Prison Fellowship pen pals offer hope and support

Elizabeth Kranz
Special to Spur Ottawa

I have often wondered God what wants me to do. Christianity calls us to care for the marginalized, but the scope of that command can be overwhelming. A few years ago, my friend Tony Kiar told me that Prison Fellowship Canada (PFC) needs pen pals for inmates and I knew it was one way I could make a difference.

Kiar first got involved with prison ministry because he knew “young men heading off to jail because of their past choices. I stayed in touch with them, visiting and writing them letters. I was looking for more training on doing prison ministry and found Prison Fellowship Canada’s website.”

Kiar now serves as PFC’s Ottawa representative. PFC has a foundational belief in the transformational power of God. They offer programs that encourage offenders to understand the impact of their behaviour, build empathy and responsibility, and transform shame into hope. Based on a restorative justice model, PFC offers programs that help offenders experience personal healing by exploring the harms that contributed to their offence.

“As a volunteer I have done in-prison ministry,” Kiar says. “Now I am involved in after care and I am a pen pal. As the regional rep, I support the local PFC volunteers, speak to churches and community organizations about PFC, and explain how they can become involved.”

“Pen pals are someone who will accept the inmate as a person of value, regardless of the actions that put them there.”

A lot of PFC’s work relies on volunteers. For offenders in prison, they work with volunteers to offer Bible studies, mentoring, and arrange pen pals. Once released, offenders face many challenges. PFC works with churches to come alongside ex-offenders, offering friendship and mentoring. That friendship goes a long way for those inside the prison system and those recently released.

“Pen pals provide a friend who will be a support, encouragement, and a listening ear,” explains pen pal coordinator Roxana Tiefenbach. “They are someone who will accept the inmate as a person of value, regardless of the actions that put them there. They are someone who cares about the inmate because God loves both of them equally.”

Pen pals do not need to have all the answers. PFC is looking for people who love Jesus and can be a caring friend, sharing God’s love through letters.

“I share everyday life and experiences with my inmate pen pals the same way I might with any other friend,” Tiefenbach says. “That’s what I believe makes pen pal ministry special. We are caring and sharing our day-to-day lives because of God’s love and forgiveness for us and our inmate friends. It’s relationship.”