The purpose of this partnership is to encourage the preaching of the Gospel of Christ in every prison in Connecticut, and to encourage those men and women who faithfully go into our prisons every week bringing the love of Christ to inmates.

Prison ministry can often be difficult, discouraging and lonely. For these reasons the partnership between Free Inside and Vision New England Prison Ministries seeks to provide a forum for mutual encouragement, prayer and the sharing of resources. This forum is known as the Connecticut Prison Workers Network (CPWN). A newsletter and regular conferences for mutual spiritual encouragement are the primary means of achieving these goals.

Annual Prison Ministry Conference (Caleb Connecticut)
The conference will be held at First Baptist Church in Manchester, CT on Sept 23.

Please click here to download a brochure to register.

Inquiries: (860) 633 4085, freeinside@sbcglobal.net

Recovery Bibles for inmates at cost.

At least 80% of all inmates are addicts. The Recovery Bible is an excellent tool for helping them to understand the 12 steps from a Biblical point of view. You can order these Bibles for your ministry at cost from:

Bibles at Cost” 7455 Aberdeen Court, Gilroy, CA 95020, call toll free 1–800-778 8865, or go online to www.bibles@cost.com.

New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs with study notes is $3.99 each in a case lot 12.

The whole Bible is $14 each in a case lot of 12.

To qualify for the discount you must order at least 2 cases.

Conference Report – The God Who Changes Lives.

45 enthusiastic people, representing every New England state except Vermont attended the second Connecticut Conference on Prison Ministry, on August 14, 2004 in Glastonbury, CT. Those who came described the conference and it’s impact on them as: “excellent; I was blown away! I was deeply blessed; A refreshing and unexpected blessing; encouraging and motivating; I was blessed and encouraged, I took notes of everything.”

The tone and theme of the conference can be summed up in one sentence, ”Praise God Who Changes Lives!”

The conference was moved by the personal story of Mike Kropman, a chaplain in the Rhode Island State and Federal prison systems.  The son of a Rabbi, severely abused as a child, instead of making his Barmitzvah, Mike became a runaway, living on the streets. He told how his anger and hatred hardened him and drove him into a life of drug abuse, crime and violence. Leading to his arrest, conviction and imprisonment.

Through the persistent testimony of another inmate and the ministry of a godly chaplain, Mike came to a personal faith in Christ. His life was radically changed; from that moment the love and peace of God flooded his life, replacing the anger and hatred that had consumed him.

The burden of Mike’s two messages was that it is God who changes lives; it is God who changes circumstances, opening and closing doors to ministry in prisons. Our responsibility is to trust Him in everything. 

Everyone present was challenged by Mike’s emphasis on the need for in-prison volunteers to work with the authorities in any given prison and to recognize the spiritual authority of the chaplains. One participant said:

“I was blown away by Mike Kropman's testimony of how God breaks through years of accumulated hurt, anger and rejection and reaches into the deepest, darkest places and touches and heals.”

Kim Rivera, founder of “One way out Ministries” a re-entry ministry for incarcerated, addicted and homeless women, lead a seminar on the issues facing women in prison. Her story of life on the streets, of drug addiction, prostitution and imprisonment, was another vivid reminder of the power of God to change lives. The impact of Kim’s testimony is summed up in the words of one of the participants:

“Their testimonies (Mike and Kim’s) were encouraging and motivating. They showed us how GOD uses simple people like us to do miracles and change lives. Kim's story touched all of us, who were in her group. She said that we just have to be consistent in being there, listen and share God's unconditional love and God will use that to do his work and change lives.”

 Conclusion.

One lady, who was considering involvement in Prison Ministry, said after the conference; “The conference and the testimonies of both speakers have encouraged me to get involved in prison ministry.”

The Next Conference will be held on Saturday April 9, 2005 at First Baptist Church, Hillstown Road, Manchester CT.