Prison Bible studies are changing lives

I will never forget my first time inside a prison in 2015 as a chaplaincy volunteer. After nearly 35 years in business, being surrounded by convicted criminals was far outside my comfort zone.

At that time, the prison population in England and Wales was 86,193. By September 2024 it had reached an all-time high of 88,521. By mid-2025 it stood at 88,087, supported by the Government’s Early Release Scheme. Fears of a “revolving door” proved unfounded, but HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported another concern: because of staff shortages, many prisoners were spending excessive time locked in cells. This limited their access to education, development, and spiritual growth - all vital for rehabilitation.

On my first day I asked God why He was leading me down this path. Ten years later, now retired and serving weekly in prison, I don’t have every answer - but I have far more gratitude than questions. Though still outside my comfort zone, I thank God for the extraordinary things He is doing inside. I am often surprised by how much He can use even an imperfect mortal like me.

What does Christian Prison Resourcing do?

Many Christian charities are active in UK prisons - well-known names include Prison Fellowship UK, the Message Trust, and Daylight. The charity I serve with, Christian Prison Resourcing (CPR), may be less visible to the public, but to prison staff and prisoners its impact is unmistakable.

CPR provides spiritual hope and practical support through group Bible studies and, most importantly, in-cell courses. Over 50 bespoke courses have been designed, enabling prisoners - including many with neuro-disabilities - to use their “in-cell” time to study Scripture. Each course includes written work marked by a team of volunteers. Spanning basic to diploma level, these courses encourage reflection, improve literacy and self-discipline, and offer hope to men and women wrestling with guilt, trauma, or isolation.

Consider this picture: a man whose life was devoted to destruction. He was good at it - and proud of it. Most people would say, “Let him rot in jail!” or “Why waste your time on someone like that?” It feels fair to think someone who caused such pain should be written off.

But the gospel makes us see differently. None of us deserve God’s mercy, yet Christ came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19v10). If God’s grace were only for the deserving, there would be no hope for any of us. Even the most destructive person is not beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness. Saul of Tarsus was like that - tearing families apart, proud of his cruelty - yet Jesus transformed him into the Apostle Paul. That same power is still at work today.

Why do we do it?

So why spend time with men like this? Because God has not finished with them. Behind prison walls, lives can be broken - but also remade. What the world calls a “loser,” God calls a “candidate for grace.”

And yes, we care deeply about victims. Statistics show that 20 per cent of violent offenders will commit violence again after release, devastating more lives. But when a man is transformed by the power of Christ, that cycle can be broken. His life is changed, and other lives can be spared from future harm. That is why this ministry matters.

I have seen such transformations through CPR’s in-cell studies. One prisoner, “Mark,” wrote: “One of my Christian brothers loaned me one of your publications. It was an absolutely amazing read. In my honest opinion the chapters should be read out in the chapel during our services.”

The external marking and certification process gives participants a real sense of accomplishment. I often see men proudly hanging their certificates on their cell walls, visible signs of perseverance, learning and change. For some, it is the first positive milestone they can point to in their lives.

Faith behind bars is not simply about prisoners finding comfort. It is about lives being transformed by Christ, about broken men becoming new men and about futures rewritten for good.

To find out more about Christian Prison Resourcing visit christianprisonresourcing.org.uk