ICYMI: Lankford, Coons Resolution Honoring 50 Years of Prison Fellowship Passes Senate Unanimously

WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) secured unanimous Senate passage of their resolution recognizing 50 years of Prison Fellowship's work to bring faith-based rehabilitation, restoration, and second chances to people impacted by incarceration. The bipartisan resolution recognizes Prison Fellowship's nationwide impact and comes months after Lankford celebrated the launch of the organization's first federal Prison Fellowship Academy at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma.

"Prison Fellowship has spent 50 years helping people understand that a mistake does not have to be the end of their story," said Lankford. "Their work points people to Christ, helps restore families, and gives people the opportunity to change. I'm grateful for the staff and volunteers who have stayed committed to this work for five decades, and I'm glad to recognize Prison Fellowship on its 50th anniversary."

"The first time I was in a maximum-security prison, I was 12 years old, joining my father on one of his prison ministry visits," said Coons. "I saw how prison ministry transformed the lives of both those inside the prison and for our family outside of it. For 50 years, Prison Fellowship has brought that transformation to communities across the country, answering Jesus' call to love our neighbors no matter where or who they are."

"Chuck Colson once described his imprisonment as 'the great humiliation of my life'-yet God used that humiliation for a greater purpose," said Scott Peyton, Senior Director of Advocacy. "Fifty years later, Prison Fellowship continues that legacy, encountering Jesus with those impacted by incarceration, equipping the Church, and advancing justice that restores. We are deeply grateful to Senators James Lankford and Chris Coons for their leadership, and to the United States Senate for honoring fifty years of transformed lives and the enduring truth that no life is beyond the reach of God's grace."

Background

Lankford has spent years working to expand opportunities for faith-based organizations to serve individuals in federal prisons. In 2018, Lankford supported the bipartisan First Step Actand successfully amended the legislation to ensure faith-based organizations could provide job training, social development, and family programming on equal footing with non-faith-based organizations. That work helped establish the framework for faith-based rehabilitation programs like Prison Fellowship to partner with the Bureau of Prisons.

In June 2026, Lankford celebrated the launch of the first federal Prison Fellowship Academy at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. The Prison Fellowship Academy became the first nonprofit program designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as an evidence-based recidivism reduction program under the First Step Act. Lankford has continued to champion faith-based rehabilitation and successful reentry through bipartisan efforts including the MERCY Act and the Safer Supervision Act.

Founded in 1976 by the late Charles Colson following his conversion to Christianity during incarceration, Prison Fellowship is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The organization serves prisoners, former prisoners, and their families through programs focused on rehabilitation, restoration, and second chances.

You can download the full text of the resolution HERE.

###