PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG: Second Chance Month

For many prisoners, the challenges and difficulties that come with incarceration don’t end when they leave prison for the outside world.  Free from the monotonous routine and structured environment of prison, these men and women are thrown into a world that is unfamiliar, with little (if any) support structure, few contacts that will do anything other than lead them to reoffending, and bearing a “scarlet letter” that makes it virtually impossible to establish themselves as productive members of society.

Shine Adams is employing those society deems "unemployable" and giving them a hope for a new future.

For years, Jacob Maclin was the bane of the Milwaukee police force.  A gang member and drug dealer, Maclin had been arrested so many times that a collection of his mugshots could serve as a timeline of his troubled past.  His enmity toward law enforcement was real and deep, but was particularly focused on one man, a hard-nosed, old school cop named Ray Robakowski.

Last year, Bob celebrated his 90th birthday inside Minnesota's only level five maximum-security prison, Oak Park Heights. Bob has led Bible studies there since the late 1990s.

Please pray that Steve will continue to live his life for Jesus, and that God will give him many more opportunities to point others who are still in prison to the hope that he’s found.

There are many challenges facing men and women as they leave prison and return to their communities.  For some, there is the difficulty of simply finding a place to live.  For others, there is the danger of falling into old habits and renewing old acquaintances. 

“They say the truth sets you free, and it does,” reflects Audrey, “but first I had to go prison.”

Thirteen years ago, two journalists, one who had become pen pals with a prisoner on death row, created a book club called Free Minds in a D.C. jail. Today, about 940 juvenile prisoners have participated, and Free Minds has expanded outside of the jail, too, so members can continue to support one another through written word after release.

Jesus never told His followers to “keep the faith;” He taught us “go into all the world” and make disciples. When we allow our faith to become insular, we miss out on all the joy of serving others and seeing their lives transformed by God’s grace.

To go into prison is to be marked for life.  Regardless of the time spent, the lessons learned, and the changes made, these men and women will forever be identified as prisoners—a “scarlet letter” firmly affixed upon them, and readily visible to all.