This report summarizes PFC's ministry impact in 2022 as well as the various ways PFC ministers to prisoners every year.
3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 THE PFC FLAG 5 6 PARTNERSHIPS and OUR MISSION and WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO INDEX
MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT
8 CHAPLAIN OUTREACH 9 INMATE OUTREACH 10 TEACHING INMATES 11 TRAINING
VOLUNTEERS 12 INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE 14 INTERNATIONAL MAP 16 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS 18 STATS and STAFF 20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 21 THE YARD OUT 31- DAY DEVOTIONAL 22 2022 INMATE ART CONTEST WINNERS
COVER IMAGE PFC volunteer cooking chicken and rice for prisoners in Niger.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greg Von Tobel President & Founder
Dear Friends and Stakeholders, G reetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here we are again, one year later and I absolutely marvel at how the Lord is working through ordinary men and women of this ministry. 2022, in many ways, was a test year for us as the world was slowly coming out of two years of the pandemic. It was a test year for PFC on many different fronts. Last year we tipped-toed into international travel, taking three different trips, not knowing quite what to expect. All went well as we navigated through international airports under new guidelines and restrictions. It is a new world and we need to be trained and ready for battle. On our first test trip to Kenya I caught and suffered in bed for two days with Covid. I am glad I understand what it is like to be so sick on foreign soil. I had truly comforting and supportive teammates who nurtured me back to health, to the Glory of God. Our second trip was to Ethiopia, which was exciting as we planted our first Prison Church Plant as well as an International Bible Institute (IBI) in this country. I remained illness-free on the field but when I got back to America, once again was very sick. Our third trip was to the two countries of Guatemala and Honduras, both new places to PFC. We had the added joy and honor of being introduced to two of the Supreme Court Justices of Guatemala, who gave us two hours of their time to build relationships. This was one of the great highlights of that trip. I stayed healthy during the trip and when I returned. You can see images from this trip on page 7. Our literature department exploded during 2022 because there were still many institutions across the country that were completely shut down to in-person ministry. This rapidly growing department is a jewel of the ministry. Additionally, our Zoom Training Conferences and Zoom Prison Crusades played vital roles in PFC’s ministry opportunities. Video training is a game changer for us and we hope to do more of this kind of training in the future. Another milestone came in 2022 with the design of our first ever PFC flag. I had the distinct opportunity to present it to the first country this year, in February, in both Southern and Northern Cameroon. Our brothers and sisters were absolutely ecstatic over having this flag. To all of you who have prayed for us and have given sacrificially, a huge thank you. We can’t do this work without you. May the good Lord return to you a thousand-fold for all that you do. Your friend and brother in Christ, Greg Von Tobel
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Prisoners For Christ Outreach Ministries (PFC) was launched in August of 1989 by Greg Von Tobel and his wife, Rhonda, when God called Greg from a career as a stockbroker into full- time prison ministry. Since then, millions of prisoners around the world have been ministered to by PFC volunteers. God has been faithful to provide PFC with more than we could ever think or imagine.
WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
Bible Study Correspondence School Church-Planting School Free Resources for Chaplains & Inmates In-Prison Ministry The International Bible Institute International Prison Mission Trips Literature Distribution & Publication Online Training Courses Pen Pal Ministry TUMI - The Urban Ministry Institute Video Distribution & Production Yard Out Inmate Newspaper
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Our mission is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to men, women, and juveniles in jails and prisons in the Pacific Northwest, across the United States, and around the world by providing church services, Bible studies, mentoring, seminary-level classes, Chaplain support, and more.
OUR MISSION
THE PFC FLAG SHINING THE LIGHT IN DARK PLACES
I n October 2022, President and Founder, Greg Von Tobel, commissioned an Advisory Council to come up with a design for a PFC International Flag. The catalyst for this council came several years ago as Greg was teaching in one of PFC’s International Leadership Conferences and made the statement, “I would like to plant a PFC flag in the ground of this country.” One problem remained, however; PFC didn’t have a flag to plant. It is with great excitement that we can now present the official PFC International Flag! As with any good flag, the design and colors were carefully considered and chosen to represent the important aspects of our ministry. Beginning with the black field, representing the darkness of life for all who are without Christ (Rom 3:23). The gray field represents the transition from darkness to light; the sanctifying work of being changed from the old life to the new life in Christ (Rom 6:6). The white
field represents the purity that comes from Christ’s righteousness and is gifted to us (Isa 1:18). The red in the PFC logo represents the blood of Jesus Christ, through which forgiveness of sin comes (Eph 1:7). The cross of the PFC logo pierces the darkness, allowing a pathway to righteousness through the cross of Christ (Ps 107:10). Finally, the globe in the PFC logo represents the Great Commission (Mat 28:19-20).
