Prison Fellowship

Today we stop and thank God for the work of Prison Fellowship.

Luke 4:18-19

In all we do, we seek to bring a message of hope and change for prisoners, ex-offenders and their families.

Their mission: We’re passionate about reaching men and women in prison. Motivated by our faith, we seek to support inmates and their families and help restore even the most broken of lives. In all we do, we seek to bring a message of hope and change for prisoners, ex-offenders and their families.

Chuck Colson (Prison Fellowship Founder)

In 1974 Charles “Chuck” Colson, former chief counsel to President Nixon, was imprisoned for obstruction of justice during the Watergate inquiry. In prison, Colson saw and experienced the difference faith in Jesus makes in people’s lives. He became convinced that the real solution to crime is found through spiritual renewal.

When Colson walked free seven months later, he had a new mission in life: To reach men and women behind bars, and give them the opportunity to turn their lives around through Christ. Prison Fellowship in the US was founded in 1976, and expanded internationally three years later. By 1981, Australia was the third chartered member of Prison Fellowship International. We rely on close to 700 volunteers who visit prisoners, run camps, provide Christmas presents for the children of inmates, support ex-prisoners upon release, facilitate programs in prisons, play sports, facilitate in-prison Bible studies, and lots more.

Today, Prison Fellowship International works in 117 countries around the world, and is the largest association of national Christian ministries working within the criminal justice field. (From Prison Fellowship Australia Website

2026).

Jesus declared this about his ministry:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

(Luke 4:18-19)

Prison Fellowship lives out Christ’s ministry in proclaiming freedom for the prisoner. Let us continue to pray and stand with them.

God bless.

Pastor Stephen