Prison Fellowship International

Prison Fellowship International (PFI) is a Christian international nongovernmental organization that connects national Prison Fellowship organizations and supports prison ministry, prisoner rehabilitation, family assistance, and restorative justice. Based in Washington, D.C., PFI operates through a network of national ministries rather than as a conventional commercial brand. The organization reported a presence in 112 countries by 2022. PFI's origins are linked to Prison Fellowship, the prison ministry established in 1976 by Charles W. Colson after his imprisonment for his role in the Watergate scandal. Colson's experience helped shape a ministry centered on the possibility of personal transformation, reconciliation, and practical support for people affected by incarceration. An international meeting held in Great Britain in November 1978 sought to develop a British presence and extend the movement beyond the United States. Prison Fellowship International was formally established in 1979 to provide an international structure for national prison fellowships. The organization's work combines explicitly Christian ministry with programs aimed at social and criminal-justice outcomes. In prisons, local affiliates and volunteers may provide Bible studies, chaplaincy-related support, mentoring, and other forms of pastoral engagement. PFI also works with prisoners' children and families. Its child sponsorship activity is intended to help children affected by parental imprisonment with needs such as education and health care. The Angel Tree program connects churches and volunteers with children of prisoners, particularly around Christmas, so that children can receive gifts and affirming contact from their incarcerated parent through local ministry networks. Restorative justice is another central area of activity. Through the PFI Centre for Justice and Reconciliation, the organization promotes approaches that emphasize acknowledging harm, healing damaged relationships, accountability, and the reintegration of offenders into society. The centre provides information, consultation, and training resources through Restorative Justice Online and engages with national Prison Fellowship bodies, governments, the United Nations, and other organizations. Its principal restorative-justice program is known as the Sycamore Tree Project in many countries and the Umuvumu Tree Project in Rwanda. PFI has also supported adaptations of faith-based prison communities modeled on Brazil's APAC approach. These communities seek to organize imprisonment around responsibility, discipline, community participation, rehabilitation, and spiritual development. According to the referenced material, related projects were operating in 16 countries. The organization maintains Category II consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participates in the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Its international identity therefore combines a federation-like network of national ministries, direct program support, policy advocacy, and partnerships with churches and justice institutions. PFI's current president is Andy Corley. Its public-facing role is best understood as an international Christian prison-ministry and restorative-justice network rather than a consumer product brand.

Prison Fellowship International developed from the Prison Fellowship movement founded in 1976 by Charles W. Colson. Colson had been imprisoned because of his involvement in the Watergate scandal, and his subsequent Christian ministry placed emphasis on reaching incarcerated people and encouraging personal change. The early movement was primarily associated with the United States, but it soon began developing an international dimension. In November 1978, representatives met in Great Britain to discuss the creation of a British branch and a broader international structure. This meeting marked an important step in moving from a single national ministry toward a network of national organizations that could adapt prison ministry to local legal, cultural, and ecclesial settings. Prison Fellowship International was formally founded in 1979. Over time, PFI became an international network of national Prison Fellowship ministries. Its activities expanded beyond religious services inside prisons to include support for prisoners' families, assistance to children affected by parental incarceration, restorative-justice programs, and advocacy for rehabilitation-oriented approaches to imprisonment. The network's programs are delivered through local affiliates, churches, volunteers, prison chaplains, and partnerships with public and civil-society institutions. A major part of PFI's program identity is its work with children of prisoners. The child sponsorship program seeks to provide educational and health-related support to children facing hardship because of a parent's imprisonment. The Angel Tree initiative uses local churches and volunteers to provide Christmas gifts and maintain a positive connection between incarcerated parents and their children. PFI also developed an international restorative-justice portfolio through its Centre for Justice and Reconciliation. Restorative justice, as presented by the organization, focuses on recognizing the damage caused by crime, supporting victims and communities, encouraging offender accountability, repairing relationships where possible, and helping people return to constructive social roles. The Sycamore Tree Project became a principal program in this area. In Rwanda, the related Umuvumu Tree Project was introduced in response to the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. The referenced material associates the project with traditional courts and reports that more than 32,000 genocide offenders confessed to their crimes through the process; this figure is retained as a reported program claim rather than independently verified here. PFI has additionally promoted faith-based prison communities inspired by Brazil's APAC model. National Prison Fellowship organizations have adapted this approach in different countries, with the referenced material reporting active projects in 16 countries. These initiatives reflect PFI's broader interest in rehabilitation, personal responsibility, community support, and preparation for life after incarceration. The organization has pursued an international policy and advisory role alongside its ministry work. It holds Category II consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participates in the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. By 2022, PFI was described as working through national organizations in 112 countries. The organization's current president is Andy Corley, and its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. PFI remains an active international Christian nonprofit network whose principal areas are prison ministry, family support, restorative justice, and faith-based approaches to rehabilitation.