PFC Missionaries gather around the newly-commissioned PFC International Flag. Presented on the field in Cameroon (above).
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PARTNERSHIPS
Many prisoners want to go into ministry once their time has been served, but this can be difficult when most churches and other ministries require some type of degree for those they employ in full-time ministry. It can also be hard for a newly-released person to try enrolling in school while dealing with all the other challenges that go along with release. The answer? A program has been developed that allows inmates
The mission of Lifeline Global is to glorify God by inspiring and equipping men and women, with church and community involvement, to become the godly parents, whom God has designed them to be. Lifeline Global has a program for fathers called “Malachi Dads” and one for mothers called “Hannah’s Gift.” “Malachi Dads” helps fathers understand and live up to their biblical responsibility as fathers, breaking the generational curses that plague so many families affected by incarceration. “Hannah’s Gift” is modeled after the life of Hannah and her son (the prophet Samuel) as told in the first two chapters of First Samuel, showing incarcerated mothers how to parent from a distance. Prisoners For Christ partnered with Lifeline Global by producing the video version of the “Hannah’s Gift” curriculum and sharing it with them. In turn, Lifeline Global produced “Malachi Dads” and shared the videos with Prisoners For Christ. to earn a Christian Ministry Certificate while they serve out their time. Prisoners For Christ, in partnership with The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), has classes running at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, WA. This is a 4-year course of intense study that provides seminary-level classes through a module-based curriculum with courses in Biblical Studies, Theology and Ethics, Christian Ministry, and Urban Missions.
Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Christ-centered, step-based program. Many have found freedom from hurts, habits, and hang-ups while participating in this program. CR has a prison ministry arm called CR Inside. PFC is partnering with regional CR Inside leaders to bring this program to western Washington facilities, including the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, WA.
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Men’s Fraternity was designed to help men come together and strengthen one another through weekly biblical teaching and small group interaction. The authors of Men’s Fraternity wrote another curriculum called “33 The Series.” This series models the thirty-three years of Jesus’ earthly life to help men become better sons, better fathers, better husbands, and better neighbors. The
folks at Authentic Manhood are passionate about prison ministry as well, and offer their vast library of videos and workbooks at a discount to PFC for the benefit of inmates. PFC has a strong team at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, WA, who have gained much support and recognition from the facility administration over their curriculum-based courses like “33 The Series”.
MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT
In November 2022, a team of six PFC missionaries traveled to Guatemala and Honduras for the first-ever PFC mission trip to Central America. While in Guatemala, it was PFC’s honor to be invited to meet with representatives of the nation’s congress and supreme court.
Members of PFC International with two Guatemalan Supreme Court Justices (second & third from left).
Members of PFC International and the Guatemalan Congress, including Congresswoman Ana Lucrecia Marroquin de Paloma (center).
Praying with the Justices.
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One of the ways PFC pivoted its ministry during COVID was to actively reach out to Chaplains across the United States to offer our resources free of charge. With restrictions having stopped all volunteer programming, the responsibility of providing religious services to the inmates fell squarely on the Chaplains. Today, PFC continues to provide free resources to Chaplains across the United States through our Chaplain Resource online store.
CHAPLAIN OUTREACH
VIDEO RESOURCES
STUDY RESOURCES
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Several of PFC’s ministries were already positioned to thrive during a pandemic and quarantine, i.e. the Bible Study Correspondence School, Bible and Literature Distribution, Pen Pals, and the Yard Out inmate newspaper. With demand for these ministries on the rise, PFC has dedicated significant resources to enhance these ministries in order to meet the inmates’ growing needs.
INMATE OUTREACH
BIBLES & CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
Our Yard Out inmate newspaper has been ex- tremely popular among the inmate population for 30 years because it is made up entirely of submissions from pris- oners all over the United States. It is mailed three times each year to more than 1,800 state, federal, and county institutions.
