Lives Transformed through AWM Prison Ministry

AWM’s Prison Ministry program is transforming lives in detention centers across the United States – bringing hope and discipleship to many who society has forgotten. This small but mighty team of three offers love and the Word to thousands of people every year, and we are so excited to highlight some of their work to you today!

The primary focus of our Prison Ministry is to provide Bible study materials to inmates, thereby supporting their spiritual growth and relationship with the Lord. Our Prison Ministry has been in existence for decades and has undergone numerous iterations over the years. But it all goes back to the heart that these people are precious to the Lord and to us. They are in a unique situation where they can’t usually look up teachings online, call our helpline, or visit the campus – so we must reach them in unique and creative ways.

Different prison facilities have varying rules regarding what inmates can and cannot receive. Everything they receive through the mail is opened and inspected first to ensure the content is safe and approved. Specific bindings, such as staples, are typically not permitted. When our Study Guides were spiral-bound, the Product Services team had to remove the spiral binding before shipping to comply with prison rules. Our teams have been intentional over the years in finding creative ways to connect inmates with our Ministry and get them the discipleship materials that can transform their lives.

The Prison Ministry team understands and values these policies because they help maintain order and keep people safe; therefore, they continually learn about the rules as they change and how to work effectively within these restrictions. It’s a unique team with a unique task to accomplish, given all the nuances and real-world realities for the people we’re trying to minister to. However, they want to receive ministry just as much as everyone else, and the team rises to the challenge to provide it.

Many inmates do not have access to traditional email, so, instead of phone and email, many inmates write us physical letters. Most often, they write asking us for products that Andrew offers them for free. Many don’t have available funds, so receiving free products is a huge blessing. The team mostly sends them books, booklets, and study guides, but some prisons also permit DVDs and CDs.

Inmates also write us letters every day asking doctrinal questions, sharing prayer requests, giving their testimony, and more. Although not primarily a correspondence program, the Prison Ministry team lovingly responds to each letter with encouragement, answers, and the Word of God.

Another way the team helps disciple inmates is through the IBSM (Inmate Bible Study by Mail) program. This program takes Andrew’s study guides and uses them as a structured Bible study program. Each study guide is referred to as a “course,” and inmates can complete one course at a time, progressing through all 27 English study guides or all 11 Spanish study guides. Each study guide includes a teacher’s guide, allowing them to share what they’ve learned with others. Many of the inmates who correspond with us are not only learning for themselves but are also eager to share their knowledge with those around them. Depending on the length of their incarceration, many inmates have been involved with the IBSM for years.

In addition to supporting inmates directly, the Prison Ministry team also supports the inmates’ loved ones. The team often assists them in ordering materials to be sent to inmates on behalf of the family. Most prison facilities require that the books come straight from the publishing company – and that means us! If a family member or friend wishes to introduce an inmate to the Ministry, the Prison Ministry team also offers a special welcome packet that can be sent to them. The inmate can then choose to reach back out and contact us.

An area where the team currently works but also wants to continue expanding is connecting with prison chaplains. Connecting with chaplains is something they love doing because if they can connect with the chaplain, they can reach far more people. Chaplains can contact us and request copies of study materials as needed, depending on the number of inmates participating in their Bible study. The Ministry also offers a special Mini Prison Library that contains a collection of Andrew’s books, booklets, and study guides. Because the chaplain is an employee of the prison, we can offer them this entire library for free, allowing their inmates to borrow from it whenever they wish. This provides them with a vast array of life-changing resources to explore! Angel Rodriguez Sturgill, Prison Ministry Lead, has been into the prison systems and shares that the chaplains are so excited to participate with us and share this information with their inmates.

This year so far, we have received 6,700 letters from inmates, 2,200 emails from inmates, family, friends, and chaplains, and over 300 calls from family and friends of inmates. Praise God!

In 2024, an average of 1,850 inmates engaged with our team each month, and an average of 925 inmates participated in IBSM each month. We also sent 16,300 free products, 25 mini prison libraries, and 750 additional free products to chaplains. The impact we’re having is amazing!

Additionally, these inmates aren’t just receiving from us. Some are donors, or even partners, with the Ministry. Last year, inmates donated over $33,400 to the Ministry, and so far this year, they have sown over $17,000. Currently, 22 of our partners are inmates being sown into by our Prison Ministry.

Angel shares that it is so amazing to read through the testimonies that inmates send to us. Even those who know they’re incarcerated for life still have a deep desire to get as many materials as possible, learn, grow, and teach others, and they are so thankful for what our team is sending them. Often, they read the materials and pass them to the inmate in the next cell, and so on. Hearing the truth is changing their lives, even while they are in prison, and they want to share it with everyone they can. They’re searching for answers they’ve never heard – and they’ve found it in AWM. We have included a few beautiful testimonies below, and we hope they encourage you!

Angel shares that it’s so amazing that Andrew asks us to do this outreach, and extends a huge thank you to Andrew and Jamie for allowing us to send inmates all these materials for free and help them transform their lives.

We also extend a huge thank you to Kara Hood, Angel, Barbara Merrigan, and Ivana Wong for all they do to reach out to inmates across the country with the love of God. You are making an eternal impact!

The Prison Ministry is currently undergoing changes to its program and redesigning the IBSM. Stay tuned for more information about our Prison Ministry, coming soon!