Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
Counting the days to freedom…counting the days to eternity. We all mark time in our own way.
Every day at Good News Jail & Prison Ministry there is cause for celebration … and on August 5, 2011, Good News celebrated 50 years of God’s blessings on this ministry. For half a century, Good News Jail & Prison Ministry chaplains and volunteers have ministered to the needs of men and women in jails and prisons, transforming lives behind bars both here in the U.S., and since 1976, around the world.

Held at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, and simulcast to churches across the US, we shared an evening of hope, praise, and transformation. Whether you attended in Richmond or in any of the satellite churches nationwide, we want to say, “Thank you!” for joining us on this joyous occasion.

If you weren’t able to celebrate with us, or you want to relive the joyful evening again, we invite you to experience all or part of the evening by watching video from the event.

The program included:
  • Good News Jail & Prison Ministry President Harry Greene.
  • Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy, once convicted of the largest jewel heist in US history.
  • Dr. Harry Fletcher, Vice President of International Ministry.
  • Field reports from chaplains worldwide.
  • Other dynamic leaders, all with a powerful story to share and a message of joy.

We would like to give a special thanks to Grove Avenue Baptist Church and to Words of Victory Ministries for hosting and producing this wonderful evening, as well as our amazing, vibrant participants for sharing their hearts and their stories!

And please remember to share this webpage with your friends and family.
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And for more information call 804-553-4090 or email us at info@goodnewsjail.org
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Daniel Ehlers   Buena Vista   Colorado   10/28/2011

I have been engaged in correctional chaplaincy for over 28 years, 18+ years with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. Following 10 years as a pastor, I can't imagine doing anything else or even returning to the pastorate. I see more broken lives and damaged people in a morning than I saw in a month as a pastor (no umbrage to pastors intended.) In this 1,400 bed Buena Vista Correctional Complex, I am privileged to minister to and actually minister alongside men for the cause of Christ to hundreds whom most of society has written off. Like Travis, a former gang leader serving a life sentence who is teaching himself Greek and Hebrew to better reach his fellow inmates. There are others like him. Sheep producing sheep. That's what I like to see - men maturing and doing the work of the Lord in a very dark place.
Steve Christenson   Virginia Beach   Virginia   10/27/2011

My first contact with "the system" was when my church softball team played a prison team inside an intermediate security prison. What an experience that was: culture shock to be sure! My next contact came in law practice, as a criminal defense attorney. It surprised me that most of my clients expressed interest in hearing something that would give them hope. I did not know it at that time, but God was preparing me for the jail ministry. Today, as a chaplain, it is a great privilege for me to see inmates (and some staff members, too) come to Christ, either for the first time or by way of recommitment. May the Lord give Good News many more years of ministry to His lost sheep.
Tommy Davis   Monroe   New York   10/25/2011

I am privileged to work as a chaplain for the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. I was led to faith by a jail chaplain and desired to be one ever since. It seems like this opportunity is a natural position for me. Prisoners and staff are coming to faith in Christ. This ministry has allowed me serve inside the jails doing what I used to get $7.50 per week to do when I was incarcerated!
Jason Davis   Henderson   Kentucky   10/21/2011

I have had the privilege to serve as the Chaplain for Henderson County Detention Center. In these three years, I have experienced the power of God to change lives numerous times. It is amazing to watch the power of the Holy Spirit move into a person and bring life to someone whose heart was dead to sin. Just recently I sat and counseled a man whose sin has brought him to jail and is facing an extended sentence if convicted. He shared that he has lost his career, his pride, and possibly his wife, but he was rejoicing that since coming to jail he was able to learn about Jesus Christ; and he would not trade that relationship for anything in the world! I was immediately reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians when he said that he considered all that he had lost for the sake of Christ mere rubbish. God’s plan to change the world one life at a time is alive and working today as strong as it did two thousand years ago!
Russell Isler   Germantown   Maryland   10/20/2011

I can recall starting out as a volunteer at the Niagara County Jail in Western New York becoming a part of what was then known as the "God Squad". My Pastor introduced me to Good News Mission and Dr. Bill Simmer along with the director at that time whose name I believe was Jim Bryan. From that point on starting out as a affliate chaplain to now overseeing the ministry in Montgomery County Maryland, God has certainly been blessing and changing lives not the least of which is my own, in the process. I could say a lot because I have been involved with GNJ&PM for 31 years now (which includes 7 as a affliate chaplain). I will simply say to God be all the glory and praise for what He has done and continues to do in this ministry. I can't say that I was always the best or did my best but I am happy to say that because of this work I am always blessed and do thank God because He counted me faithful and allowd me into this ministry. Only by His grace!
Brit Fletcher   Glen Burnie   Maryland   10/20/2011

