Prison Fellowship^®—the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families—recently partnered with Moody’s Today in the Word daily devotional to produce specialized devotionals to be distributed to 100,000 men and women in prison.

“The needs of men and women in prison are very unique, and these devotionals will serve as another way God can move and work in their lives—providing hope while behind bars,” said James Ackerman, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship. “During this COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the Lord work in miraculous ways. We’ve distributed more than 120,000 Bibles to prisons across America. Now, those who receive these Bibles can have devotionals—specific to their needs—thanks to our new partnership with Moody.”

This Bible distribution and follow-up resource to people in prison with the Today in the Word devotional is one of the largest outreach projects in Prison Fellowship’s history.

“As an inner-city pastor for more than 30 years who has worked with many men and women in prison as well as helping returning citizens, a resource such as Today in the Word is vital to help them understand the gospel of King Jesus and grow in their walk with Him,” Moody President Dr. Mark Jobe said. “I’m delighted to see this partnership come to fruition. The Moody family is praying fervently for the chaplains, men, and women using this resource and those in our prison system.”

This new partnership expands the Today in the Word outreach to men and women in prison through Set Free Ministries and other individual ministries. Thanks to your support, God’s Word is changing lives!

“We’re starting to see a lot of fruit come about. God’s reaping a harvest right now! Even next year, I’m going to take the study to the football huddle with the athletes.” – Andy Owens

Andy Owens is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Class of 2004, and serves with Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Central Kentucky. Andy is using the special partnership issue of Today in the Word to help his athletes and coaches study the Bible.

Q. How have you used Today in the Word in your program?

A. Through Fellowship of Christian Athletes, I received the Gospel of John study produced in their partnership with Today in the Word. The coach at Eastern Kentucky University asked me to come in and lead a voluntary Bible study. We went through this study on the Gospel of John.

I’ve led Bible studies where people don’t say anything, they just stare back at you, but this wasn’t that way at all. As we studied, the men opened up. One coach came in early and told me how God was using the reading in his life. We have a good mix of believers and unchurched. Some of the men grew up in church, but it was just a part of their childhood.

Q. How are you able to teach the Bible in colleges and high schools?

A. In football, opportunities for the gospel are really built into the fabric of the sport. The teams and coaches are used to having a chaplain around and having team Bible studies offered. The longer they’re here and the longer I’m around, I’m able to get to know them and have conversations.

A lot of sports have chapels and devotions built into the schedule. The athletes may act rough, but they also want the Lord’s Prayer and the chapel. They may have different reasons for putting those things into the program, but it lets me go in and share the gospel.

Q. What is unique about reaching athletes with the gospel?

A. At Eastern Kentucky University, our theme is Finding Your Identity in Christ. When the team lost their season due to COVID, their whole identity was stripped away. They ask: What are they without their sport? Who am I without the approval of the team/fans/coach? This year, we’ve focused on who we are in Christ. If you know who you are in Christ, you can live without your sport and do better when you have your sport.

Q. What would you like to tell people who support Today in the Word?

A. When you invest in Today in the Word, you are partnering in the gospel. You’re making an investment. It may not be today or tomorrow, but lives are going to be impacted. I’m where I am now because I had God’s people invest in my life. Through your gifts I’m right where God wanted me right now.

A big thing I’ve seen, especially this past year, is that people are seeking answers to life. Everything is changing and they’re looking for absolutes. We’re able to point them to the answers found in God’s Word. I know that nothing catches God by surprise. We’ve had a lot of opportunities to get our athletes and coaches hope, and to give them a foundation.

Paul said that when he arrived in September to serve at the Adult & Teen Challenge center in Western Pennsylvania, they had very little reading material for the men to use. “All the books we had were old or worn out,” Paul said. “We didn’t have the budget to buy new reading materials, and our funds had suffered during COVID. When guys come in, we give them Bibles and Christian reading material. These men are thirsty for knowledge.”

Today in the Word answered Paul’s request by sending them bulk copies of the TITW daily devotionals to use with the men. The men are 18 or older, the average age is about 30. “Most men, on average, don’t reach out for help to change until age 27,” explained Paul.

The Teen & Adult Challenge Center is a one-year live-in discipleship/drug and alcohol addiction program. The goal is to not only free these men from their addictions, but to give them a relationship with Jesus. They want them not just to avoid addiction, but to live a successful life after leaving the facility. “Some of the men leave the program early,” Paul said. “We want to make sure they have a Bible and have connections.”

“When I got here, we were low on a lot of reading materials – what we had was run-down or falling apart. Young guys are rough on everything. I reached out to Moody, to see if I couldn’t get some materials. I am very thankful for TITW it’s been so helpful and doing so much good for these guys.”

“I do it because I went through the program myself,” Paul said, “I owe my life to it. Ever since, I’ve made it my goal to see people find healing and restore their lives. It’s all to the glory of God. Secular programs are great, but they only teach sobriety. We teach the reliance on the Spirit. We do talk about addiction, but really we rely on the Spirit and teaching the Bible. We explore, what is the biblical reason for what you’ve got going on. The Lord really gets a hold of these men and they get on fire for God.”

As the discipleship coordinator, Paul’s goal has been to find Bible-focused material. “They read everything, and they want more! TITW has really been a blessing for them. We’ve been using it since last December. Guys have Bible studies at night. Not all participate – it is optional. They go in the chapel, pray together, and then take the study, read it and then it jumps off to other things. They read the passage for the day. Talk about the ideas being presented.”

IMPACT STORY:

He shared the impact the Center and Today in the Word has had on one young man. “One of the guys has been in our program several times. We picked him up at Taco Bell, almost dead 6’ 2” and only 100 pounds. We gave him food, and nursed him back to life. He started doing this Bible study, and he started exploding in his spiritual life. Went from someone I was worried about to someone who is being transformed by God.”

The young man was facing pending charges. In the past he would have run away. Instead, he has asked God to help him go in and face it. He went back to prison saying, “Lord, I know that you’ve got me. You’ve healed me. This transformation for me was so I could go into prison and minister for You.”

“He was in the program because he didn’t have another choice. In a few months, doing the Bible studies, He didn’t want anything else. Growing. That’s the type of transformation he experienced.”

“We appreciate that Today in the Word is really well written. Some of these guys struggle with reading skills – it’s at the right level. I also know it’s something I can trust.

Many of the men are unchurched. “My goal is to get them to stop focusing on themselves and start to know God. How does your family feel? How does God see you? What is your position before God? I want them to have a relationship with Him,” Paul said. “Using your devotionals has been a beautiful thing. It allows them to start understanding how to become dependent on Jesus. When they explore the Lord, they find contentment.”