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 the use of Bible-based programming, 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.
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 pro-social 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.
HOPE EVENTS
In prison yards across the country, men and women are being introduced to Jesus and the promise of salvation, through one- and two-day evangelistic events. Speakers, musicians, and other performers, along with local volunteers, are able to convey the life-changing message that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
SPEAKING IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE
Inside Journal® is a quarterly publication of Prison Fellowship that is distributed inside corrections facilities. Written specifically for incarcerated men and women, with issues in both English and Spanish, Inside Journal offers encouragement and motivation, as well as practical advice for the daily struggles of prison life. For those who may never attend a chapel service or Bible study, Inside Journal is yet another way to reach lives in need of transformation.
CONNECTION CLASSES
Prison Fellowship Connection Classes offer men and women behind bars the chance to receive regular support and encouragement as they study God's truth and learn to 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 truly caring 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 seminary-level courses. Here, men and women are becoming church leaders of the “church behind walls,” and are learning how they can advance God’s kingdom as leaders in their own communities after leaving prison.