Press Release: Captive Faith – Prison as a Parish - Christian History Announces its Latest Issue

Captive Faith – Prison as a Parish - Christian History Announces its Latest Issue

Christian History Magazine & Website -  A Continuing Study Resource Offered to the Home, Church Libraries, Homeschoolers, High Schools, Colleges & Universities

Worcester, PA, September 5, 2017 – Christian History Institute (CHI), publisher of Christian History magazine (CH), announces its latest issue, titled: Captive Faith – Prison as a Parish. The entire issue focuses on the long history of Christians in prison, visiting prisoners, redeeming captives, and attempting to improve prison conditions.

This issue, #123, contains eight in-depth articles that explore both major imprisonment thought & ministry movements, across the two thousand years since Christ walked on earth. Articles also include stories of the lives and times of individuals whose work documented and changed the lives of prisoners and reformers who sought to improve living conditions of prisons as well as the spiritual well-being of inmates.

“This issue gives examples of a wide spectrum of prison experiences from biblical accounts of imprisonment to the twentieth century,” said Ken Curtis, founder of Christina History magazine and producer of the documentary, Blessedness out of Brokenness, filmed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, often called Angola. “Some of the most famous writings of Western civilization took form within prison walls. We believe that the excerpts and accounts that follow will be of interest to all readers and an inspiration to all…”

A special feature of this issue, the Ken Curtis Editor’s note, which was taken from a planned but never published book, commemorates CHI’s long-standing relationship with prisoners and prison administrators. Curtis, in scripting and producing the documentary, Blessedness out of Brokenness, identified a link between individuals of faith who face a death sentence and individuals of faith who face a terminal cancer diagnosis. After facing such a diagnosis, he died cancer in 2011. Due to his free distribution of the former CHI publication, Glimpses, to US prisons and jails, many came to faith in Jesus Christ and some contributed to setting remarkable standards for prison reform, as evidenced in film. Now, the film is freely offered to readers, by way of a complimentary Web link in conjunction with the release of this issue at: www.christianhistorymagazine.org.       

CH issue #123, contains 8 feature articles; a chronology time-line; an archive of rare and beautiful art-work & photos; a ‘letters to the editor’ section and an extensive, associated reading list compiled by the CH editorial staff. The magazine is available on-line and can be conveniently read, on screen at: www.christianhistorymagazine.org.  

The entire CH archive collection of 123 issues can be searched, along with books and study-guides, using the website’s robust search engine feature. The website, combined with a magazine subscription is offered at no-cost as a study resource for the home & homeschoolers, church libraries, middle/high schools, as well as to colleges & universities. It is the mission of CHI donors and staff to make this resource as widely and freely available as possible (donations gratefully accepted).

The following articles can be read and examined in detail on-line at: What’s Inside?

PRISON AS A PARISH: CHRISTIAN INMATES by Roy Stults and Jennifer Woodruff Tait

Christians in prison have shared similar stories through 2,000 years.

“I AM HOPING GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS” by Apostle Paul

The first letters we have from an imprisoned Christian are from the apostle Paul.

CHRISTIANS ON TRIAL  by Dwight D. Brautigam

Enduring testimonies from people in tight places

“MINE WAS THE VICTORY”  by Perpetua

Perpetua wrote an account of her imprisonment and trials.

THINKING LONG THOUGHTS  by Catherine Barnett

From prison, Christians have produced classic literature that comforts and challenges.

“MUCH MORE I REJOICED IN THE LORD”  by William Thorpe

What Lollards suffered.

PARADOXES OF PRISON  by Dan Graves

For some prisoners, the plunge into the depths became a step heavenward.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT  by the editors

Prisons, prison ministries, and Christians

PRISON AS A PARISH: CHRISTIAN RESPONSES  byTodd V. Cioffi

How Christians have tried to reform the justice system and minister to prisoners

“KEEP MY FUR CLOAK IN MEMORY OF ME”  by Jan Hus

Letters Hus wrote from prison.

WILLIAM MORGAN’S GIFT  by Kevin M. Watson

An obscure Irish teenager inspired Methodists to Undertake over 200 years of prison ministry

“I SHALL BE PATIENT”  by William Tyndale

The only writing in Tyndale’s hand still extant

“HEAVEN AT LAST THE WRONG SHALL RIGHT”  by Jennifer Graber

One man’s thwarted attempts to change American prisons

“TO GOD ALONE WE CRY AND WEEP”  by Katharine Evans and Sarah Cheevers

Held by the Maltese Inquisition

JOYS AND CHALLENGES  by Jim Forbes, Christiana DeGroot, Joe Roche, Jack Heller, Susannah Moore

What does prison ministry look like today? We Interviewed five individuals active in prison ministry to get first-hand accounts.

PRISONS TODAY BY THE NUMBERS  by the editors

Some figures to put American prisons in perspective.

“GOD IS HERE, DELIVERANCE HAS COME, AND THERE IS HOPE”  by Eric Dickerson and Matthew Harper

Reflections of two prisoners

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES  by the editors

Recommendations from CH editorial staff and this issue’s authors to help you navigate the history of Christians in prison and Christians ministering to prisoners.

Why Christian History?

“Christian history has been largely removed from the American public education system that Christian leaders began in the early years of this nation,” said Michael Austin, a Christian commentator. “After years of decline, our public schools no longer teach the Bible’s founding contribution to Western Civilization. Christians have influenced our culture’s values regarding faith, freedom and mercy. Yet, today, faith in God is being openly questioned and attacked.”

George Barna, speaking of data gathered in a recent survey, said, “Young people couldn’t think of anything positive that the church stood for.” In a video interview, Barna Further reported, “We’re essentially in the Dark Ages, in America today.” (View YouTube, Titled: ‘Young Americans see nothing positive in church - says George Barna.’)

Christian History Institute is a non-profit Pennsylvania corporation founded in 1982. CHI publishes Christian History magazine and also produces books and videos featuring important Christian history, including Torchlighters®, an animated history series for children. CHI is a donor-supported organization providing church history resources and self-study material to make Christian history accessible to the widest possible audience, via video and the Internet. Contact Christian History Institute, Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490, www.ChristianHistoryInstitute.org.

 

Christian History Magazine #123, titled: Captive Faith – Prison as a Parish

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