Story by Martha Lane
Photography by John Lane

Joyce and Buddy Owens of Leonardtown go to jail once a week, not because they have to, but because they want to.  They have committed no crimes, nor have relatives to visit there.

“We go because of our faith and because we have a call on our lives,” Joyce explained.

Three years ago after reading Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life I was ready to commit to the Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM) in our church,” Buddy said.   He became part of approximately 40 volunteers (VIPs-Volunteers In-Prison) from 10 local churches who visit the Detention Center of St. Mary’s County and the Maryland State Prison in Jessup.

“For the next two years, my husband, Buddy, would come home and talk about his experiences. One day he said they needed volunteers for the women.  With that, the seed was planted,” Joyce said.

It took several months for Joyce to commit to PFM, never having been in a jail or led a Bible study.  However, the 12-hour training all volunteers receive helped her overcome her fears.  After a year of service, Joyce said, “I feel blessed by the opportunity.”

Chuck Colson, special council to former President Richard Nixon, founded PFM. Convicted during the Watergate scandal, Colson spent nine months in prison.  After his release in 1975 he went back into the prisons to minister to the men and women behind bars. PFM, which began in 1976, “Has grown into the largest prison ministry in the world, partnering with thousands of churches and tens of thousands of volunteers,” according to their web site.

The PFM volunteers are also available to the inmates after release.  “Prisoners leave the jail one minute past midnight on the day they have finished serving their time. They often leave with only the clothes on their backs, no money and often nowhere to go,” Buddy said.

The volunteers, through the resources of churches that are part of PFM, provide transportation to a motel, money for lodging and food when no family member or friend is there to meet the released prisoner. “We continue to remain in contact as long as needed,” Buddy said.

He believes that addiction to alcohol and drugs is the reason 90 percent are in prison. And Buddy warns the released inmates: “The same friends who put you there will put you back.”

“Every mistake we make is an opportunity to learn,” Joyce tells the incarcerated women and “we all make mistakes.”

“When God closes one door He always opens another” is a significant phrase to the Owens, who are no strangers to tragedy. After a divorce and her father’s death in an airplane crash, Joyce felt like the door to her life was closed forever. Buddy felt the door to his life was shut tight when his first wife of many years died of cancer.

And then a door opened at NAVAIR—where they both worked—when Booker the janitor arranged for them to meet. “I fell in love 10 minutes after I met Joyce,” Buddy said.

“God gave us another chance at life,” Joyce said. The Owens want all those in prison to know that God will do the same thing for them.

The words in Hebrews 13:3— “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” is what the PFM volunteers do.  PFM is grounded in the Bible, dependent on prayer and anchored in the Christian church.

“I now realize that my dream to become a missionary is accomplished each time I visit the jail and share the love of God or save a soul,” Joyce said.

All the PFM volunteers in St. Mary’s County and everywhere PFM exists are dedicated to helping those in prison find faith, hope and a new way of life.  Just as the Owens do, they give their time, commitment and love to make that happen.

To find out how you can become involved, or help the fellowship, visit www.PrisonFellowship.org.