Ron Humphrey

Waiting inside the Nebraska state capitol, Mel Goebel shuffled his feet nervously as his eyes darted around the room. He knew that his past crimes had been forgiven by Jesus Christ; was Nebraska ready to do likewise?

Patrick Chong

The word "ostracism" is painful to Reny George, his wife Teena and their 47 children…47 children!? Well, they are actually foster children whose parents are in prison. The children have been marginalized by society and now live with the Georges in PF's Precious Chidren's Home in Bangalore, India. This is one of five such homes run by PF India for children who would otherwise be living on the streets. Ostracized by society for their parents' crimes, these children have painfully few options. Having served a 14-year prison term, Reny knows personally that the stigma of imprisonment is limited neither to the offender nor the actual time behind bars. In every country, innocent families of prisoners face shame and ostracism because of their loved ones' misdeeds. Even after a prisoner has done his time, the shame and suspicion of being an ex-prisoner will likely follow him for the rest of his life.

Becky Beane

Editor's Note: Jubilee newsletter ran "Pennsylvania Lifeline" in June 1991. The story has all the key components of what we call a "changed-life story." A prisoner comes to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and, through the help of Prison Fellowship volunteers and programs, grows in the knowledge and love of Christ inside prison. Then, surrounded by a loving Christian community, he makes a successful transition to life on the outside. That's the story of Elvin Martes, who is featured in "Pennsylvania Lifeline."

Jeff Peck

In the middle of a Sunday night last March, Jorge Valdés found himself pumping sewage out of a home that had a broken pipe. In a protective suit and gloves, this hardworking Cuban immigrant was earning a living for his family honestly, without a lot of glamour—a sharp contrast to his millionaire drug cartel days.

Jeff Peck

Ward Thurman hauled down a Montana highway in a panic: How could I make such a mess of my life? How could I hurt so many people? Where do I go now?

In his rearview mirror he saw Deputy Sheriff Merlin's Bronco following at a distance. Ward felt his blood go cold as his '73 Ford 4x4 sputtered. He was running out of gas.

Evelyn Bence & Jeff Peck

At age 15 Robert Ramos took the helm of his uncle's Brooklyn street gang—the Phantom Lords. In two years under Robert's leadership, the 15-member gang grew into a 65-member, two-chapter crime wave. "There were shootouts on the block all the time," Robert remembers. "There were murders on a regular basis."