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PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG: From the CEO

Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman speaking at a prison.
  • From the CEO
  • Prison & Prisoners
Derek Made My Day

Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman on public speaking, butterflies, and the transformative work of Jesus revealed through Derek at a prison workshop.

By James J. Ackerman
March 13, 2023
Hope Events | James Ackerman
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
An Exciting Announcement About Prison Fellowship’s Future

Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman shares an exciting announcement about the ministry's future.

By James J. Ackerman
January 30, 2023
Heather Rice-Minus | James Ackerman
Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
A Message From James Ackerman on His Transition From Prison Fellowship CEO

Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman has announced he will step down from the ministry in June 2024, with a plan for an orderly transition already in place.

By James J. Ackerman
November 21, 2022
James Ackerman
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Prison Fellowship Reacts to the Passing of John Baker

As the founder of Celebrate Recovery, John was a great leader whose impact will continue for generations

By James J. Ackerman
February 23, 2021
prisoners hold signs in support of covid-19 patients
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Statement Regarding the Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine

The prison population is one of society’s vulnerable communities.

By James J. Ackerman
January 14, 2021
COVID-19 | COVID-19 News
chuck colson service to others
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Response to the January 6 Events at the U.S. Capitol

Statement from Prison Fellowship’s CEO James Ackerman in response to the events of last week at the U.S. Capitol, as seen through the unique perspective of the life and work of our founder, Chuck Colson.

By James J. Ackerman
January 11, 2021
Biden Administration | Trump Administration | Washington D.C.
Firefighter walks toward fire in California
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • From the CEO
  • Prison & Prisoners
California’s Incarcerated Firefighters and the Fight for Second Chances

California is in the midst of some of the largest fires ever to break out in the state. More firefighters are needed. For many years now, California has looked to the incarcerated for help.

By James J. Ackerman
October 14, 2020
California | Collateral Consequences | Second Chance Month
God is Opening Doors to the Gospel in American Prisons
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
God is Opening Doors to the Gospel in American Prisons

COVID-19 may have closed America’s prisons, but it can’t shut out the hope of the Jesus. We are seeing new and innovative ways developing to share the Gospel with the incarcerated.

By James J. Ackerman
April 17, 2020
COVID-19 | COVID-19 News | Easter | Floodlight | The Storehouse
prisoner clutches bible
  • From the CEO
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What the Bars Can’t Keep Out

The first time James J. Ackerman, Prison Fellowship’s president and CEO, visited San Quentin State Prison was to see a man on death row.

By James J. Ackerman
December 4, 2019
  • From the CEO
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Warden Exchange
The Key to Safer Communities Is Better Prisons

Despite recent reforms, the United States still has the largest prison population in the world. America’s prisons need a culture shift if we’re to see an end to the cycle of crime and incarceration.

By James J. Ackerman
June 27, 2019
hope-events
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Second Chance Month
Celebrating Second Chances at Easter

In this Easter message of second chances and redemption, Prison Fellowship president and CEO James Ackerman looks back at Charles Colson's legacy.

By James J. Ackerman
April 19, 2019
Charles Colson
From the CEO: The Reason Our Family Loves Angel Tree
  • Angel Tree
  • From the CEO
From the CEO: The Reason Our Family Loves Angel Tree

James Ackerman is the CEO of Prison Fellowship® and a longtime Angel Tree® volunteer. The following story was originally published for Jubilee®, and is reprinted here with permission. 

Read More

By James J. Ackerman
December 6, 2016
Angel Tree | James Ackerman | Jubilee
  • Angel Tree
  • From the CEO
Anybody Home?

My wife Cathy and I couldn’t tell if anyone was home.

We walked up the cluttered approach to the old mobile home and knocked on the door. There was no car in the driveway and no tracks in the snow that had fallen overnight.

By Jim Liske
December 10, 2015
Angel Tree | Christmas | Delivery | Presents
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Thanking God for Prison

On paper, my nephew should never have become addicted to drugs. He was a bright young man raised in a wonderful home by godly parents. And yet, he traded it all in for his substance abuse, leaving his heartbroken family behind when he went to prison.

By Jim Liske
December 7, 2015
Christmas | forgiveness | From the CEO | Prison Fellowship | Restoration | Thanksgiving
  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
When Jesus Gave Thanks

“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.’” – John 11:41

Jesus had a friend named Lazarus who died of an illness. By the time Jesus arrived at the home of Lazarus’s grieving sisters, Mary and Martha, Lazarus had been dead for four days, and his body was sealed in a tomb with a large, heavy stone.

By Jim Liske
November 30, 2015
Gratitude | Lazarus | Martha | Mary | Prayer Team | Thanksgiving
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Prison Fellowship Statement on Tyre Nichols

January 28, 2023

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December 20, 2022

Criminal Justice Reform Achievements

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PRISON FELLOWSHIP IN THE NEWS

View our latest press releases and hear what other publications are saying about Prison Fellowship and our programs.

    Reentry For Incarcerated Chattanooga Residents To Be Discussed By Panel On Tuesday (Chattanoogan.com)
    Houston Area Angel Tree Basketball Sports Camp at Mi3 Center Saturday Featured Speaker: Brandon Johnson—Former Pro Basketball Player (Houston Style Magazine)
    Women to graduate from Prison Fellowship program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center (Oklahoma City Sentinel)
    Prison Fellowship, Baltimore Ravens hold sports camp for over 100 kids of imprisoned parents (christianpost.com)
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