cauwels family has faithfully supported Prison Fellowship with open hands and open hearts. They were nominated by Tammy Evevard who first met Dave when she joined the ministry as a development director. “I have gotten to know [Dave] well over these past six years,” Tammy writes, “and have found him to be fully committed to the work of prison ministry, supporting us faithfully, financially, each year.” The Cauwels family’s devotion to the Lord has driven their work and helped change lives. They have kindled a beacon of hope that will burn for generations to come.