THREE WAYS YOUR CHURCH CAN SUPPORT SECOND CHANCES
FORM A TEAM
Recruit members of your congregation to be a team and participate in either the run or the walk.
VOLUNTEER
We need volunteers to help with a variety of elements before, during, and after the event.
SET UP A TABLE
Consider setting up an informational table at the event to let returning citizens know more about your church.
ABOUT THE SECOND PRISON PROJECT
Every person has God-given dignity and potential. However, some 65 million Americans—or one in four adults—have a criminal record,which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, and other things necessary for a full and productive life. In addition to widespread social stigma, there are more than 44,000 documented legal restrictions that weigh down those with a criminal record. While many people find hope and a new identity behind prison walls, they lose it a few steps past the prison gate when faced with barriers that can seem insurmountable. We call this the "second prison."
The Second Prison Project is a Prison Fellowship campaign to unlock second chances so that people can reach their God-given potential.We seek to expose and overcome the "second prison" of stigma and restrictions, challenge stereotypes of the formerly incarcerated, and restore hope for people who want to fully and freely contribute their gifts so their communities can flourish.
The Second Chances 5Ks are community run/walk events that bring people together inside and outside of prison to raise awareness of the "second prison" and catalyze real, significant change in public attitudes and policies.
Inaugural Second Chances 5Ks were held in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2016. With your help, Prison Fellowship will increase the impact of this 5K event and foster meaningful relationships with supporters in the community who affirm their support of second chances and restoring people who have paid their debt so that they can live to their God-given potential.