Not Home. Come Home.

2025 Lenten Reflections

REST FOR THE RESTLESS: 

PRISONERS

"God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing."

Psalm 68:6

Illustration by Eunice Sunmie Derksen

Throughout Scripture, we see God's relentless pursuit of reconciliation—welcoming prodigals, restoring outcasts, and embracing those who were once lost. Jesus especially comes near to those who have walked the hardest roads or served time behind bars.

Biblical and Theological Grounding

Through Jesus' parables he reminds us of his lavish and relentless grace. The story of the Prodigal Son, in particular, is a reminder that God is not just willing to receive us — he runs to meet the lost, his arms stretched open, ready to clothe us with dignity and call us his own. This is the heart of the Father: to bring the lonely into families and to set the prisoner free, not only from their physical chains but from the shackles of shame and despair too.

Hebrews 13:3 commands, “Remember those in prison as if you were together with them,” emphasizing solidarity over separation. Prison ministry, therefore, is not merely charitable work — it is a direct response to Jesus, who identifies himself with the incarcerated: “I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36). In the Kingdom of God, ministry to prisoners is ministry to Christ himself.

Restorative justice flows naturally from the Biblical vision of shalom, where relationships are healed and communities restored. Punishment as the primary or only response doesn’t necessarily achieve healing. God's heart desires reconciliation, repair, and redemption. Justice matters; safety matters; and laws exist for the protection of society. In Scripture, justice is, at its core, relational—centered on restoring people to God, neighbor, and community (Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16). The year of Jubilee reveals God’s desire to reset social inequities, free captives, and restore land and dignity (Leviticus 25). In Christ, this vision finds fulfillment as Jesus proclaims “freedom for the prisoners” and the “year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus reaches each human whether behind bars or not.

This does not mean releasing prisoners irresponsibly into society. Many of those incarcerated know that part, if not all, of their lives will be spent behind bars. But restoration, healing, and reconciliation at some level, is the greatest vision regardless of sentencing. And the gospel-healing intended includes victims, families, and the generations affected. God’s love is not limited to walls and offers, if received, generosity of hope to each heart affected by crime. And we, as his people, get to tell and demonstrate that good news of the gospel to everyone damaged by sin.

A faithful prison ministry is one that seeks holistic restoration—of individuals, systems, and communities—while embodying the Gospel's hope that no one is beyond the reach of grace. The Church is called to stand in the gap by proclaiming the gospel message to the incarcerated, interrupting what perpetuates mass incarceration, and living out the healing justice and mercy of God's Kingdom on earth.

Voice of Freedom by Delawer Omar

The Church’s Historic, Faithful Response.

Early believers were often imprisoned for their faith and would receive visits from their brothers and sisters in Christ (Acts 5:18-19; Acts 12:5-7). As time went by, caring for those in prison became a defining practice of Christian love (Hebrews 13:3). In addition to visiting incarcerated fellow believers, Church leaders like Clement of Rome and Polycarp encouraged visits to prisoners who were not Christian, supplying them with food, prayer, and companionship. Soon, the Church began advocating for mercy in judicial processes. Bishops often intervened on behalf of prisoners, petitioning for pardons or fair treatment, and establishing an emphasis on restitution and restoration within the community, rather than mere punishment.

In the 18th and 19th century, figures like John Howard were key in reforming horrific prison conditions, fighting for sanitary conditions, fairness, and dignity for inmates. In later centuries, Christian leaders, including Elizabeth Fry and William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army), expanded prison ministry into broader social reform, connecting incarceration with issues like poverty, addiction, and mental health. Movements against harsh practices like debtor's prisons and corporal punishment were often led by Christians seeking a more just and compassionate society, helping to prevent entering the judicial systems.

Today, Christian prison ministry reaches globally and involves everything from chaplaincy and Bible studies to reentry programs and advocacy to mitigate mass incarceration rates. Many churches across the ACNA now engage in evangelism, helping imprisoned parents connect safely with their children through reading programs and letter writing, advocacy for sentencing reform, supporting “the church on the inside,” racial equity, and restorative practices that foster crime prevention in schools and communities with youth and families, reflecting an integrated biblical vision of justice, mercy, and transformation.

How can Anglicans stand in this story of faithfulness?

For those leaving prison, the journey home can be filled with overwhelming obstacles. Before they can rebuild their lives through work, healing, or education, they need something foundational: a place to live. But how do you find a home without a job? And how do you find a job without a stable place to live? This cycle of instability leaves so many on the streets, isolated and forgotten.

Yet God’s vision is different. He calls his people to be family to the lonely, to stand in the gap for the vulnerable, and to offer hospitality that mirrors his own welcome to us. Whether through practical help, advocacy, or simply by offering kindness and understanding, we have the privilege to be a part of God’s “shalom work” in the world.

As we reflect on God’s heart for those imprisoned or formerly incarcerated this week, may we remember that we, too, were once far from home — estranged by sin, but welcomed back through Christ. And now, as his restored sons and daughters, we get to extend that same grace to others, opening doors, building bridges, and helping to create places of belonging, regardless of walls, for those who need it most.

GIVE

Would you consider the Matthew 25 Initiative for almsgiving? As the justice and mercy initiative of the ACNA, we are committed to equipping and sustaining the people of God in their service to the vulnerable. Funding we receive this Lent will go towards creating pathways for churches and small ministries to launch new initiatives to walk alongside the vulnerable and marginalized.