Purpose-Driven Partnership

WASHINGTON -- Last month, hostage Ashley Smith used Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose-Driven Life, to give hope to an escaped convict who had allegedly just murdered four people in Atlanta. Thanks to a new partnership between Prison Fellowship and Warren’s Purpose Driven Ministries, that same hope will be extended to those who are incarcerated in prisons and to some of our nation’s most at-risk youth, the children of prisoners.

The partnership will introduce Purpose-Driven Ministries’ “Celebrate Recovery” addiction recovery program in our nation’s prisons. It will also encourage 20,000 purpose-driven churches to participate in Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program, the nation’s only year-round effort to reach out exclusively to the children of prisoners.

Prison Fellowship and Rick
Warren’s Purpose-Driven
Ministries unite to reach
prisoners and their children

“Two-thirds of the U.S. prison population has a substance-abuse problem,” says Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley. “By making the ‘Celebrate Recovery’ program available in more prisons, we'll be able to offer prisoners a chance at a drug-free life when they return home.”

Earley also praised the new partnership’s ability to greatly expand Angel Tree’s work of providing Christmas gifts, summer camping experiences, and mentoring opportunities to the more than two million children who have one or both parents in prison -- children who are five times more likely to end up in prison themselves.

Prison Fellowship Founder and Chairman Chuck Colson believes the two organizations are a natural fit. “The whole notion of The Purpose-Driven Life -- which is genius -- has a particular impact for guys in prison,” Colson says. “Our vision is to use the program to equip the next generation of Christian leaders God is raising up from behind prison walls.”

Another key component of the partnership is the opportunity for the two organizations to collaborate on materials to help Christians from all walks of life apply biblical principles to their everyday lives. Plans call for the development and distribution of materials for adults, teens and children.

To volunteer to help bring “Celebrate Recovery” to prisoners or to participate in the Angel Tree program, visit www.pfm.org or call toll-free 877.478.0100.