Prison Fellowship Shares News of "Into the Light"
By Heather Elizabeth Peterson
Philia

"Into the Light," a newsletter for recovering offenders that started with 43 subscribers in May 1997, now has over one thousand subscribers, thanks in part to a testimony published by the Christian organization Prison Fellowship.

In its March 1999 issue, Prison Fellowship's "Inside Journal" published the testimony of Bob Van Domelen, leader of the ex-gay ministry Broken Yoke, which has support groups in Wisconsin and Illinois. The testimony of Mr. Van Domelen, who is a recovering offender, informed prisoners of the existence of "Into the Light," which Broken Yoke publishes for imprisoned child molesters and those who minister to them. Broken Yoke also publishes a newsletter for same-gender-attracted persons called "Wellspring."

"In the three months since then, I have answered just under 700 letters – new ones come every day – from men and women in prison wanting to be on the mailing list for either 'Into the Light,' 'Wellspring,' or both," reports Mr. Van Domelen. "Knowing how [publications] continue to get passed around over long periods of time, reaching 1000 individuals as a result of this article alone would not surprise me."

Prison Fellowship was founded in 1976 by former Nixon aide Chuck Colson as an association of Christian prison ministries. Jeff Peck, managing editor of "Inside Journal," says, "A sex offender in Texas wrote several letters urging us to do more stories on the topic [of sex offenders] and he personally knew Bob. He put us in touch, and after speaking with Bob and reading his testimony we decided to run it."

According to Mr. Peck, "Inside Journal" is distributed to nearly 1,875 prisons across the United States, with about 500,000 inmates reading each issue. Mr. Peck says that Prison Fellowship has no specific programs aimed at sex offenders but that "Inside Journal" publishes occasional articles on the subject.

Mr. Van Domelen draws upon his own experience as a recovering offender in editing each issue of "Into the Light." The newsletter includes essays by Mr. Van Domelen and correspondence from readers. "The first lead article was called 'Why Shouldn't There Be Hope?' and pretty much set the tone I have tried to maintain ever since," he says.

Reflecting upon the correspondence he has received, Mr. Van Domelen says, "Sometimes it is difficult to read letters which share an individual's intense fear for safety, another's hope of coming home when prison time is done, and still another's desire to find someone who is even willing to offer support. But I am also blessed with incredible stories of faith and reliance on God. How can anyone read such material and not be moved?"

Related Links

Into the Light

Prison Fellowship