Celebrating A 20 Year Journey (October 5, 2026)

For two decades, a growing movement has been building bridges between the church inside prison walls and the church outside. What began as an effort to provide theological education to incarcerated believers has expanded into a vision of helping returning citizens find welcoming churches where they can continue serving Christ and using their God-given gifts.

The story began in 2006 when Clef Irby (Prison Fellowship) and I partnered to bring The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) curriculum into prisons. A pilot project in Southern California revealed an extraordinary hunger for biblical training among incarcerated men and women. Over the following years, the program expanded across multiple states, equipping seminary-level leaders within prison communities.

As graduates returned home, we encountered an unexpected challenge. Many struggled to connect with local churches after release. Though they had been trained for discipleship and leadership inside prison, the transition into congregational life was often difficult. Church leaders wanted to help but frequently lacked the understanding and resources needed to do so effectively.

In response, Cathy designed a research study that we conducted among prison ministries, returning citizens, families, and church leaders. The result was The Onesimus Workshop, a video-based training resource created to help congregations welcome formerly incarcerated believers into the life and ministry of the church. Churches across the country embraced the material, recognizing both the need and the opportunity.

The vision continued to grow. In 2018, we formed Completion Global to strengthen connections between the in-prison church, local congregations, and mission opportunities. In 2020, Cathy and I wrote Climbing Up, a book designed to help incarcerated believers prepare for reentry before release.

Building on these experiences, Pastor Jeff Urke (Atascadero Bible Church) and I produced a series of short videos titled Welcoming Disciplemakers Home. The goal remained the same: helping congregations welcome returning citizens and recognize them as disciplemakers with valuable gifts to contribute to the local church.

Now this vision has taken another significant step forward through The Philemon Series. Drawing on our research, Charles Anderson (Epiphany Life Change) has created a compelling, image-rich presentation that equips church leaders and members to receive formerly incarcerated men and women into worship, fellowship, and ministry. Cathy and I also published a companion workbook for workshop settings.

As we reflect on the humble beginnings of this journey 20 years ago, we praise God for how He has multiplied these efforts and pray that the Church will continue to become a powerful witness of grace, reconciliation, and transformed lives for generations to come.