With his wiry gray beard, rugged appearance, and familiar name, William “Billy” Kidd looks like someone who has stories to tell.
And he does. The former drug dealer who was once a leader of the Aryan Nation within the Michigan correctional system has spent much of his life in and out of prison, with the many tattoos covering his body chronicling his nefarious past.
For the last nine years, Denise Harris has served as Prison Fellowship’s field director for the Detroit metro area. In that role, Denise has been a tireless advocate for men and women behind bars in Michigan, a source of encouragement for families with an incarcerated loved ones, and a valuable resource for former prisoners as they seek to become productive members of their communities.
For moms and dads behind bars, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of the year. Separated from their sons and daughters, these parents struggle to connect with their children—to let them know that they care for them and remember them, even when distance and iron bars keep them apart for the holidays.
It’s strange for most of us to think about Christmas during the summer months. But for many prisoners across the country, summer means gifts—not for themselves but for their children. It is during this time that prisons hold Angel Tree signups.
As Prison Fellowship celebrates our 40th anniversary, we are reminded how important our ministry partners are in bringing about transformation in the lives of prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. From in-prison volunteers, to prison officials, to local church ministries and transitional housing, there are many people that continue to “remember the prisoner” and seek to restore them to their communities.
When it comes to helping prisoners transition successfully to life in their communities, some of the most important work occurs well before these men and women ever leave the correctional facility. In the most recent post to our video blog series, field director Denise Harris talks about some of the great things happening with Prison Fellowship’s intensive, in-prison programming.
Building a new life is a real challenge for anyone returning to their communities after a period of incarceration. There is the need to find housing, employment, and support; to avoid past mistakes and old acquaintances, while making new connections to help ensure future success.
In the coming months, Prison Fellowship will be sharing stories from some of our staff and volunteers around the country, talking about the exciting ways God is working in the lives of prisoners, their families, and the criminal justice system.
The first installment of our new video blog features Denise Harris, Prison Fellowship’s field director for southeastern Michigan.