Our Bible Study Corre- spondence School has over 2,600 students from all fifty states currently enrolled. We have teams of volunteers who review every lesson that comes in, write encouraging comments on them, and send them back with the next lesson.
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TEACHING INMATES
BCS
Our Bible Study Correspondence School (BCS) is a ministry that serves over 2,600 inmates in all fifty States who wish to learn more about God and His Word. This Bible-based curriculum increases in difficulty over 17 Units and 130 Lessons. Teams of PFC Volunteers review each lesson and write encouraging comments for each answer in each lesson. We encourage writing a short prayer at the end of each lesson, and asking a blessing over each student. Then the reviewed lesson and the following lesson are mailed back to them. For some inmates, this is the ONLY correspondence they receive. As a sign of their tremendous accomplishment, inmates are sent a Certificate of Completion when they complete each unit. In 2014, Prisoners For Christ launched the TUMI (The Urban Ministry Institute) curriculum at the Washington State Reformatory (WSR.) This is a four-year course of intense study that provides seminary-level classes through a module- based curriculum with courses in Biblical Studies, Theology and Ethics, Christian Ministry, and Urban Missions. Although COVID-19 has shut down TUMI temporarily, PFC has been assured by the prison Chaplains that TUMI is an important program and will be on the short list of programs to return once the facility reopens. The International Bible Institute (IBI) was created to fill the void for quality discipleship curriculum for inmates in developing countries’ prisons. In America, we have the Bible Study Correspondence School for inmates to draw close to God while serving their time. We desperately needed a method of discipleship for inmates suffering in the developing world’s prisons. Where inmates in America complete their lessons and send them back to PFC for grading, prisoners in third world prisons do not have the luxury of sending their lessons through the mail to be graded. Thus was created a Bible institute onsite within the prisons. We have volunteer facilitators that travel each week to a particular institution to instruct the students. Our first two schools were opened in Nigeria in 2018. The Nigerian government has heard about these schools and is very interested in expanding to many more institutions in the years to come. We have interest from countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.
TUMI
IBI
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TRAINING VOLUNTEERS
PFC-U
PFC-University is our volunteer training program in Washington State. It is held twice each year; once in the spring and once in the fall. With the onset of COVID-19, PFC had to stop gathering in person at PFC-University. In response, PFC has recorded several of the basic courses and created an online training program. Volunteers can now watch training videos and take short quizzes from the comfort and safety of their homes. Prisoners For Christ is dedicated to making sure that our volunteers are well-equipped for prison ministry. PFC hopes to resume in-person training in the fall of 2023. Training and resources on prison ministry can be quite limited in third-world countries, unlike in the United States. For this reason, Prisoners For Christ introduced a series of classes to become a Certified Prison Worker (CPW) to its associates around the world. This is a 6-month to 1-year certification program. The courses are sent via email, returned to the home office once completed by the student, graded, and then returned to the student. These classes are intended to provide both foundation level training, such as How to Grow a Prison Ministry, as well as more advanced lessons, such as Understanding Inmate Manipulation. The twenty-six lessons in this course will allow our missionaries to take their prison ministry leadership to the next level. The training is offered for free, though students must fill out an application before being accepted into the program. As of January 2023, over ninety graduates have earned their certificates. We are excited to see how the Lord uses these studies to empower His servants in prison ministry around the world. The International Chaplaincy Training School (ICTS) was added to PFC’s repertoire of online courses for our international associates to complete once they have completed the CPW curriculum. Where the CPW curriculum would be considered undergraduate work, the ICTS curriculum would be considered graduate work. Once completed, graduating students will be conferred by PFC as a fully functioning chaplain for an institution. This is an incredible asset to the prison, its staff, as well as inmates. These courses were created to pick-up where the CPW courses left off: to educate, to encourage, and to add credibility to our international associates’ pastoral duties within the institutions where they work. There are many chaplaincy training courses available in America for those aspiring to be a hospital, corporate or military chaplain, however this is the only prison chaplaincy course targeted to those in developing third world countries. It is one of a kind in the world. We started writing these courses in 2018 and have since graduated twelve students. Fourteen more are currently enrolled.
