Prison Fellowship International (PFI) has introduced what it believes is a groundbreaking approach to ministering to prisoners that achieves each the salvation of souls and a drop in re-offending.
PFI, basing their ideas on the work of Italian elite theorist Vilfredo Pareto, have suggested that attempting to alter the whole population of a jail is “difficult”, but by engaging with just 20 per cent of the prisoners, real and dramatic change can occur.
Pareto is most well-known for the “Pareto Principle” which suggests that in any organisation the overwhelming majority of the work is definitely done by just 20 per cent of the people.
According to PFI, if just 20 per cent of prisoners at a given institution experience a “meaningful personal transformation” then the knock-on effects can seriously change the prison’s culture.
Such individual change is led to by PFI programs reminiscent of The Prisoner’s Journey, which goals to bring the gospel into the lives of prisoners. Thousands of prisoners worldwide have accomplished The Prisoner’s Journey course, with 70 per cent of those occurring to other discipleship programmes.
PFI has cited examples of where the brand new approach has made a major impact. Monrovia Central Prison, in Liberia, saw re-offending levels drop from around a 3rd to 10 per cent, while Minas Prison in Uruguay reported a drop in violence due to The Prisoner’s Journey.
Andy Corley, CEO of PFI, said of the brand new approach, “While prison programming saturation models exist and are powerful, it will probably be difficult to realize that much influence and access in a jail. To reach a moment where significant and infrequently unstoppable change occurs, we’ve got seen that engaging with just 20 per cent of a jail population can actually ‘tip’ the entire prison for the higher. “
TFI has also noted powerful testimonies of those on each side of the prison system.
Ulanda, a prisoner in Malawi, said, “Through The Prisoner’s Journey, I now understand that te Bible is a present to assist me understand God’s love for me. I feel alive each time I read the Bible. I do know that Jesus is in me and although [I] am still in prison, I’m free inside. When every thing fails, Jesus never fails.”
Meanwhile an unnamed prison warder within the Philippines said of the progamme, “When The Prisoner’s Journey was first implemented, I wasn’t expecting any impactful advantages. God quickly modified my view and showed me how much He uses this course within the lives of prisoners. Prisoner behaviour and the atmosphere within the cells have dramatically improved.”
