PRISON FELLOWSHIP: James Ackerman

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

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

"The board of directors is excited to have unanimously selected Heather Rice-Minus as the next leader of Prison Fellowship. Heather is uniquely positioned to move the ministry into its next era of transforming lives and redeeming broken systems, both behind bars and in the community."

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.

Prison Fellowship President & CEO James Ackerman today announced his transition from leading the ministry, effective June 30, 2024.

  This week, members of Prison Fellowship met with White House leaders and others to discuss prison reform, which continues to gain support from the White House.

Read More

“Justice that restores. What does that mean?  Who are we restoring? Where are we restoring them to?”

Prison Fellowship President and CEO James Ackerman asks these questions to a recent gathering of volunteers in Tampa, Florida. The answer, he suggests, can be found in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Learn to do right.

The newly announced president and CEO of Prison Fellowship, James Ackerman, was recently interviewed on WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. During the program, Ackerman described to host Jamie Johnson the work of Prison Fellowship, and how he came to be involved with prison ministry.

“We just can’t ignore 2.2 million incarcerated people in America.” —James Ackerman

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2016—While many bemoan the fact that the U.S. incarcerates 2.2 million men and women in its prisons and jails—a 500 percent increase over the last 40 years—James Ackerman has decided to do something more.