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September 28, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextSENATE RESOLUTION 915—RECOGNIZING THE NATIONWIDE IMPACT OF PRISON
FELLOWSHIP ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Mr. LANKFORD (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 915
Whereas Prison Fellowship was founded in 1976 by the late
Charles Colson, after his conversion to Christianity and the
strengthening of his faith during incarceration;
Whereas, in 2026, Prison Fellowship celebrates its 50th
anniversary as the largest Christian nonprofit serving
prisoners, former prisoners, and their families in the United
States, continuing its mission to encounter Jesus with those
impacted by incarceration and annually reaching more than
600,000 individuals with the support of more than 200,000
volunteers nationwide;
Whereas Prison Fellowship envisions a revival of the church
both inside and outside prison that brings justice, mercy,
and hope to communities in the United States, and through the
efforts of its staff and volunteers, shares the Gospel in
hundreds of correctional facilities each year;
Whereas the Prison Fellowship Academy is a yearlong,
intensive program that invites incarcerated individuals to
engage in personal transformation, character development, and
spiritual growth;
Whereas more than 16,000 individuals have participated in
the Prison Fellowship Academy, with approximately 6,000
graduates;
Whereas evaluations, conducted by the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice and the Minnesota Department of Corrections,
have demonstrated significant reductions in recidivism among
participants of the Prison Fellowship Academy;
Whereas Prison Fellowship Grow fosters faith formation,
mentorship, and community engagement for individuals
exploring life through the Gospel;
Whereas more than 350,000 individuals have participated in
a Prison Fellowship Grow Bible study or related course;
Whereas the Prison Fellowship Academy has been approved by
the Federal Bureau of Prisons as an evidence-based recidivism
reduction program under the First Step Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-391; 132 Stat. 5194), making Prison Fellowship the
first nonprofit organization to have a program receive this
designation, and Prison Fellowship Grow has likewise been
approved by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a productive
activity under the First Step Act of 2018;
Whereas, to strengthen relationships between incarcerated
parents and their children, the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
equips local churches with Christmas gifts, summer camps, and
year-round family support;
Whereas more than 13,000,000 children have been served
through Angel Tree Christmas and more than 120,000 children
have attended an Angel Tree camp;
Whereas, using education, reflection, planning, and
implementation, Warden Exchange equips correctional leaders
with the tools needed to create safer, more restorative
prison environments for incarcerated individuals and
correctional staff;
Whereas, since 2014, Warden Exchange has equipped more than
820 State correctional leaders nationwide to reimagine
prisons, and in 2026, the program admitted its first Federal
warden; and
Whereas, since launching Second Chance Month in 2017,
Prison Fellowship has raised national awareness of barriers
facing people
with criminal records and expanded opportunities for brighter
futures, with more than 1,000 partners and recognition from
the White House, the United States Senate, and more than 40
jurisdictions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) honors Prison Fellowship on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of its founding by Charles Colson, which was
inspired by his personal transformation and a vision of
redemption, justice, and hope;
(2) commends Prison Fellowship's decades of service in
advancing restoration, rehabilitation, and second chances
through faith-based programs that strengthen individuals,
families, and communities; and
(3) recognizes the lasting contributions of the staff,
volunteers, church partners, correctional leaders, and
program participants of Prison Fellowship, whose efforts have
transformed millions of lives and fostered hope across the
United States over the past 5 decades.