Prison Fellowship International said it has reached a milestone by graduating its 1 millionth participant since its prison ministry program began more than a decade ago.
On January 12, the organization announced that more than 1 million incarcerated men and women around the world have completed Prisoner’s Journey, an eight-week faith-based course centered on the Gospel of Mark. The program began in 2014 and is implemented in hundreds of prisons on multiple continents.
According to Prison Fellowship International, a total of 1,010,621 prisoners have completed the course, which is currently offered in more than 500 prisons around the world. Graduated participants receive the Bible in the language of their hearts, and nearly 70% continue in additional evangelism and discipleship programs.
Andrew Corey, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship International, said the milestone reflects the lives of individuals, not statistics.
“We’re celebrating a million graduates, but we’re not celebrating them as a statistic,” Corey said. “This represents one million men and women who have met Jesus Christ in some of the most difficult places on earth.”
Prisoner’s Journey takes place in small groups within correctional facilities, where inmates meet weekly to learn about the life and teachings of Jesus. Graduation usually takes place with a ceremony recognizing the completion of the course.
An independent study examined the impact of this program. A study conducted by Baylor University found that participation in the Prisoner’s Journey was associated with increased religious involvement and a stronger sense of meaning in life, as well as decreased negative emotions and aggression. A study cited by Prison Fellowship International also reported an increase in family visits and a decrease in violent behavior among participants.
This program is run in partnership with several Christian organizations. Christianity Explored Ministries collaborated on curriculum development and training, while organizations such as Bible League International, American Bible Society, and Eastern European Missions provided Bibles to prisoners in multiple languages.
Prison Fellowship International said this milestone comes amid continued global need, noting that more than 12 million people are incarcerated around the world, many with limited access to religious instruction and rehabilitation programs.
Founded in 1979, Prison Fellowship International works with local volunteers and prison authorities through a network of national ministries in more than 120 countries. The organization focuses on programs for prisoners, their families, and crime victims, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration.
Prisoner journeys remain one of the organization’s core initiatives as it continues to expand its programs in correctional facilities around the world.