My first contact with Good News was in the spring of 1981. I was a student at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, Maryland, and pastor of Friendship Community Baptist Church. I was required to do a 10 week internship as part of my seminary education. I did the internship at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center in Annapolis, Maryland under the supervision of Chaplain Forrest Wessendorf. I absolutely loved the ministry.
Little did I know that a few years later I would be introduced to Harry Greene, the President of Good News. I joined the Board of Directors in, I believe, 1987. Ten years later I became a chaplain with Good News Jail & Prison Minsitry in January of 1997. I have never regretted heeding God's call to minister to inmates through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day I see men and women's lives changed forever.
One day there will be a great reunion in heaven. At that reunion I look forward to seeing the hundreds of men and women I have had the privilege of introducing to Jesus Christ. What a privilege and a joy.
Chaplain Ken Odom   Fremont County   Colorado   10/20/2011

I have had the privilege of being part of the Good News team since 1996 and my roles have included serving as Chaplain in several environments: a jail of 4,000, a state facility housing 1,000 men, and currently in a county jail where correctional institutions are scattered throughout the entire community. What I have learned about Good News is that location matters little. Good News chaplains are interested in reaching the lost and restoring lives no matter where they are found. We get to partner with others from the community and share with many who have lost all hope. What a joy it has been to look into the eyes of someone who has found the Master for the first time or has been restored after straying so far away. I thank God for allowing Good News entry into places where so much pain exists.
Bob Potter   Omaha   Nebraska   10/19/2011

I've been with Good News for over thirty-one years; twenty-five as a chaplain in a jail and the past six as a Regional Director. The longer I serve the Lord in this ministry, the more I am blessed with seeing reminders of the awesome work He has accomplished through me, other Good News chaplains in this jurisdiction and a host of faithful volunteers. I am in contact with a number of men and women who came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through my ministry many years ago. Today they are still living for our Savior; running a large prison ministry, working in government, owning a business, teaching Sunday School, some still incarcerated, etc. All of these are faithfully serving God with the gifts and talents He gave them. I can't imagine a more rewarding area of service than the one that's been my privilege all these years. Hopefully, God will allow a number of more years before I hang it up.
Senior Chaplain Dan Matsche   Colorado Springs   Colorado   10/19/2011

I remember walking into the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida in March of 1977. I was asked to give my testimony at a Tuesday night Bible study by a volunteer. In my mind that was the one and only time that I would EVER darken the door of a jail! Well that was 34 years ago and I have been behind bars ever since.

I was so moved by the evening I spent in that Bible study that I returned the next week, and the next….God showed me that this was what He had for the rest of my life! After spending the next 6 years as a volunteer at the Orange County Jail as well as attending seminary, I earned a Master’s Degree in theology and became the chaplain of that jail. It was Good News Jail & Prison Ministry that provided the opportunity for full time chaplaincy at the Orange County Jail. This wonderful organization has been my base for ministry for the past 28 years. I became a senior chaplain, and then a regional director overseeing chaplains with GNJ&PM. They provided me with the opportunity to move from Florida to Colorado and oversee the hiring, training and placing of chaplains in the first state prison system we’ve ever taken on. After working in that capacity for six years my desire was to return to my first love, the chaplaincy.

For the past eight years I have been the chaplain at Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City, Colorado. I will never be able to articulate how grateful I am for the opportunity that GNJ&PM gave me to fulfill the calling of God to minister behind the bars and walls for all these years! To God be the glory for loving me and saving me. To Good News Jail & Prison Ministry be the gratitude for believing in me and providing me with this wonderful ministry opportunity.
Michael Key   Virginia Beach   Virginia   10/3/2011

Our ministry is best known for those who go “inside” the walls and minister directly to the inmates. These are the chaplains and volunteers who have been given the all important spiritual gift of teaching, and they use their gift to deliver the gospel to them in person. However, there are those like me who serve our ministry from “outside” the walls. 1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that we are all given different spiritual gifts, and it is our job to decipher these gifts and decide where we fit into a particular ministry the best. My gift is not teaching, but I support the ministry using my own unique spiritual talents.

While it may seem that I am “On the outside, looking in,” I prefer to think of it as “On the outside, looking up.” This helps me to remember to keep my focus on God, and know that he is able to send down his Holy Spirit to the chaplains and volunteers that are physically with the inmates every step of their spiritual journey. It takes people with all spiritual gifts and talents to make a ministry successful, and I am glad that I’m able to use mine to serve the ministry on the Chaplaincy Support Team. It has been a life changing experience for me, and I am truly glad to be, “On the outside, looking UP!”

