Dear John,

Prison Fellowship believes each person is made in the image of God and should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. In the wake of George Floyd’s tragic and senseless death, we continue our work to reform our nation’s criminal justice system, acknowledging amid civil unrest that people of color are disproportionately and tragically affected.

Our nation’s criminal justice system is broken, and this ministry has worked for four-plus decades for its reform. Despite continuing social challenges and an unprecedented health crisis, God is with us. He continues to show Himself faithful, opening doors even where prison gates are closed!

With gratitude, I am reminded of this verse from Ephesians: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I’m happy to share some of the good works He continues to prepare for us in prison:

• Thanks to a creative partnership in Kentucky between a prison chaplain and our field staff, the first class of Prison Fellowship Academy participants at Lexington’s Blackburn Correctional Complex were able to carry on with their classes, even with staff and volunteers unable to physically join them. Maintaining social distancing, just a few weeks ago the prison hosted via Zoom videoconference a special Academy graduation ceremony for friends, family, and Prison Fellowship staff and volunteers. It was a wonderful celebration, and you can read the full story here. In another show of great creativity, our Academy staff and volunteers bought, assembled, and delivered 962 care packages to people in Oklahoma prisons. During this time when incarcerated men and women are isolated and struggling for connection, they still experienced the compassion of Christ expressed through Prison Fellowship staff and volunteers.

• Not to be left out, our Warden Exchange staff also have been sending notes of encouragement to wardens and other prison officials, letting them know they are appreciated and not forgotten. One warden responded with a note of thanks for the continued support, sharing this message about the challenges prison staff have been facing during this time:

“I received a wonderful surprise in the mail today. Thank you to all so much for thinking of us. We have been battling the virus for almost eight weeks now inside the facility. At the onset we lost many of our staff due to the virus. I found myself as a maintenance man, food service worker, and whatever job that was needed to be completed, we were doing as administrators. I’m hoping we are at the tail end of the virus because I know my team and I need a day off."

Would you continue to pray for all those who are working and living in prison today? Could we also ask you to pray for our staff and board? We have several in our Prison Fellowship family who are suffering serious health challenges or have lost loved ones during this time. We would love for you to join our prayer team, a community of prayer warriors across the country who are interceding for those behind bars, their families, and their communities.

We continue to pray for you and your family, as well, and are so grateful for your continued support. We look forward to brighter days and sharing with you more stories of God’s faithfulness.

Praying with you,