CPW
ICTS
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T hese graphs are a way to show a Christian educational path for the PFC International Bible Institute. Starting with the basics of understanding the Nicene Creed all the way through the courses, with the end result of planting a church in a prison and becoming a Certified International Prison Chaplain. As you can see, it will take dedication to achieve. If you look at the graphs you can easily see the progression. The Basic Curriculum is the equivalent to a Bachelor’s level of study, the Intermediate Curriculum is equivalent to a Master’s level of study, and the Advanced Curriculum is equivalent to a Doctorate’s level of study. The goal of these courses is to plant new churches inside foreign prisons. This has been PFC’s vision for many years and these courses are a way of reaching that goal. Once the church is planted, the course continues to be taught within the Prison Church, thus using the whole principle of multiplication within the Christian sphere. - Don Szolomayer, Director of International Affairs THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE
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14
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THE PRODIGAL SON PART I
WHAT IS HELL
THE PRODIGAL SON PART II
WHAT IS HEAVEN
10
21
WHAT IS SALVATION
SPIRITUAL FARMERS
9
22
16
19
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
WHAT IS SIN
15
20
WHAT IS PROPHECY
THE PRODIGAL SON PART III
12
HOW DO I GET TO HEAVEN
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THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS
6
25
WHAT IS THE CHURCH
THE GROWING SEED
WHO IS JESUS
THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT
11
24
WHO IS SATAN
THE LOST
8
27
WHO IS GOD
5
WHAT IS THE BIBLE
26
THE WICKED TENANTS
THE WORKERS
7
28
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE WEDDING BANQUET
THE TEN VIRGINS
2
NICENE CREED PART II
29
31
4
NICENE CREED PART IV
BASIC CURRICULUM
THE WISE BUILDER
NICENE CREED PART I
NICENE CREED PART III
THE TALENTS
THE LAMP
1
32
3
30
One-Year Program
THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT
35
THE JUDGE AND THE WIDOW
CALEB PART I
33
57
ELEAZAR
36
59
THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE
ANSWERS TO PRAYER
NICODEMUS
CALEB PART II
34
56
40
58
REASONS FOR UN- ANSWERED PRAYERS
NEHEMIAH
WHAT IS PRAYER
DAVID AND GOLIATH
OUR OWN PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE
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54
EUTYCHUS
55
37
DAVID & BATHSHEBA
PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
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MANASSEH PART I
53
GIDEON’S ARMY
KORAH’S REBELLION
50
45
46
49
38
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MANASSEH PART II
SHADRACH, MESHACH, & ABEDNEGO & THE FIERY FURNACE
JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY
DANIEL AND THE LION’S DEN
JONAH AND THE WHALE
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51
43
48
47
44
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10
13
UNDERSTANDING INMATE MANIPULATION
HANDLING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
9
14
WORKING WITH FACILITY STAFF
CONDUCTING A BIBLE STUDY
12
15
6
17
11
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
PRISON ADOPTION MINISTRY
UNDERSTANDING COMMITMENT
FUNDRAISING
GROUP LEADER
HANDLING DISRUPTIONS
CHURCH PLANTING
8
19
CODE OF CONDUCT
VISION CASTING
N
5
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CONDUCTING AN ALTAR CALL
DISCIPLESHIP
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THE PFC NETWORK
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ADVISORY COUNCIL
INTERMEDIATE CURRICULUM 9-month Program “Here I am, send me” Isaiah 6:8
HOW TO START A PRISON MINISTRY
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S CALL IN SERVICE
CHARACTER TRAITS OF A VOLUNTEER
4
2
WHEN TO SAY NO
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HOW TO GROW A PRISON MINISTRY
ALL-NIGHT PRAYER MEETINGS
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3
RECEIVING FROM THE LORD
WHY DO WE DO PRISON MINISTRY
GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED
V
1
22
PRACTICUM
36
27
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND STRANGERS
PARTS TO THE PRESENTATION
PRACTICUM
SPREADING THE
ONE TO ONE EVANGELISM
GROUP EVANGELISM
28
35
GOOD NEWS
25
34
32
31
THE RELUCTANT EVANGELIST
TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS
KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT
FACING OPPOSITION