Chaplain Bob Kaiser   Visalia   California   9/10/2011

Being a volunteer chaplain with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry for over 9 1/2 years, and visiting the units twice a week at Bob Wiley Detention Facility has produced some amazing men and women upon release. We no longer refer to them being in the "Hole" but realize they are in the "Holy." We do not say they are locked up. but rather are in Bible Bootcamp. Upon release, they are in church with us.
Dennis Marks   Meridian   Mississippi   8/4/2011

More and more each day I see that this ministry is God's ministry. We are just God's errand boys. We obey Him and He does the work through us. What a privilege to serve Him, our sheriff, our community and the inmates of our county jail. God has supplied our needs. We ask for others to help us complete the task before us: Reach people for Jesus!
Mike Goett   Omaha   Nebraska   8/2/2011

Our participation in the Cell Adoption Program here in Omaha at the Douglas County Jail developed out of a conviction to live out Matthew 25:35-40. "‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ " We haven't regretted a moment spent with the incarcerated.
BENJAMIN ANANE SIAW   Ghana     7/20/2011

Thank God Good News is 50 years. I am a chaplain here in Ghana. I must say that God is doing something wonderful and I thank you so much for this noble cause. May the good Lord continue to bless us all.
Jeff Andrews   Annapolis   Maryland   7/10/2011

I am so proud of what the men at Good News Jail & Prison Ministry do for the Kingdom that I am strongly endorsing them. I did time in many of the jails and prisons they are working in...in fact Adams County Jail and Henrico County Jail are distant but vivid memories. I wrote a book called Desperate Highway, available on Amazon that talks about those experiences and how Christ changed my life while doing time at Danbury FCI more than 23 years ago.
Leroy Davis is the Chaplain at Henrico County Jail, a good friend, and a member of a Needles Eye Bible Study Group I once attended that meets at IPC Technologies every Wednesday morning at 7 AM. I would like to lift up Leroy and all of his chaplain peers around the World...JESUS saves the lost in prison and in jail and returns them to the community as productive citizens with your help and encouragement...Praise God for the work you all do...and Thank you Jack Murphy and Harry Greene for all that you do facilitate the ministries all around the World...PTL
Jeff Andrews
Co-Founder, Desperate Highways Ministries & Desperate Highway, Inc.
www.desperatehighway.com
Dan LaChance   Highlands Ranch   Colorado   7/1/2011

I've been blessed with the opportunity to work with Good News during the past couple of years, coordinating prison visits throughout Colorado from our church, Cherry Hills Community Church, working with the amazing chaplains, seeing how God is transforming so many offenders' lives and how they're serving Him, and working with other prison ministries in Colorado. Thank God for Good News Jail & Prison Ministry.
Chaplain Will Olsen   Gettysburg   Pennsylvania   6/27/2011

Serving as chaplain for seven years at the Adams County Adult Correctional Complex has truly been a great privilege and honor. I am very blessed to serve in a ripe harvest where I get to impact lives for the Kingdom of God and see hearts touched and changed and returned to the community as transformed citizens because of Jesus. I hope you will attend our 50 year celebration and see what God has done through the GNJPM.
Bob Potter   Omaha   Nebraska   6/23/2011

I've been a Good News chaplain for over thirty years. I've seen God transform the lives of hundreds of men and women throughout those years. Some of them are my friends today, on the other side of the bars.
David Whiteford   Hennepin County   Minnesota   6/23/2011

As a Good News chaplain for the past 5 years at the Hennepin County Adult Detention Division, I have had the privilege to see God work miracles in the lives of those who had no hope, and they are now serving Him and others within our community. I encourage all of you to attend and see how God has blessed this ministry for the past 50 years!
Douglas Pruiett   Sandy Hook   Virginia   6/8/2011

I have been blessed to witness the work of this organization since 1989, first as a volunteer, then as a chaplain, and now as a support to all of our chaplains worldwide. God is reaching those others have forgotten through the work of Good News!
Testimonials from Our 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ministry President Harry Greene Introductory Remarks and Recognition of Ministry Founder, Dr. Bill Simmer.
Dr. Mark Becton, Pastor of Grove Avenue Baptist Church, Introductory Remarks.
Dr. Haywood Robinson, Good News Board Member and Pastor of People's Community Baptist Church of Silver Springs, Maryland Provides Special Music.
Leigh Swanson, Good News Board Member, Ministry Volunteer to the Women Inmates of Seminole County Florida, and Wife of Pastor David Swanson, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.
Mr. Dean Blankenship, Former Inmate, Contractor and Business Owner in Orlando, Florida, and a Good News Ministry Volunteer.
Mr. Don Patterson, Chairman of the Board of Good News.
Dr. Harry E. Fletcher, Vice President of International Ministry & Pastoral Care.
Dr. Haywood Robinson Leads Congregational Worship.
Testimony of a Family Touched by the Ministry.
Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy: Keynote Speaker.
Ministry President Harry Greene, Closing Remarks.