• 2022

  Network reported in 112 countries

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  PFI was described as operating through national Prison Fellowship organizations in 112 countries.

• 2009

  Sycamore Tree Project active across national ministries

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The referenced material reports that 23 national Prison Fellowship ministries were running the Sycamore Tree Project in 2009.

• 1994

  Umuvumu Tree Project developed in Rwanda

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Following the Rwandan genocide, Prison Fellowship introduced the Umuvumu Tree Project, a restorative-justice adaptation associated with traditional courts and offender confession.

• 1979

  Prison Fellowship International formally founded

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  PFI was established as an international structure linking national Prison Fellowship organizations.

• 1978

  International expansion discussed in Great Britain

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  A November meeting in Great Britain considered the creation of a British ministry and an international dimension for the Prison Fellowship movement.

• 1976

  Prison Fellowship movement established

  [1]Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Charles W. Colson founded Prison Fellowship after his imprisonment connected to the Watergate scandal, creating the movement from which the international network later developed.

PFI positions itself as a global Christian network that combines prison ministry with family support, restorative justice, rehabilitation, and faith-based prison reform. Its distinguishing feature is the coordination of national Prison Fellowship organizations across many jurisdictions.

• Prison ministry

  Bible studies

  PFI-affiliated ministries organize Bible-study groups for incarcerated people. These groups form part of the organization's Christian pastoral and discipleship work, with delivery shaped by local prison rules, chaplaincy arrangements, and national affiliates.

• Family and child support

  Angel Tree Program

  Angel Tree is an outreach program for children of prisoners. Local churches and volunteers use information gathered by Prison Fellowship workers and chaplains to sponsor children, commonly by purchasing Christmas gifts. The program is intended to support children emotionally and practically while strengthening appropriate family connections.

• Family and child support

  Child sponsorship program

  PFI's child sponsorship work assists children affected by a parent's imprisonment. The referenced material describes support focused on education and health care for children in need, delivered through the organization's international ministry network.

• Restorative justice

  Sycamore Tree Project

  The Sycamore Tree Project is PFI's principal restorative-justice program in many countries. It seeks to help participants understand the consequences of crime, encourage accountability, and explore healing and reconciliation between people and communities affected by offending.

• Restorative justice · 1994

  Umuvumu Tree Project

  The Umuvumu Tree Project is the Rwandan form of PFI's restorative-justice work. It was introduced in response to the 1994 genocide and was associated with traditional-court processes involving confession and accountability by genocide offenders.

• Justice policy and consultation

  PFI Centre for Justice and Reconciliation

  The Centre for Justice and Reconciliation promotes restorative-justice principles and practices. It provides information and consultation to national Prison Fellowship bodies, public authorities, the United Nations, and other organizations, including through Restorative Justice Online.

• Prison rehabilitation

  Faith-based prison communities

  PFI supports national adaptations of Brazil's APAC model, in which prison communities are organized around faith, personal responsibility, rehabilitation, and community participation. The referenced material reports that related projects operate in 16 countries.

• 1994Umuvumu Tree Project

  Rwanda

  A restorative-justice initiative introduced after the Rwandan genocide and adapted to local traditional-court settings.

  Outcome. The referenced material reports that more than 32,000 genocide offenders confessed to their crimes through processes connected with the project.

  Source
• Angel Tree

  International · Participating national Prison Fellowship ministries

  A church- and volunteer-led outreach campaign supporting children of prisoners, especially through Christmas gifts and family connection.

  Outcome. The program remains one of PFI's recognized family-support initiatives; a consolidated global outcome figure is not provided in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Prison Fellowship Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Prison Fellowship International official websitepfi.org