Nationwide Simulcast 50th Anniversary Celebration for Good News Jail & Prison Ministry

HENRICO, VA--(Marketwire - Jul 26, 2011) - Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, a Christian outreach that provides chaplains, counseling, and educational programs to jails and prisons worldwide, is commemorating 50 years of ministry with a historic celebration. On Friday, August 5, 2011 at 7 PM (for all US time zones), Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, will host the ministry's 50^th Anniversary Celebration, an event that will be simulcast to participating churches nationwide.

Harry Greene, President & CEO of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, says, "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the spiritual needs of men and women behind bars and we are excited that thousands of people nationwide plan to share in our anniversary celebration."

The public is encouraged to attend this free event. The evening of celebration includes keynote speaker Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy, who spent 22 years in prison for his crimes, including breaking into New York's Metropolitan Museum of History and committing the largest jewel heist in U.S. history. Murphy and other dynamic speakers will share their firsthand stories of how God changes lives even when hope is lost and all else has failed.

Harry Greene explains, "Everyone behind bars is someone's son or daughter; many are someone's parent. Jail and prison ministry changes lives in ways that touch individuals, families and communities. The offender in jail today may one day be standing behind you in line at the grocery or the bank. Do communities want that offender to be jail-hardened or to be a Christian ready for a new path and a productive life?"

A video invitation and more details about the event are available at www.goodnewsjail.org/50th. There you will also find a list of participating churches and the location nearest you.

Good News Jail & Prison Ministry is urging all who care about restoring families and communities to attend and is asking everyone to help spread the word by forwarding the link above to others and by adding the video invitation to their Twitter accounts, blogs, websites and Facebook pages.

To learn more about the chaplains and volunteers of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry go to www.goodnewsjail.org. To help support the work of Good News chaplains in your community or worldwide go to http://bit.ly/qgsy6e