Remember those in prison
Dear John,

April 21 marked the eighth anniversary of the passing of our founder, Chuck Colson. While we truly miss him, his legacy is alive and well at Prison Fellowship! Despite facing continued challenges from the COVID-19 crisis, God has faithfully opened doors though prison gates are closed.

I’m reminded of this verse from Proverbs: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” As we at Prison Fellowship continue in that wisdom, God is faithfully establishing our plans. Here are some highlights:


- Celebrating Easter in prison was one of Chuck and Patty Colson’s traditions. This year, though they were closed to guests, we were able to bring an Easter Hope Event to more prisons than ever! Thanks to Floodlight, our new online portal that provides corrections staffs free, downloadable, high-quality video content for in-prison televisions and devices, we were able to bring a virtual Easter Hope Event to prisons in 20 states, including nearly every facility in California! In addition, access to Floodlight and its positive inspirational and educational content has expanded to 28 states and is growing every day.




- We celebrated Second Chance Month—with modifications for public health and safety. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we continue the important work of raising awareness about the challenges formerly incarcerated men and women face as they seek healthcare, housing, and employment. With that in mind, we’re pleased to share that the White House and 16 additional states and jurisdictions joined us to declare April as Second Chance Month! We hosted virtually our kick-off Gala on March 24, and nearly 500 people across the country joined us for our virtual prayer meeting on April 18.




- Our flagship program, Prison Fellowship Academy, has also been impacted by prison closings. While this has affected daily operations, Academy participants are living out the program’s values in the face of this unprecedented crisis. Stepping more fully into roles of leadership and influence, they are leading Academy small groups, helping chaplains provide programming, and lending a hand wherever needed. Additionally, our Academy staff continue to remain closely connected to participants, providing program assignments as well as messages of hope and encouragement while maintaining communication with our correctional partners.




- Our Angel Tree Camping team is preparing to provide thousands of children scholarships to attend a partner camp, many of which are still determining their 2020 offerings, including shifting to late summer or fall dates. Christian summer camp can deeply impact the lives of prisoners’ children—many receive Jesus Christ as Savior—so, we remain dedicated to making the experience a reality for as many as possible. In the meantime, as an expression of support and encouragement during these difficult times, we are distributing care packages to the caregivers of Angel Tree Camping children. Each package contains a $150 grocery gift card, a One Hope booklet, the choice of a basketball, football, volleyball, or soccer ball, and either a children’s or adult Bible.




- Outrageous Justice is our free small-group study <[link removed]> that explores the criminal justice system through a biblical lens, current events, and personal stories. Our field staff have been using this time at home to host online Outrageous Justice small groups, and we’ve seen more than 700 of our volunteers participate! 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.



I’d like to close by sharing this excerpt from a letter that arrived this week from a prisoner who received a copy of the Inside Journal Life Recovery Bible you so generously have been making available <[link removed]> to incarcerated men and women through Prison Fellowship:
“I was introduced to your Prison Fellowship Inside Journal Life Recovery Bible by an old cellmate and ordered one. Thank you so much for sending me this Bible. I am 52 years old and have never had a Bible of my own before. I am truly enjoying reading the Gospel and learning all I can about God the Father and Jesus. I actually cried when I received it. I have asked God to forgive me of my sins and invited the Lord Jesus to enter my life and save me from all my sins and guide me from now on. I was just wanting to thank Prison Fellowship for helping me change my life and giving me the tools to save my soul. God bless you!!” –Christopher, Shreveport, Louisiana

Would you join me in praising God for His great faithfulness? Because of your overwhelming generosity, just this month, we have been able to send nearly 10,000 Bibles to prisons across the country!

We continue to pray for you and your family during this time and are so grateful for your continued support of this ministry. If you are personally affected by COVID-19, please let us know how we can pray with and for you <[link removed]>, as we trust that the Lord hears and that we have what we asked of Him.

Praying with you,










James J. Ackerman
President and Chief Executive Officer
PRISON FELLOWSHIP®, 44180 Riverside Parkway, Lansdowne, VA 20176
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