Dear John,
I’m so grateful for Psalm 91, a powerful reminder that we are not alone. God is in control: “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
In these unprecedented times, our shared humanity is centerstage. As terms like “social distancing” and “quarantine” punctuate our conversations, a global truth unites us: To be human is to be vulnerable.
The current public health situation will temporarily affect many of our programs. Because of the God we trust and your faithful support, Prison Fellowship will continue to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into prisons however we can, to advocate for a more restorative criminal justice system, support second chances, and work to support and strengthen families with a parent in prison.
Most states have already closed access to prisons, and even in places that are still open for now, we have started to pause our in-prison programming as a precaution.
Meanwhile, many other Prison Fellowship programs are not affected by prison closures—and will be even more crucial in ministering to prisoners and their families in the coming weeks and months. These include:
- Bibles provided by Prison Fellowship to men and women behind bars—more than 50,000 last year. In such a time as this, the demand for high-quality, large-print Bibles is only going up as more people seek the Lord and have time on their hands to dive into the Word. We have arranged to get Bibles to men and women in prison both through chaplains and shipped directly from the publisher.
- Inside Journal is our quarterly newspaper for English- and Spanish-speaking men and women in prison. Each quarter, Inside Journal brings the Gospel and inspirational articles to those behind bars. As events and other in-prison programs are canceled, this positive reading material will be more important than ever before.
- Angel Tree Children with a parent in prison remain a key focus of Prison Fellowship throughout the year, but especially now, as in-prison visits with parents may be canceled. Preparations continue to send thousands of children to an Angel Tree Camping partner, particularly during the later summer months, on an Angel Tree scholarship, and churches can sign up now to deliver a gift and the Gospel to the children of prisoners during the 2020 Christmas season. We are also working to create an online Virtual Angel adoption program.
- Advocacy for a more restorative criminal justice system for all, including fairer sentencing, more constructive correctional culture, and closure for those with a criminal record, will continue. Long after the pandemic has passed, these reforms will make an important difference in the lives of those affected by crime and incarceration.
- Outrageous Justice is our free small-group study that explores the criminal justice system through a biblical lens, current events, and personal stories. While many places of worship are closed, this could be an excellent opportunity to lead or participate in an online exploration of God's heart for justice and ways to pursue hope and restoration in our communities.
For His Kingdom,
James J. Ackerman
President and Chief Executive Officer
