“I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:36)

Kolbe Prison Ministries is an organization dedicated to sharing the agape love of Jesus Christ with the incarcerated. Those of us involved in Kolbe come from a variety of backgrounds but share one thing in common: a passion to bring hope—fully realized in Christ and his Church—to those behind bars, to many who see little reason for such a hope. Through an organized program of retreats, movie nights, Mass, Communion services, and Bible studies, we connect with our brothers and sisters in prison and share the Gospel.

One of the places that we serve is the Ferguson Unit in Midway, Texas. Ferguson—aka “the Ferg” or even “Fergatory” by some of its Catholic residents—is a unit of over 2,000 men, and Kolbe has been ministering among them for nearly a decade.

Since 2019 we have been blessed to offer Ascension’s The Great Adventure Catholic Bible studies as one means of sharing God’s word. In our experience, the Bible is widely read in the Texas prison system—widely read, but frequently misunderstood, especially by those offering non-Catholic interpretations. This is why The Great Adventure series is such an important part of our ministry. It is a faithfully Catholic, comprehensive, and entertaining means of communicating God’s word through Scripture to the men we serve.

We were able to greatly increase our program materials after Ascension’s generous 2022 donation of DVDs and workbooks including The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation, Matthew:The King and His Kingdom, and Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom. 

Every Saturday morning after Mass (or after a Communion service if no priest is available), anywhere from 25 to 40 men gather to discuss one of The Great Adventure Bible studies. We begin in prayer, break into discussion groups which are facilitated by the men themselves, gather for the video presentation, then close with assignments, including readings from the Bible and study questions for the next class. The men truly enjoy the programs and the fellowship that they share during their studies.

The effect of these programs on the daily lives of the men is remarkable! In some of the men’s own words:

• “The Bible Timeline classes hosted by Jeff Cavins are so clear and easy to follow. Helping us understand the Word brings us so much closer to the Lord and his love.”
• “Bible Timeline helps a person understand their Catholic Faith. However, for a non-Catholic member, it can help understand and clarify what Catholics believe or don’t believe!”
• “[Mr. Cavins’] ability to reel the audience into a personal story that is applicable to the lesson, then spin it into a funny quip will have you laugh out loud unexpectedly…I cannot think of any singular resource which has helped so significantly to solidify the foundation of my faith. To use biblical language, TGA is the armory where we can find (and buckle) our ‘belt of truth.’”
• “Prisons and jails are flooded with simplified theologies and misleading teaching materials…Matthew: The King and His Kingdom is the best layperson course I’ve encountered for making an apologetic case that argues for Jesus Christ as the true fulfillment of Jewish prophecies, at the same time the case is made that these and other Old Testament contents really are divine revelations, which justify changing one’s life. What a valuable tool for conversion and evangelism.”
• “Collaborating with my brothers in the small groups prior to watching the videos has helped me to see them in a new light, allowing me to appreciate not only their contributions from their personal insights and experiences, but also to see them as individuals and sons of the One True God.”

These are but a few of the comments we have received on The Great Adventure studies from Ascension.

As each series concludes we hold a special end-of-course ceremony and hand out certificates to those who have completed the coursework. Each participant then shares how the study has impacted his life while incarcerated.

As St. Paul reminds us, “God loves a cheerful giver,” (2 Cor 9:7), a point made very clear through our work with the men of the Ferguson Unit. Accompanying these men in their walk with Christ through learning the Scriptures is one of the greatest blessings of our lives. We have been privileged to witness God’s mercy at work, and the men’s response to that mercy is nothing short of inspiring. 

Many of the men who attend The Great Adventure programs have been incarcerated for decades and many of these have decades more to go, but when we greet them and ask how they’re doing, a very common response is “I’m blessed.”

Well, so are we volunteers—because we’re reminded in our own lives to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Th 5: 16 – 18)  

Kolbe Prison Ministries welcomes your prayers and financial support at their website. To learn more about bringing Kolbe to your local diocese, click here.

Photo by Eleni Afiontzi on Unsplash