South Bay, Fla.—A lot had happened in the last 24 months. There had been miracles, hard times, challenges, and growth. As 36 students in the Prisoners to Pastors program – along with 14 men completing the faith-based pre-release program – prepared to graduate, they sat under a handmade banner that read, “The road is paved.”
It felt like Christmas in June as I entered Broward Correctional Institution’s indoor visiting park with faithful Prison Fellowship® volunteers Suzzan Volk and her mother, Johanne.
Beautiful toys, clothing, and other handmade items produced by the female inmates were displayed on the back wall of the facility.
On January 20, 2012 the Florida Department of Corrections had their very first “Family Embraced”/ Agape Feast event. It took place at South Bay Correctional Facility. Prison Fellowship, along with One Hope and several volunteers, hosted the event. Fifty people from the TUMI/Pre-Release dorm were allowed to invite two adult family members and two children to this function.
Tuesday morning the south Florida team for Prison Fellowship left their homes very early in the morning and traveled to South Bay Correctional Facility to pray and set up for a Christmas event. Prison Fellowship and The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) volunteers were hosting the event for the TUMI participants.