As part of our collaboration with key stakeholders, GEO partners with approximately 47 faith-based organizations around the country, including national organizations and local community churches. These organizations offer a wide range of religious and educational services, as well as guidance and mentorship, to those in our care.

We have also partnered with the Global Leadership Summit, an annual two-day event telecast held every August. The summit is telecast to hundreds of locations in North America and brings together pioneering pastors and leaders from around the world who lecture about leadership, skill development, and experiences that help local churches thrive.

In 2021, new faith-based partnerships were developed with Ligonier Ministries in Florida, Deep Heart Musical Theatre Troupe of Nevada, and the Prison Evangelistic Ministry in Texas. Ligonier Ministries generously gave each of our Chaplains a $500 credit to be used to purchase any religious resource materials they may need or want from the Ligonier on-line bookstore. Deep Heart performed seven live concerts for the populations at our Phoenix West and Kingman, Arizona facilities, and Prison Evangelistic Ministry gave 15,000 bible study materials to 31 of our facilities 

Also in 2021, Prison Fellowship partnered with GEO to provide 5,000 bibles in English and Spanish and 11,246 faith-based study guides to include a “Prison Survival Guide” that addresses issues confronting the incarcerated such as worry, depression, and boredom. For many, prison seems like a dead end. These useful materials help the resident “see the light at the end of the tunnel.” We are most thankful for the outstanding relationship we enjoy with Prison Fellowship.

Additionally, GEO’s Continuum of Care® division partnered with Lean on Me USA, as well as Prison Fellowship, to establish a mentoring team consisting of local professionals and graduates of the GEO CoC program to encourage and motivate youthful offenders at Everglade Youth Academy. The pilot program encouraged participants to start the re-entry process as early as possible to reduce the risk of generational incarceration. In addition, 750 bibles were donated to Everglades and other Youth Academy facilities in Florida.

GEO’s involvement with Prison Fellowship has gone well beyond our participation in their nationwide Angel Tree program. Last year several of our Chaplains received special recognition awards for dramatically increasing the number of participating parents. 

Prison Fellowship also sponsors the “The Urban Ministry Institute” at GEO’s South Bay Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility. This is a two-year theological program designed to turn “prisoners into pastors” and equip them to meaningfully engage their communities upon their return to their neighborhoods. This year, we are pleased to announce an expansion of opportunities with Prison Fellowship which additional education and reentry program through their Prison Fellowship Academy at the Alabama Therapeutic Education Center in Columbiana, Alabama. GEO will be working with PF to expand this re-entry program into several of our facilities through the rest of the year.  

Since 2019, the Director of Prison Ministry for Catholic Charities in Palm Beach Florida, has led a team of six third-year seminaries from the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary to visit the South Bay Correctional and Rehabilitation facility. By coordinating with GEO’s Manager for Faith-Based Services, the group has experienced success in ministering to the spiritual needs of the men at South Bay. Every visit includes cell-side prayer, individual spiritual advisement and encouragement, and the distribution of religious materials. 

GEO’s partnership with the Prison Ministry is focused on the mutual understanding that “transforming” lives includes addressing the spiritual needs of those in their care. Both organizations realize incalculable dividends from this close working relationship. 

“We look forward to many more years of ministry together for the benefit of the individuals we serve, but also the communities to which they return. I pray that the time we spend serving justice-involved individuals continues to be a touchstone for them as they progress on their spiritual journey.” 

Deacon Gregory C. Quinn M.A. 

Director of Prison Ministry 

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach

Deep Heart Musical Theatre Troupe of Nevada is a professional performing arts organization of eight individuals working to inspire and stimulate the creative intelligence of those behind bars. The performers express God’s vast reach and the unconditional love of Jesus Christ through circus acts, French ballet, Latin Flamenco dance, world class magic, Taekwondo, Hip-hop, Afro-Brazilian Capoeira, Irish Step dance and Native American Tribal dance. Using performative art, we attempt to shed light on the challenges of prison life. 

The group’s mission originated from their own personal experiences with healing through Christ. In order to appeal to all individuals no matter their background, the group does not subscribe to one particular denomination or religious affiliation, and they have performed in over 300 prisons across the nation. In 2021, Deep Heart partnered with GEO’s Faith-Based Services division to deliver eight performances to more than 3,600 men at GEO’s Arizona and Indiana State Correctional Facilities. 

“It is by partnering with such like-minded individuals like those at GEO that we can effectively impact the lives of our returning brethren. And for those not going home, they can become a catalyst of change within the walls of their community when genuinely touched by God. I hope this is the beginning of a long-standing relationship between Deep Heart and GEO as we seek to inspire, instill hope, and encourage men and women to pursue radical, transformative, positive change in their lives.” 

Abraham Woroniecki 

Director, Deep Heart Musical Theatre Troupe of Nevada