Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is putting his money where his mouth is. He is donating a portion of his salary — $43,725 – to the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry to further support the work of chaplains in jails and prisons.
“I pledged to serve without accepting a salary to support Virginians every way I can,” he said. “The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry exemplifies the heart and spirit of Virginia by providing hope, resources and transformational opportunities for incarcerated Virginians. This administration continues to respect the law and those inside the criminal justice system with increased access to mental health services, best practices for trade skill acquisition and by maintaining excellence in the restoration of rights process, among other priorities.”
The Virginia governor also affirmed his support for giving people a second chance.
“The Good News Ministry has decided to shine a light on a very simple yet profound truth that there is hope and there is value in every single person on this planet,” Youngkin said. “That is a wonderful truth. The Good News team has kind of brought together this comprehensive way to walk hand-in-hand with the Lord, but also hand-in-hand with each other.”
I pledged to serve without accepting a salary to support Virginians every way I can. The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry exemplifies the heart and Spirit of Virginia by providing hope, resources, and transformational opportunities for incarcerated Virginians. pic.twitter.com/pBUpEh8hOS
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) April 6, 2023
Former inmate Brandi Hinegardner spoke of the moral support she received from the ministry to reform herself in her post-prison life.
“It’s praise to God that I am here today to be able to stand before you and give you a little testimony,” she said. “I’ve been out of this facility for four years. I am still clean and sober. I still have a full-time job. I am still living in my own home. I have my own vehicle, and I have a full-time relationship with my mother, my daughter and my grandchildren, which I had none of when I left this facility.”
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry is the largest independent supplier of chaplains for jails and prisons. Chaplains serve as the religious program coordinator for prisons. In addition, they are responsible for pastoral care, facilitation and accommodation of religious requests, coordination of clergy visits and a host of other personal ministry activities.
Good News provides chaplains in 22 states and 21 foreign countries. Three hundred chaplains and staff ministers in 350 facilities with daily access to more than 400,000 incarcerated men, women and young people. In addition, the organization has more than 100,000 active volunteers.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice