Dear John,

When COVID-19 hit earlier this year, we all prayed its impact would be limited. Certainly, none of us predicted we’d still be facing restrictions on our in-prison ministry as we approach fall. But we continue to be amazed by each new opportunity God brings us to minister in ways we simply couldn’t have imagined a year ago.

Just two weeks ago we hosted our first Hope Event outside the walls of a prison! St. Clair Correctional Facility in Alabama allowed us to hold a full-blown Hope Event featuring Grammy
Award-winning Gospel artist Lecrae <[link removed]> on the public-side of the prison walls, while men inside gathered, wearing masks and appropriately distanced, in the prison yard only 50 feet away. An amazing success, about 250 men attended the event, with at least 20 of them committing or recommitting their lives to Christ. And we were able to minister along with our volunteers and partners, bringing the living hope of Christ to people in prison. We were so encouraged by this event that we already have several more “outside the walls” Hope Events planned for the coming weeks.

We have missed being with those in prison, and we have missed being with you.

But as our leadership team gathered recently to discuss updates on the status of our in-prison programming, one of our Prison Fellowship Academy directors shared an insight regarding our work during this COVID-19 pandemic that so inspired me, I wanted to share it with you as well.

He described the work he and our field teams have been doing during this period as “practicing the ministry of presence” for both the people in prison and our Department of Corrections (DOC) partners. We are there—sometimes physically and sometimes virtually—being supportive in whatever way we can. Whether that is simply taking a moment in the hallway to ask a corrections officer about his family, or sending a letter of encouragement to an Academy class gathering on their own, or making a phone call to a volunteer to say hello—we are ministering to those around us with our presence. This pause in our “normal” work has provided an opportunity to focus on relationships. We are building connections, ensuring others know they are loved and valued. And in God’s economy, that is very much His work.

So, while we continue to see Academy sites open—and reclose for periods of time—we are confident our programs will be even stronger when they return to full vigor because we have continued to sow into the relationships with those we serve.

I leave you with this wonderful quote from Henri Nouwen:
It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them but truly love them.
Please accept our deepest thanks for your continued faithful support of this ministry <[link removed]>.We are grateful to God and to you for allowing us to do this holy work. We would be honored to lift up any prayer requests <[link removed]> you have.


God's Blessings,












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