PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG

Faced with a life sentence, Aaron could have descended into despair and hopelessness. But God called Aaron at his lowest point and prepareed him to serve.

There is a clear relationship between brain function and certain kinds of behavior.  For several years I conducted brain mapping research on rats as a researcher in the Psychology Department of a Canadian university.  It was extremely interesting work that eventually resulted in discovering unique linkages between specific areas of the brain and behaviors.  

Restoration is the theme of God’s Word and the purpose of His activity throughout history.

The early chapters of Genesis tell us how a loving God built an environment where His image-bearers, the crown of His creation, could dwell in perfect harmony with Him, with one another, and with all created things.

Light shines most brightly in the darkest places. That’s what Edwin Wolff learned during his incarceration, when his copy of God’s Word sustained him. Hear more from Jim Liske about his remarkable story of transformation and hope.

Being a father is hard work.  Today’s dads have to be part counselor, part confidant, part disciplinarian, part encourager, part teacher, and part advocate.  A good dad has to be aware of all the things happening in his kids’ lives, and be available when those kids have questions, concerns, or fears.

Event organizers in Philadelphia got more interest than they expected when over 3,000 individuals arrived at the Municipal Services building for a job fair for former inmates.

The crowd, which was three times that expected by city officials, greatly exceeded the capacity of the intended facilities, and resulted in the eventual postponing of the event. 

It is an ongoing problem for inmates being released from prison.  As soon as they leave prison life behind, they find themselves in a difficult job market, often with a limited skill set, and with a resumé with a noticeable hole in the timeline. 

At a graduation ceremony for students completing Prison Fellowship’s four-year Prisoners to Pastors program, a tearful dad confessed to me, “I thought my son would never complete anything but a prison sentence!”

We were at South Bay Correctional Institution in Florida.

For most prisoners’ children, summer camp is only a dream. But your partnership gives an Angel Tree child the chance to hear that Jesus loves them.

Shatori, Anthony, and Diondre have missed their daddy – he’s been in prison. Ten-year-old Shatori has dreams of cheerleading and becoming a policewoman.

Words strain, Crack and sometimes break, under the burden, Under the tension, slip, slide, perish, Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place, Will not stay still. Shrieking voices Scolding, mocking, or merely chattering, Always assail them

 T. S. Eliot, “Four Quartets, Burnt Norton”

Have you ever listened to someone talk on and on until they think of something to say? 

Can you believe abandoning a snowmobile in a life-threatening blizzard or digging up arrowheads can result in criminal charges?

These are a few unfortunate examples of “overcriminalization.”

New criminal laws that do not include a criminal intent requirement and the duplication of federal criminal laws that already exist at the state level have made it impossible for reasonable citizens to know all the criminal laws and regulations that could land them in jail or prison.

What is passion? I think of it as an extreme, almost ungovernable emotion. Passion is when you feel so strongly about something, it’s difficult to keep it inside. When you feel passionate about something or someone, no one has to convince you to take action.

One dark night in January, a cold drizzle enshrouds the California Institution for Women. But inside the education wing, one room overflows with light, life, and joy.

The congregation knelt in silence for the prayer of confession . . .

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.

The words are, no doubt, familiar to many of us who learned to sing the hymn “Amazing Grace” at a young age.