Prison Ministry

Jesus Came to Set
the Captives Free

Jesus Christ came to set the captive free: in spirit, in soul, and in purpose. We carry the Word of God with us.

📊 Transparency Dashboard → 📰 Latest News ↓

"Treat a person as they are, they will remain so. Treat a person the way that person can be and is capable of being and that person will become as he or she can be and should be."

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

— Often attributed to Edmund Burke

Why Prison Ministry?

Jesus was explicit. When He stood in the synagogue and read from Isaiah, He said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… to proclaim liberty to the captives." That was not merely a metaphor. It was a mission statement — and it is still ours today.

The incarcerated are not forgotten by God. Many of the greatest testimonies of radical conversion come from behind prison walls — where everything has been stripped away and the soul is finally open to hear the voice of the Lord.

The hope in any prison outreach is to be that voice. To show up with the Word of God, with genuine love, and with the unshakable belief that every person Jesus died for is worth fighting for — no matter where they are or what they've done.

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."

— Hebrews 13:3 (ESV)

Praying For…

Those currently incarcerated who want to know Jesus.

Families of the incarcerated who feel alone in the struggle.

Those recently released who need a community and a Word.

The fatherless — children growing up without a parent at home.

The widows and the forgotten — those the world has written off.

Connect

The Transparency Dashboard

The data behind the call for reform — deaths, conditions, and outcomes across Texas prison units, shown by unit and never by name. This is why your report matters: patterns, not anecdotes, are what move lawmakers.

📊 View the Transparency Dashboard →

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed."

— Luke 4:18
Testimonies

Stories from Behind the Walls

Real people. Real transformation. The power of Jesus Christ reaching into the darkest places.

Mel Texas

"I’ll start with my own story… In 2017, my son was arrested and began a journey that changed our family's life forever. Those early days were filled with fear, uncertainty, heartbreak, and many unanswered questions. As a parent, I struggled to see beyond the circumstances we were facing. Over the years, I have learned that hope can appear in places where you least expect it. While my son remains incarcerated, I have witnessed growth, faith, and purpose emerge from one of the most difficult chapters of his life. By the grace of God, he has become someone who encourages and reaches other inmates within the unit where he is housed. Instead of allowing his circumstances to define him, he has chosen to use his experiences to help others who are facing their own struggles. I share this not to focus on the reasons he is incarcerated, but to highlight the power of redemption, faith, and transformation. Every person has a story, and many carry burdens they never speak about. Behind every incarcerated individual is a family, a journey, and the possibility of change. My hope today is greater than it was in 2017. I have learned that God can work in the middle of brokenness and bring purpose where it once seemed impossible. If you have a story of struggle, loss, redemption, or hope, don't be afraid to share it. Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. "

Read full story →
Read All Stories & Share Yours →
Get Involved

Ways You Can Help

You don't have to go inside a prison to be part of this mission.

Share a Testimony

Have you been released? Are you a family member who witnessed God work in someone's life behind the walls? Your story is someone else's lifeline. Share it here.

Submit Your Story →
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Share a Concern

Is your loved one suffering — denied medical care, facing abuse, or living in dangerous conditions inside TDCJ or a county jail? Share your concern here. You are heard. You are not alone.

Share a Concern →
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Send a Bible

Many TDCJ units accept Bibles mailed directly from publishers. Organizations like Prison Fellowship and The Gideons have established programs to place the Word of God in the hands of the incarcerated. You can give through them right now.

Get Involved with Prison Fellowship →
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Pray With Us

Intercession is the foundation of this ministry. Every name we receive, every family we encounter — they all need prayer warriors standing in the gap. Send us a name and we will pray with you.

Send a Prayer Request →

Matthew 25:36, 40

"I was in prison and you came to visit me... whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

— Matthew 25:36, 40
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Reentry Resources

A curated list of organizations, hotlines, and programs for returning citizens and their families in Texas.

View Resources →
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Reentry Help & Data

The Center for Justice Research (Texas Southern University) Reentry Dashboard — data, research, and resources on what actually helps people succeed after release.

Open the Reentry Dashboard →

Love the Families

The children. The spouses. The parents. Incarceration does not just affect the person behind the wall — it reshapes entire families. There are organizations, hotlines, and support programs specifically for those walking this road at home.

Resources for Families & Loved Ones →
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Have an Idea?

If you have ideas for helping the incarcerated, their families, or anyone impacted by the prison system — I would love to hear from you.

Share Your Ideas →
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Did You Know?

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

— Matthew 25:35–36
Ministry Partners

Organizations Carrying the Gospel Behind the Walls

These ministries are on the ground — inside correctional facilities and alongside returning citizens — doing the work of the Kingdom.

