PRISON FELLOWSHIP: James Ackerman

  • From the CEO
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Carrying Chuck Colson’s Vision into a Bold New Future

Prison Fellowship's founder had a dream of equipping churches to build up leaders behind bars. Nearly 50 years later, the vision is stronger than ever.

By James J. Ackerman
April 10, 2023
Chuck Colson | From the CEO | Heather Rice-Minus | James Ackerman
Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman speaking at a prison.
  • From the CEO
  • Prison & Prisoners
Derek Made My Day

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

By James J. Ackerman
March 13, 2023
Hope Events | James Ackerman
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • From the CEO
An Exciting Announcement About Prison Fellowship’s Future

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

By James J. Ackerman
January 30, 2023
Heather Rice-Minus | James Ackerman
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Prison Fellowship Board of Directors Names Heather Rice-Minus as Incoming President and CEO Beginning July 2024

"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."

By Prison Fellowship
January 30, 2023
James Ackerman
  • Press Releases
Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman Announces 2024 Transition from the Ministry

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

By Prison Fellowship
November 15, 2022
James Ackerman
prison reform Continues to Gain Support from the White House
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Prison Reform Continues to Gain Support from the White House

  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.

By Prison Fellowship
February 14, 2018
Grover Norquist | James Ackerman | Prison Reform | Second Chance Month | Second Chances | Trump Administration | White House
From the CEO: The Reason Our Family Loves Angel Tree
  • Angel Tree
  • From the CEO
From the CEO: The Reason Our Family Loves Angel Tree

James Ackerman is the CEO of Prison Fellowship® and a longtime Angel Tree® volunteer. The following story was originally published for Jubilee®, and is reprinted here with permission. 

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By James J. Ackerman
December 6, 2016
Angel Tree | James Ackerman | Jubilee
Helping hand feature
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison & Prisoners
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  • Reentry
Five Ways to Help the Incarcerated and Their Families

“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.

By Steve Rempe
September 26, 2016
Angel Tree | Florida | In-Prison | James Ackerman | Mentoring | Prayer | Reentry | Restoration | Tampa | volunteer
Radio Mic feature
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
Getting a New Life After Prison

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.

By Steve Rempe
July 26, 2016
Des Moines | InnerChange Freedom Initiative | Iowa | James Ackerman | Jamie Johnson | Newton | WHO Radio
James Ackerman feature
  • Press Releases
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
Successful Media and Entertainment Executive to Head Prison Fellowship

“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.

By Prison Fellowship
July 12, 2016
James Ackerman | President | Prison Fellowship

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PRISON FELLOWSHIP IN THE NEWS

View our latest press releases and hear what other publications are saying about Prison Fellowship and our programs.

    Churches grow outreach year-round through Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Program
    How Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program Helped an Incarcerated Father Rebuild His Family
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