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33
30
29
6
5
CHURCH PLANTING ON THE OUTSIDE
BUILDING BLOCKS
2
9
THE HISTORY OF CHURCH PLANTING PART II
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8
FIRST STEPS - PREPARATIONS
WHY DO CHURCH PLANTS FAIL
WHAT ARE THE GROWTH PHASES
4
11
WHY CHURCH PLANTING INSIDE A PRISON
EVALUATION AND EXPANSION
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THE HISTORY OF CHURCH PLANTING PART I
1
GETTING STARTED
N
3
12
AN ADOPTION MODEL
WHAT IS CHURCH PLANTING
ADVANCED CURRICULUM 6-month Program “...press on toward the goal...” Philippians 3:14
INTRODUCTION
MINISTRY TO VOLUNTEERS
OVERVIEW PART II
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PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
28
13
26
BIBLICAL BASIS
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
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27
OVERVIEW PART I
MINISTRY TO INMATE FAMILIES
S
PRINCIPLES OF PREACHING PREPARATION
MINISTRY TO STAFF
14
25
PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY PREPARATION
19
24
MINISTRY TO WOMEN
PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM
INMATE RELATIONS
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20
17
22
PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE DISCIPLESHIP
MINISTRY TO INMATES
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21
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INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
We are blessed to have twenty-nine international missionary pastors who partner with us throughout the year as we sponsor short-term mission trips to their corners of the world. These trips are typically ten to fourteen days long and include: prison crusades, humanitarian relief, and training conferences for local prison ministry volunteers.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
By the time Prisoners For Christ visits a foreign country, working relationships have already been established with local pastors who are recruiting for prison ministry. These local pastors are PFC’s “boots on the ground” in these countries. Where we can only visit for a couple of weeks at a time, these local pastors keep the fight alive year round. As these co-laborers in prison ministry serve our Lord, they address other needs in their areas as the Lord leads them. From offering orphans a place to live to rebuilding villages and churches decimated by jihadists, they never shy away from the Call to rise up and serve. It’s an honor for PFC to partner with and support such godly men and women with the resources we have.
SUPPLY LINES
Prisoners For Christ values the foreign pastors and their families who sacrifice so much for the Kingdom. Knowing their struggles with daily survival in some cases, PFC sets aside funds that help these pastors. PFC has created programs for donors to “adopt a pastor” where monthly donations are sent to pastors so they can feed their families and offer them shelter while they toil for the ministry. PFC has also created a fund that specifically meets emergency medical needs for the international pastors and their families.
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In the wake of COVID-19 travel restrictions, PFC was forced to rethink how to equip the international pastors who, up until then, benefited from trips from U.S. missionaries to bring extended training to the international volunteers. Utilizing virtual meeting places and video calls, PFC has established an effective approach to training the international PFC volunteers regardless of where they are in the world. During 2022, PFC hosted 37 video training conferences for our missionary partners in 13 countries and 24 locations. God also opened the door for PFC to host 4 virtual prison crusades and 2 International Bible Institute graduation ceremonies! VIRTUAL TRAINING LATIN AMERICA EXPANSION Breaking new ground! One of our goals for 2022 included expanding the Prisoners For Christ ministry to Latin America. In February of 2022, we hired an International Partnership Developer to find local pastors in Mexico, Central America, South America, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Since then, we have appointed Regional Directors in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Ecuador. In 2022, PFC conducted three video conference trainings and went on mission trips to Guatemala and Honduras. Lord willing, we will be going into more Latin American countries in 2023.
BACKGROUND IMAGE Women’s worship service at a Christian Missions Conference in India.
