It was one of the strangest compliments I’d ever received. Pastor Sapp pointed at me.   “Spencer’s an example of an average person living out their faith in prison.”   I never thought that being called average would be such a compliment, but in that moment, I understood. I was genuinely honored. I think it’s the perfect way to describe what it is we aim to do at HeartBound.   You see, HeartBound has developed a model for the spiritual and moral rehabilitation of the incarcera

Juan leapt in the air.   Rapidly descending from above him was a small, green, plastic ball.   He cranked his arm backwards, then whirled it forward.   The racket ignited with the ball.   The ball shot forward, cleared the net, then rocketed down. It grazed the concrete just inside the boundary line, then skidded out of bounds.   George had read Juan’s spike perfectly. He was in position and ready. He swung his paddle through the air, a clean forehand.   He whiffed.   I calle

The last guests were filtering out the doors.  All was peaceful, our first slow moment of the day.   Then, a loud cry from down the hallway.   I dropped the box I was carrying and turned towards the noise. A woman was hunched over, hand over her mouth, crying. Andrea stood next to her. What was happening? I looked at Grace with alarm.   “That’s her in the photo, Spencer.”   At this woman’s feet was an oversized photo printed on foam board. The photo showed a woman singing in

I wish I could say that getting out of prison is the easy part.   That once you’re released, life is so much better.   That those hopes and wishes you had dreamt up during your incarceration become actualized. That life becomes normal again. That family, friends, and your neighborhood welcome you home with open arms.   But release from prison is not a new beginning or a second chance for many of the men, women, and teenagers we work with. Instead, it’s often just the continua

Reading Spencer’s emails is not just informative—it’s an experience. His passion for working with the juvenile boys at Burruss is evident in every word. Each email offers a glimpse of transformation: another future saved, another family restored, another life touched by hope. I know this firsthand because I attended one of HeartBound Ministries’ programs in prison—and I am one of their success stories.   As January came to a close, Spencer sent an email titled Worth Its Weigh

You’ve probably never heard of Bill Lane. I never had. One day, I get an email out of the blue from “Bill Lane.” He wanted to volunteer with HeartBound.   I get these emails frequently. I’d estimate that only 1 in 10 emails results in someone actually volunteering. People are busy and volunteering in prison isn’t easy, nor is it for everyone. I’ve made peace with that.   Bill was part of that 10% that followed through by volunteering. He shadowed a couple of our classes at th

I asked Daniela, “What did you see inside that prison that surprised you the most?”   She had just volunteered with HeartBound for the first time and used to work for a nonprofit up North, so she’s seen a thing or two.    She paused carefully before answering.    “It was abundantly clear that nearly everyone in that prison had some sort of disability. Whether developmental or physical or psychological.”   I nodded.    One thing I’ve learned is that prisons exist for people wh

Almost three years ago I received a phone call from Omar Howard at the Atlanta Transitional Center (ATC).   One thing I love about Omar is that he cuts straight to the point and doesn’t spend extraneous time dallying on the phone. He asked me plainly, “You know anything about bees? I got a bee guy here.”   I paused; it was a strange question. I had a job in college where I helped maintain seven beehives so sure, I knew a thing or two about bees. “Yeah,” I replied, “Put him on

The book had been sitting on my shelf for too long. The time had come. I had to finish this thing. I almost dreaded the task. The font was too small, and I had to strain to read each sentence. The story was too personal. I didn’t want to know what lay ahead. Also, it was a really long book – I knew that if I picked it up, I would have to finish it. The author was counting on me.  My teaching assistant for the horticulture class at Burruss Correctional Training Center has spen

I count many incarcerated people among my friends. I see these friends every week; we exchange thoughts on life, incarceration, religion, goodness, evil, and plants. We discuss the books we are reading, debate the merits of “plant-based pizza,” and write down our hopes and dreams for the future.  One of my friends has spent over two decades in prison. This past week, he shared a message with a group of 40-or-so “free people” and 48 “incarcerated people” at Walker State Prison