Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, the largest independent supplier of chaplains for jails and prisons worldwide, will jumpstart its annual Second Chance Day on April 20 with a financial donation from Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Gov. Youngkin contributes 25% of his salary each quarter to a nonprofit in the Commonwealth. On Friday, March 31, Youngkin with First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin at Prince William—Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Manassas, Virginia, contributed one-fourth of his salary to Good News Jail & Prison Ministry during a brief ceremony. Youngkin, who pledged during his gubernatorial campaign that he would serve without taking a salary, selected the faith-based organization because of the way it exemplifies "the heart and Spirit" of Virginia by providing hope, resources, and transformational opportunities for incarcerated Virginians.
In making the donation, Youngkin and his wife affirmed their support of the Good News chaplains' work in Virginia jails and prisons and the importance of giving people a second chance.
“On the eve of Second Chance Month, Glenn and I laud the life-changing mission of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “We firmly believe that every Virginian deserves an opportunity to flourish and we are grateful for this opportunity to support great and Godly works.”
The support will further strengthen the work of the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry worldwide.
“We thank Governor Youngkin for his generous support of the work of our chaplains,” said Jon Evans, president of Good News. “His support will further help our chaplains to see incarcerated citizens return to their communities with a transformed perspective and a second chance.”
Over 11 million people are incarcerated globally. Second Chance Day celebrates the opportunity God gives everyone, even those behind bars, to begin a new life. The goal for the day is to raise $150,000 to support the work of chaplains worldwide. Chaplains serve as the religious program coordinator for each facility. In addition, they are responsible for pastoral care, facilitation and accommodation of religious requests, coordination of clergy visits, and a host of other personal ministry activities.
The chaplains also recruit, train, and coordinate religious volunteer activities. Among the 15 facilities where Good News chaplains serve in Virginia, more than 500 hours of volunteer time weekly is provided by churches and the community.
About Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry was founded in 1961 with a passion for the incarcerated and forgotten behind bars. Today Good News provides chaplains in 22 US States and 21 foreign countries. Three hundred chaplains and staff minister in 350 facilities with daily access to over 400,000 incarcerated men, women, and youth. Good News is honored to partner with sheriffs and corrections professionals and recognizes the opportunity is a privilege, not a right. We believe that every person has inherent worth in God’s eyes and has a plan for each individual that can only be fully secured through faith in Him.