Christian Prisoner Ministry

A United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) ministry bringing the Gospel into prisons — baptisms, discipleship, and spiritual support for incarcerated men and women across the country.

prisonministry.faith → Facebook Page →

Reaching Out In Love Prison Ministries

A community of believers carrying the Gospel into correctional facilities and walking with the incarcerated in love. Their mission: “If you want to change the world — preach the Gospel.”

Facebook Group →
Prison News & Commentary

What's Happening — and What It Means

News, updates, and Mel's thoughts on prison ministry, criminal justice, and the people behind the walls.

85 to Stay Alive: Texas Prisons Without Air Conditioning

July 27, 2026

85 to Stay Alive: Texas Prisons Without Air Conditioning

Summer in Texas is deadly — and for tens of thousands of people incarcerated in state prisons, there is no relief. The Texas Prisons Community Advocates (TPCA) launched the “85 to Stay Alive” campaign to demand that all TDCJ housing be cooled to 85°F or below. That number is not arbitrary: heat-rela…
📰 Texas Prisons Community Advocates — 85 to Stay Alive Campaign → Read & Comment →

July 20, 2026

One question keeps coming to mind: Why does Texas project that it will need 5,600 additional prison beds?

One question keeps coming to mind:Why does Texas project that it will need 5,600 additional prison beds?The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is moving forward with a significant prison expansion after the 89th Texas Legislature approved funding for new housing capacity.Here's what has bee…
📰 https://www.chron.com/texas/article/texas-adding-hundreds-prison-beds-cities-22337206.php → Read & Comment →

July 18, 2026

What Norway's Halden Prison Tells Us About What's Possible

Halden Prison in Norway is widely regarded as one of the most humane correctional facilities in the world — and it is maximum security. That detail matters. This is not a minimum-security camp for low-risk individuals. Halden houses serious offenders. And yet, correctional officers are trained to b…
📰 World Prison Brief — Norway | International Comparative Research → Read & Comment →

July 18, 2026

Pressure Mounts on Texas to Address Brutal Heat Crisis in Prison Cells

Texas — the state with the largest prison population in the United States — is facing mounting legal pressure over a deadly and ongoing heat crisis inside its cells. As extreme summer temperatures push conditions inside un-airconditioned units to dangerous levels, incarcerated people are being expo…
📰 The Guardian — Ed Pilkington, July 10, 2026 → Read & Comment →

July 11, 2026

After a 10-year legal battle, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that Texas’ mental health waitlist system violates the 14th Amendment

After a 10-year legal battle, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that Texas’ mental health waitlist system violates the 14th Amendment due process rights of mentally incompetent jail detainees.When a Texas court finds someone mentally incompetent, they are ordered to a state hospital for tr…
📰 KXAN Investigations, July 9, 2026. → Read & Comment →

July 11, 2026

A federal judge just ruled Texas can't keep mentally ill defendants sitting in jail for months waiting on a state hospital bed. Judge David Ezra ordered the state to admit them within 21 days — after wait times averaged ~202 days. The court gave Texas four years to fix it, with monitoring along the way. (Reported July 2026.)

Federal Court Orders Texas to End the Mental-Health Jail BacklogA federal judge has ordered Texas to stop leaving mentally ill defendants stranded in county jails. On July 9, 2026, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission must admit jail detaine…
📰 Houston Public Media/KERA → Read & Comment →
Senator Borris L. Miles spoke at the July 8th, 2026 Texas Health and Human Services Interim Hearing

July 9, 2026

Senator Borris L. Miles spoke at the July 8th, 2026 Texas Health and Human Services Interim Hearing

On Senator Borris L. Miles' Facebook Page: At today’s Texas Health and Human Services Interim Hearing, Senator Borris L. Miles said the Harris County Jail is the NUMBER ONE mental health service provider in the entire State of Texas—a reality shared by many counties across our state. Jails should no…
📰 Read Source → Read & Comment →

June 22, 2026

Urgent Disability Rights & Reentry Alert: Why the DOJ Olmstead Memo Matters

Brief Summary of the below: A federal DOJ memo is raising concerns that protections requiring community-based care for people with mental illness and disabilities could be weakened. At the same time, incarcerated individuals who have no home to return to are often not legally considered homeless …
📰 Read Source → Read & Comment →
TDCJ Newest Core Values - Thoughts?

June 21, 2026

TDCJ Newest Core Values - Thoughts?

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has shared its latest "new Core" values. What are your thoughts? Do you trust that we will see change for the better for our Loved Ones (LOs)? Weigh in on this. Feedback is good, things the public must know and address. We need to know our LOs are safe and re…
Read & Comment →

Are You or Someone You Love Currently Incarcerated?

You are not forgotten. God sees you right where you are. Reach out — we want to pray with you and connect with you.

Get in Touch