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2022 STATS
ATTENDANCE
DECISIONS FOR CHRIST
100,000
1 MILLION
80,000
800,000
60,000
600,000
40,000
400,000
20,000
200,000
0
0
2017 89,373
2018 77,324
2019 66,745
2020 31,259
2022 31,721
2021 22,365
2020 349,331
2017 916,000
2018 880,853
2019 967,937
2022 810,427
2021 452,899
PFC SERVICES
BIBLE STUDY SCHOOL STUDENTS
7,000
4,000
6,000
3,000
5,000
4,000
2,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
0
0
2022 2,665
2017 3,040
2017 5,648
2018 6,149
2019 6,125
2020 2,128
2021 3,209
2022 6,959
2018 2,634
2019 2,555
2020 2,341
2021 2,949
CHAPLAIN and INMATE RESOURCES PROVIDED Bibles - 4,224 DVDs and Digital Downloads - 544 Christian Literature (books, devotions, etc.) - 7,370
Books by Greg Von Tobel - 1,328 Yard Out Newspapers - 158,502 Inmate Discipling Brochures - 3,134 Bible Study School Promo Posters - 279 Packages Mailed - 3,236
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GREG Von Tobel
PEYTON Burkhart Yard Out Editor with PFC since 1996
BRENT Hoiosen
Pen Pal Coordinator with PFC since 1993
President & Founder founded PFC in 1989
LINDA Holz Bible Study Correspondence
DAVE Jezak
MARGARET La Pointe
Front Desk, Bulk Mail, & Prayer Team Coordinator with PFC since 2006
Database Manager with PFC since 1996
School Coordinator with PFC since 2012
MIKE North V.P. of Communication with PFC since 2012
JILL Payne-Holman Senior V.P. of Operations with PFC since 2004
GRACE Paynter International Partnership Developer with PFC since 2021
DEE Peterson Director of Discipleship with PFC since 2012
RICH Sheets IT Manager with PFC since 2002
DON Szolomayer Director of
KATHLEEN Retan Office Assistant with PFC since 2022
International Affairs with PFC since 1998
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PFC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Bob Jordan Chairman
Greg Von Tobel President
Don Szolomayer Vice Chairman
Dave Holmes Secretary
Nate Bean Finance Chair
Bob Rogers
Dr. Tom Lenart
Dave Jezak
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COMING SPRING 2023! YARD OUT THE 31-DAY DEVOTIONAL & PRAYER JOURNAL T he Yard Out 31-Day Devotional & Prayer Journal combines 30 years of inmate art, testimonies, and poetry, with thoughtful devotions written by PFC staff, into this full- sized, color publication made especially for prisoners. Here’s an excerpt:
Little Crime, Big Time
DAY 22
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:17 NKJV
T en dollars of the devil’s money took my freedom. I’m doing 8 to 13 years for being in the presence of a drug deal. Some people say, “That’s not right — take it back to court,” or, “That’s too much time for that little crime. “ But the thing was, they only knew what I told them. See, I did not tell them all the times I cursed my parents growing up. I did not tell them about the drinking and drugging. I did not tell them about the stealing of money. I only told them about me being wronged. God has been dealing with me on the inside. I am currently locked down for various reasons, and it’s here that I have peace of mind. It’s here that I am able to see my failures for what they really are. And it’s here I can allow God to be God. It’s not a very good feeling being lost, because you never know what to expect, you never know what dangers await you. If we would only take time out to pray and ask for guidance. God has allowed me to come across Yard Out, and I’m glad because I can fellowship with born-again Christians. I pray if you are reading this, know that no one said it was going to be easy. Sometimes it gets a little tough, but that’s when God gets tougher. Follow Him and He will direct your path.
“Our Father” by Jeremy in Florida (made with coffee and tissues on paper)
by Erica in Mississippi
Erica in Mississippi has come to a realization that is so important for us as believers: We are deserving of much more punishment than we receive. Spiritually speaking, we deserve death for our sins. (Rom 6:23) As it relates to our daily lives, how many times have we broken the law and not been caught? Some in- prison volunteers openly admit, “The only reason I’m not in prison too is because I didn’t get caught.” God loves this attitude from His children. We do not assume that we deserve anything good, for nothing good is in us. Therefore, all of our prideful excuses fade away to simple thankfulness that God has NOT given us what we deserve, but rather grace and mercy through His Son Jesus Christ.
Do you have any offenses that have not been accounted against you? Can you think of examples of God’s grace and patience in your life while you were running from Him?
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2022 INMATE ART CONTEST WINNERS
FIRST PLACE “Let Your Light So Shine” By Jose in Wyoming
SECOND PLACE “Uprooted to New Life” By Jay in Ohio
PRESIDENT’S PICK untitled By Archie in Nevada
SR. VICE PRESIDENT’S PICK “The King of Kings” By Josh in Massachusetts
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THIRD PLACE untitled By James in Indiana
EDITOR’S PICK “His Peace” By Roberto in Arkansas
VICE PRESIDENT’S PICK “Beauty Beyond the Cross” By Sean in Maryland
STAFF PICK untitled By Juan in Illinois
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P.O. BOX 1530 WOODINVILLE, WA 98072 425.483.4151 gvt@pfcom.org www.prisonersforchrist.org
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