Prison Ministry

InsideOut Dad is a weekly class held in prison led by Jim Swartzentruber. Jim invites men to share childhood experiences that affect them today. In class they wrestle with the question of “How can I break the cycle, not only the cycle of incarceration, but the cycle of abuse, and lack of fathers in the…

By Caleb Mast – Prison Chaplain I see the dark red diesel truck rolling through town regularly. The bed sports a large blue welder, among other equipment, stained with the look of regular use. I have to smile when I see this as I recall the memories of first meeting this hard-working young man in…

By Stephen Stoltzfus – Director of Offender Ministries Last weekend, twenty-four men at Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility gathered for a weekend-long Bondage to Freedom Seminar, seeking healing and transformation. Alongside them, thirteen volunteers from New Horizons Ministries walked with them through the journey of forgiveness, restoration, and hope. The seminar is designed to give men…

By Chaplain Mark Nissley I met Matt* during a weekend seminar held in the Buena Vista Correctional Facility. He was in a group of thirty prisoners who attended a weekend of teaching, prayer, worship, and fellowship. He seemed withdrawn, defensive, and fearful. Matt was a self-declared Satanist with the number 666 tattooed on his face.…

By Jim Swartzentruber – InsideOut Dad Facilitator  We have recently completed the 8th InsideOut Dad class in prison, where sixteen prisoners graduated after twelve weeks of class. We had a wide range of social and spiritual backgrounds, from committed believers to proclaimed atheists. From a monogamous marriage of twenty-two years to “I have six children…

By Chaplain Ricky Miller I first met Todd in the Youthful Offenders System five years ago when I started as a chaplain there. He had already accepted Christ while he was in jail, but he was looking for someone to guide him as he deepened his walk with the Lord. Todd’s story is marked by…

In today’s world, where society often focuses on reform and rehabilitation, one aspect that is sometimes overlooked is spiritual healing. Prison ministry stands as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, offering men and women in jail hope, redemption, and a chance at personal renewal. But why is prison ministry so important? Chaplain…

By Caleb Mast Cellhouse Five is a series of steps and tiers, almost like a cathedral. As you enter the space, you hear both low-grade chatter and high-volume yells from one cell to the other in an effort to make connections and have relationships. Walking in, you can either go down to the lower level…