Prison Fellowship® has been serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families for more than 40 years, with the vision of seeing all those affected by crime and incarceration restored to God, to their families, and to their communities. While the current public health situation will temporarily affect some of Prison Fellowship’s programs, their commitment to that vision is unwavering.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial that the body of Christ comes together to care for those affected by crime and incarceration amid these uncertain times. That’s why Prison Fellowship has created the following resources and action steps for you to prayerfully consider.
- Visit Prison Fellowship’s landing page for COVID-19 to hear how the ministry is responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic from Prison Fellowship’s CEO James Ackerman and receive regular updates as the situation continues to unfold.
- Read and share Prison Fellowship’s open letter to state and federal policy makers and corrections leaders with recommendations in response to COVID-19.
- Use Prison Fellowship’s simple online tool to contact your federal and state lawmakers and request that they allocate funding to meet pressing needs within correctional facilities and limit the use of incarceration in certain circumstances.
- Outrageous Justice is Prison Fellowship’s 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. Click here to download your free copy today.
- While prisons are locked down, Prison Fellowship continues to make Bibles available for direct shipment to prisoners. In these uncertain times, men and women behind bars are hungry for a firm foundation for their lives—and eager for positive ways to spend their time while programming is limited or cancelled. Would you consider a donation to help Prison Fellowship meet this need?
- Check out this guide for how you can pray for prisoners, prison staff, and their families during this crisis. If you are personally affected by COVID-19, please let us know how we can pray.
- Every April, Prison Fellowship celebrates Second Chance® Month—a nationwide movement to unlock brighter futures for approximately 70 million American adults with a criminal record.
- 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 cancelled. Churches can sign up now to deliver a gift and the gospel to the children of prisoners during the 2020 Christmas season.
You can visit the Prison Fellowship blog for more stories about loving those behind bars, including How Will COVID-19 Affect the Criminal Justice System? and What Christians Think About Prison Conditions and Caring for Prisoners.
