[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO PRISON FELLOWSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2006

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, this year, former White House 
aide Chuck Colson launched Prison Fellowship, now the world's largest 
Christian outreach to prisoners and their families.
  While serving 7 months in a federal prison for a Watergate-related 
offense, Colson was appalled by the humiliation, drudgery, and 
hopelessness experienced by his fellow prisoners. After he was released 
from prison, Colson decided he could not turn his back on the men he 
left behind. So, in 1976, inspired by his own prison experience and his 
faith in Christ, Colson began Prison Fellowship.
  Since then, Prison Fellowship has become a movement of like-minded 
citizens who are touching the lives of millions of prisoners and their 
families here in America and in 114 countries around the world. Prison 
Fellowship has helped maintain the bonds between prisoners and their 
families through the amazing Angel Tree program, in which some 7 
million children of prisoners have received Christmas gifts on behalf 
of their incarcerated parent. At the state and national level, Prison 
Fellowship has also been at the forefront of criminal justice reform, 
helping states cope with prison overcrowding, fostering victims' 
rights, combating prison rape, promoting reentry programs, and so much 
more. By launching the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, Prison 
Fellowship has helped corrections systems reduce recidivism by working 
to transform prisoners from the inside out and linking them to mentors 
and communities of faith once they leave prison.
  Clearly, by reaching out to the very men and women our society would 
like to forget, Prison Fellowship has not only helped former prisoners 
become productive members of society, it has also made our communities 
safer places to live.
  Mr. Speaker, the Good Book reads ``I was in prison, and you came to 
visit me . . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the 
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.''
  I find it appropriate today to recognize and celebrate the incredible 
service that Chuck Colson and Prison Fellowship have rendered not only 
to prisoners and their families, but also to our communities, our 
Nation and our world.
  Mr. Speaker, all Americans concerned with the reduction of crime and 
the restoration of lives celebrate both the man and the ministry on the 
30th anniversary of Prison Fellowship.

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