Welcome

New Life Prison Ministry is an exciting Canadian organization which provides Christian videos/DVDs and Bible correspondence courses to inmates, their families, and chaplains across Canada. New Life also actively participates in chapel services in institutions and one-on-one visitation with inmates (as personnel allows). Although this ministry has been in operation for over 25 years, some would describe it as a well-kept secret! Please take a moment and acquaint yourself with the amazing work God is performing in Canadian prisons today.

History

New life Prison Ministry, formerly known as New Life Film Ministry, began in 1980 when two volunteers began showing monthly Christian films at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre. With the chaplainís direction and encouragement, the volunteers began to see the powerful impact the videos had on many inmates. Within a very short time, they were asked to do one-to-one visitation with men who requested follow-up visits. As the number being visited increased, the Lord led many more volunteers to the ministry.

In 1982, correspondence courses were made available in addition to the monthly film showings and visitations. The correspondence course program was derived from an existing curriculum of international Bible courses. The curriculum was used in more than 85 countries and was adapted for use in Canadian institutions by New Life personnel. As inmates in the correspondence program were transferred between institutions, requests for programs and courses spread rapidly! Inquiries were soon received from numerous chaplains and inmates across Ontario and eventually throughout Canada. Presently, there are few correctional institutions that are not involved with New Life Prison Ministry through correspondence courses or the Christian video/DVD ministry.

NLPM volunteers work in mutual cooperation with other Christians who are involved in various prison ministries, such as Bridges Of Canada (formerly Cons For Christ), Bridges to New Life, Gospel Echoes, Prison Fellowship, and in conjunction with prison chaplains across Canada. The number of volunteers from many communities continues to expand as NLPM attempts to respond to new requests for programs.

Purpose and Vision

1) To present the message of Christianity to prisoners (including Young Offenders), ex-offenders, and their families.
2) To offer support to prisoners, Young Offenders, ex-offenders, and their families, through fellowship, counselling, visitation, and practical help.
3) To be involved, from time to time and whenever possible, in Circles of Support, Restorative Justice initiatives, and Community Service Orders.

It is our hope that, with the fulfillment of the above, lives of law offenders and their families will be changed and that crime and the number of victims of crime will be reduced.

Funding

New Life relies on donations for all income and expenditures. With an annual budget of approximately $275,000 for 2008, the ministry counts on God to provide the necessary finances through generous individuals, volunteers, churches, and other charitable organizations, to meet the financial needs.

Annual Conference

New Life Prison Ministry conducts a conference every fall in order to offer educational information about the organization and the prison field to the public, encourage active volunteers in the ministry, and to share in Christian fellowship. The conference begins with a Friday night session at a secluded retreat centre out in the country, continues Saturday morning with share and prayer sessions, seminars in the afternoon, and concludes with an evening dinner program which features a keynote speaker experienced in prison ministry.