PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG: Prison Fellowship News & Updates

It was a few weeks after Christmas 2007, and 28-year-old Josh Coover sat in his 1995 Subaru outside the Navy Yard Metrorail stop in southeast Washington, D.C. The rain pounded against his windshield.

6:00 p.m.

They’re not going to remember, Josh told himself.

Volunteer Ann Dawson had never been to prison. But when she agreed to be a mentor, she discovered she had a lot in common with a young woman behind bars.

It was one of those cool, overcast, wet Oregon March days, the kind that couldn’t seem to make up its mind between winter or spring. 

If you’re not “in the know,” you could get off on the wrong foot with prisoners or prison officials. Following these do’s and don’ts will help extend your welcome in prison.

Entering a prison as a volunteer can be an intimidating experience.

A former prisoner who claims that the InnerChange Freedom Initiative® “literally saved my life” now volunteers to help other offenders experience God’s transforming love and power.

It’s 4:30 a.m., and Bernard’s Houston home is silent—except for the sound of his voice.

Speaking as the mother of a convicted murderer, Carol Kent gives volunteers specific tips to help prisoners’ families. For example, three things you can do to help a prisoner’s wife and how you can become a better listener.

At 12:35 a.m.

Drawing upon his decades of experience, we asked Prison Fellowship volunteer Ashton Hardy the top three characteristics he believes are most important for volunteers who want to work effectively with prisoners. He gave us seven!

Unlike most Prison Fellowship volunteers (or staff!),

Prison Fellowship says the U.S. has done a great job of getting criminals off the street.  What we haven’t done a good job of, says the ministry, is getting criminals ready to come back onto the street.  The president of Prison Fellowship shares with Phil Fleischman about a program that challenges the Church to help former inmates transition back into society.

These words of praise and appreciation were written by Jill Colon, an ex-prisoner in Florida who was mentored by PF volunteers Ginger Martin and Esther Martinez. However, they echo the sentiments of many prisoners and former prisoners whose lives have been touched by caring and consistent volunteers like you.

Before joining the staff of Prison Fellowship in 2007, Patti Tasa was a vibrant volunteer—serving inside prison for three years, then another three years as county coordinator for one of Prison Fellowship’s Aftercare Teams. Her long-standing mentoring relationship with ex-prisoner Tina Huber  has given her valuable experience and insights to share with other mentors.

For all the advantages the Internet age provides, it doesn’t come close to replacing the core need of the Church to shine the light of the Gospel in the lives of prisoners. That means “life on life”: Getting up close and personal, dealing with the messiness of broken lives, and letting God’s grace and power go to work.