I’m grateful for the time I recently spent with our senior leadership in Naples, Florida, to gather with current and former members of the Prison Fellowship Board of Directors. It was such a special event to reflect on the legacy that our board alumni built with Chuck Colson. Together we celebrated God’s faithfulness through the years and looked ahead at what’s to come.
I heard former board members describe the personal impact this ministry has had on their faith. A panel of them, interviewed by fellow alumna Erika Harold, shared about their experiences serving on the board and witnessing the transformative work taking place behind bars. The wisdom from that conversation will be paying dividends to our current board for years to come.
Our board members will be honest with you—many of them hadn’t felt a pull toward prison ministry before Chuck urged them to join him. But every single one of them will tell you it changed them forever. This ministry is not just about mobilizing people to bring hope inside; it’s about the Church encountering what Jesus is already doing there! It’s about ministry with—not to—our brothers and sisters behind bars.
Board alum Mike Timmis told me, “This was the best event I’ve ever attended in my history of partnering with Prison Fellowship! I can’t describe the excitement I feel when I think about how Chuck’s vision lives on through this next generation of leadership and ministry impact. Jesus is alive and well in prisons today, and we all stand to benefit from building community with those behind bars.”
Heidi Huizenga shared, “I was refreshed and inspired to join with my fellow board alumni and reflect on the great legacy of ministry impact made by Prison Fellowship for nearly 50 years. I am so pleased to see such an experienced and devoted executive team supporting the God-sized vision for this next era of ministry.”
We were also joined by Chuck’s grown children. Chris Colson is a current board member, and Emily Colson is a longtime supporter of the ministry. Emily said it was bittersweet to return to Naples now that she has no living family there, but the reunion with her Prison Fellowship family was a gift.
“I always thought of Naples as home,” Emily said. “I realized that you are my home.”
We’re standing strong on the shoulders of those who came before us, and I’m eager for what God has in store. Thank you for your prayers and support. If there’s any way we can be praying for you, let our prayer team know.
Serving Him with you,
HEATHER RICE-MINUS President and CEO
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