The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.– John 1:5
There are fewer places darker than a prison cell. There, separated from all that they ever knew or loved, men and women struggle with feelings of despair and hopelessness. As they search for some sense of meaning and purpose for their lives, they wonder if anyone outside the walls of the prison knows or cares about their struggles.
But even in the darkest places, there is Light.
For more than 40 years, Prison Fellowship has been going into correctional facilities, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those behind bars, and offering the hope of true transformation. Through biblical programming anchored in evidence-based curriculum, and with the help of thousands of committed volunteers, lives are being changed, hope is being restored, and darkness is being replaced with the promise of a future.
PREMIER PROGRAM
THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP ACADEMY™
Hear the story of Darryl Brooks, Program Director, Prison Fellowship Academy
Located in select prisons across the country, the Prison Fellowship Academy takes incarcerated men and women through a holistic life transformation process spanning weeks or months. A rigorous, high-commitment program, the Academy guides participants to identify the life-controlling issues that led to their incarceration, take responsibility for the harm they have caused, and develop into positive, responsible members of their communities. The Academy specifically targets criminal thinking and behavior, life skills, addictions, victim impact, and prosocial culture change, with the goal of developing prisoners who have leadership potential to serve as positive peer mentors and supporters of constructive prison culture throughout prison systems. Those who complete the program and are preparing for release have the opportunity to connect to post-release resources and support in metropolitan areas. Learn More
HOPE EVENT™
In prison yards across the country, men and women are being introduced to the hope of Jesus Christ through a one- or two-day Prison Fellowship Hope Event. At every Hope Event™, speakers, musicians, and other performers, along with local volunteers, convey the life-changing message that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. While providing a brief respite from the challenges of prison life, a Hope Event gives prisoners the chance to respond to Christ and take the next step of joining a faith community behind bars.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Incarcerated women in prison are often at the end of a long, difficult road, one that has made them feel rejected, worthless, and hopeless. Without resources to heal the hurts beneath their choices, many remain in a destructive cycle. Historically, there haven’t been enough programs to meet their unique needs. Prison Fellowship strives to show women the incredible love, acceptance, and purpose in Christ that awaits them both inside prison and out. We walk alongside women in prison to offer hope, healing, and guidance along a new path—one that leads to restoration. Learn more
CONNECTION CLASSES
Each Prison Fellowship Connection Class™ offers men and women behind bars the chance to receive regular support and encouragement as they study God's truth and apply it to their lives. Thousands of trained Prison Fellowship volunteers across the country lead regular Bible studies, drop-in classes, substance abuse recovery groups, and seminars on topics from marriage to anger management. In a caring, supportive environment, prisoners build community and develop transformative life skills.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
For those who seek a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, Prison Fellowship, in conjunction with World Impact, offers Bible college-level training in The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI). TUMI is an intensive biblical training course that teaches and equips prisoners to become Christian leaders in prisons and in the urban communities to which many of them will return. Launched in prisons in 2007, TUMI is currently active in 10 states and 41 prisons, serving both men and women, with more than 1,020 prisoners currently participating. Graduates of the program have both been recognized as leaders in their respective institutions and have made positive transitions back into their communities as spouses, parents, and employees who live out their faith.
INSIDE JOURNAL NEWSPAPER
Inside Journal® is a quarterly newspaper printed and distributed by Prison Fellowship to more than 800 correctional facilities across the country. 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. Inside Journal circulates to nearly 1 million readers per year.