The following post originally appeared on the Justice Fellowship website. To learn more about Justice Fellowship and its efforts to reform the criminal justice system, visit www.justicefellowship.org.
If movie stars and rappers can put together a loud call for just laws and smart sentencing practices, why can’t Christians get more mobilized?
A smile that spreads across his freckled face at the mention of his kids speaks more of Tony Dungy’s greatness than the trophy he gripped in his hand after becoming the first African American coach to lead a team to Super Bowl victory.
I have some very good news: after nearly four decades of explosive growth, the prison population in the U.S. has dropped for the second year in a row. Inmate counts fell in about half the states in each year, according to the December 2012 data released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Recently I met Randy, a quiet, unsung hero of the effort to bring men and women safely back into our communities. Randy’s background is not exceptional. He’s a carpenter without a college education. He’s a former addict. But when we talked, he was just about to open his sixteenth transitional home to keep a roof over the head of former prisoners.
“What on earth would make her do that?” I wondered when my friend’s daughter recently walked out on her husband. “They seemed so together, successful, a good looking family, decent friends, a nice big home, members of the church – What will become of her and the kids, the husband, and their families — What could possibly lead to such a drastic decision?”
Prison Fellowship Ministries Board of Directors has named Craig DeRoche president of Justice Fellowship, the criminal justice and public policy reform arm of Prison Fellowship. Justice Fellowship was founded 30 years ago by the late Charles Colson, former special counsel to President Richard Nixon and convicted Watergate figure.
For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, I promise – I do In sickness and in health, from now until forever, I’ll always love you, and so with, all of my heart, till death do us part I do, I promise I’ll always love you
– Jessica Foker, “I Do”
You could hardly blame the anguished Nepalese mother for abandoning her family.
A new report finds that there has been a significant narrowing of the racial disparities in prison population. That is welcome news to PFM. Racial disparity in prisons is obvious the minute you enter a correction facility. There is no denying it.
The Gospel tells us the good news: that Christ died on the cross so that each of us can enter into fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9).
We are also called to have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). Prison Fellowship Ministries, as indicated by our title, seeks to cultivate fellowship inside prison walls.
Is it lawful or humane for the state to dole out additional punishment to prisoners for a medical condition?
The New York Times published an article about an inmate, Albert Knox, who tested positive for HIV his first week in prison.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program brought Chris back together with his son.
We first brought you the story of the Cleveland family in 2010. Recently, Prison Fellowship caught up with the father-son Angel Tree duo to learn how they are doing today.
A recently published article tells the story of Steven Pete. Steven and his brother were both born with a rare genetic disorder called congenital analgesia. While Steven has the sense of touch, he is unable to experience anything that could be considered pain.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.” – Matthew 18:1-2 (NIV)
It’s easy to judge the success or failure of a ministry based on numbers: How big is the building?
As Christmas approaches, Prison Fellowship will continue to update our list of the counties with the most underserved Angel Tree children. The following 50 counties are those with the largest number of children signed-up for the Angel Tree program that have not yet been assigned to a church (as of 12/11/12).