One Million Prisoners Complete Transformative Evangelism Program
The Prisoner’s Journey, the in-prison evangelism program of Prison Fellowship International, recently reached a milestone by graduating its one millionth participant.
Since its launch in 2014, the program has invited more than two million prisoners in nearly 900 prisons worldwide to explore Jesus’ life and teachings through the gospel of Mark. Nearly seven in 10 graduates continue in additional evangelism or discipleship courses, one of the strongest indicators of lasting life change and transformation.
“We’re celebrating a million graduates, not as a statistic,” said Andrew Corley, the ministry’s international president and CEO. It represents one million men and women, people like me and you, who have encountered Jesus Christ in some of the hardest places on earth.”
Extensive research confirms the life-changing outcomes. A Baylor University study found that participation increases religious engagement and a sense of meaning in life, while reducing negative emotional states and aggression. Additional surveys show that prisoners receive 87 percent more family visits, commit 49 percent fewer violent acts and are six times more likely to pray daily after completing the program.
They have wrestled with the gospel, discovered what it means to follow Jesus Christ
“Through The Prisoner’s Journey, they have wrestled with the gospel, discovered what it means to follow Jesus Christ and experienced a deep re-formation of identity rooted in new life in him,” Corley said. “We bear witness to a transformation that does not end at the prison gate but spills outward from a single personal turning point — into families, communities and generations.”
Prison Fellowship International also celebrates its strategic partnership with Christianity Explored Ministries, a collaborator on source content and program trainings. Its foundational resources helped shape The Prisoner’s Journey from its earliest days and continues to support the program’s growth. Bible League International, American Bible Society and Eastern European Mission have supplied hundreds of thousands of Bibles to participants in their own languages worldwide.
More than 12 million men and women are incarcerated worldwide, many of whom have yet to hear the message of Jesus’ love and redemption. Prison Fellowship International is committed to continuing to expand, strengthen and deepen this work so every prisoner has access to the hope that has already transformed so many lives.
More information is available at www.prisonfellowship.org.
–Dwight Widaman
