Cecelia Whitfield was devastated when her son went to prison for armed robbery, but she rallied quickly and founded a ministry that has transported family members to visit their incarcerated loved ones for more than 35 years.
With support from UMCOR, United Methodists in Southern Congo provided food and other supplies to inmates at a Kasapa prison. Church leaders also brought a message of hope.
The day in 2001 when United Methodist Jim Cotterill broke his neck in a bicycle accident has improbably led to many Indiana inmates having a better chance for a successful life when they leave prison.
The Oklahoma Conference ministry for prisoners reentering society started receiving residents in 1998, but it began two years earlier in the minds of two United Methodist pastors who wanted to do something about recidivism.
