From April 27-29, 112 Prison Ministries leaders, volunteers, and guests gathered at the North American Division’s (NAD) headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, for the 2023 NAD Prison Ministry Conference. Themed “Ministry to the Marginalized,” it drew inspiration from Jesus’ call to serve prisoners in Matthew 25:40.

Over three days, attendees were inspired and equipped to serve the incarcerated and their families through worship, seminars, panel discussions, and testimonies. Several faithful leaders also received service awards. Per Cleveland Houser, organizer and NAD Prison Ministries coordinator, the event aimed to “reinvigorate people in prison ministry who’ve gotten discouraged, encourage those who are active to stay the course, and motivate people who haven’t been involved in prison ministry to get involved.”

For attendees such as Nashonie Chang, the convention hit the mark. She attended with personal motives — to see her former boss and mentor, Pastor Lloyd Scharffenberg, Greater New York Conference’s secretary, who delivered the opening keynote. She gained so much more, however. “I have not really been engaged in prison ministry, but after the conference, I’m asking myself, what can I do? I now pray daily for the incarcerated,” Chang said.

Scharffenberg and others set a spiritual tone for the conference, with prayer and worship sessions culminating in a full day of Sabbath worship. Sabbath highlights included a divine hour message by Pastor Anthony Lewis, who was incarcerated for 10 years, and a panel discussion featuring formerly incarcerated individuals-turned-Prison Ministry leaders. A post-conference survey affirmed the lasting impact of Lewis’s sermon and the panel, which demonstrated God’s transformative power.

Attendees also gained valuable insights from practical sessions, including

• Jason Bradley, general manager of 3ABN’s “Dare to Dream,” sharing an initiative providing inmates access to devices streaming 3900 practical and spiritual programs;
• Mikal Mox speaking on Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Ministries, which “equips churches to strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children and support the families of prisoners year-round;”
• An Amazing Facts team demonstrating how Amazing Facts materials can be used for Bible studies with inmates; and
• Pastor Ranison and Rosie Kennedy of Omega House Transitional Housing in Tucson, Arizona, sharing the power of transitional housing for leading inmates to Christ.

Furthermore, a letter-writing seminar provided an overview of this unique ministry of encouragement to inmates as well as the do's and don’ts for such letters. Presenter Pastor Floyd Marshall also directed participants to Advent Source for a more detailed letter-writing ministry guide.

For Houser, the conference was a resounding success. “It was an awesome experience that exceeded our wildest imagination. Captivating seminars, stimulating testimonies, and celestial preaching. Everyone was ecstatic and salubriously blessed,” he said.

An anonymous survey respondent concurred: “I would not change a thing. My first conference/workshop was in 1974, and this was the best ever!”

Houser noted that Jesus emphasized prison ministry throughout the Bible, with His last act of ministry on earth pardoning the repentant thief on the cross. This emphasis was intentional. “Without us sharing the love of Christ to [those] behind the walls, the prison would be like a long, dark corridor with no exit signs. We are the best communicators of God’s grace. So whether we do it behind the walls or outside, God is calling every church member to participate in ministry to the marginalized.”

The next NAD Prison Ministry Conference will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 2024.

Click here for NAD Prison Ministries resources and here for AdventSource materials.