History

Prison Fellowship was founded in the United States in 1976 by Charles W. Colson, following his release from prison after serving a sentence for a "Watergate" related crime. Prior to his imprisonment, Mr. Colson had served as chief counsel for President Richard Nixon.

During his own imprisonment, Mr. Colson had seen and experienced the difference that faith in Jesus Christ makes in the lives of people and he became convinced that the real solution to crime is found through spiritual renewal.

Prison Fellowship was founded to bring together men and women from various Christian churches to share the love of God with prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. Mr. Colson’s experiences in prison and in starting Prison Fellowship are recorded in his books Born Again and Life Sentence.  

Three years after the formation of Prison Fellowship in the United States, representatives from similar organisations in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Bahamas met to form Prison Fellowship International as an association of national Prison Fellowship organisations. The purpose of PFI was to develop and serve national Prison Fellowship organisations. 

Since 1979, Prison Fellowship International has grown to encompass national PF organisations in over 115 countries around the world. Most of this growth has occurred under the leadership of Ron Nikkel, the President of PFI, who for more than 25 years has traveled throughout the world promoting and supporting the organisation's work. PFI is now the world’s largest and most extensive association of national Christian ministries working within the criminal justice field.