James is a former prisoner in Florida. While he was behind bars, he developed a close friendship with an elderly woman through exchanging handwritten letters. James didn't know Katherine when he was first connected with her through Crossroad Bible Institute’s Bible...

Meet Isaac, one of the graphic designers at Crossroad Bible Institute. Age:  23 Hometown:  Kalamazoo, MI. I moved to Grand Rapids before starting my position at Crossroad. What you do at Crossroad: I am a graphic design intern. I work with the creative team,...

Sitting alone in his claustrophobic cell, John was losing hope. Falsely accused of manufacturing weapons by a jealous fellow inmate, John could feel the depression kicking in, as he stared at the blank walls in his segregation unit. “Even though I was not guilty, I...

An estimated 2.7 million children have parents behind bars, but their stories are rarely told. An estimated 2.7 million children have parents behind bars, but their stories are rarely told. In an effort to give a voice to these struggling children, Google partnered...

For four years, Martie Van Niekerk has been serving as director of Crossroad Bible Institute Canada. She is full of passion a For four years, Martie Van Niekerk has been serving as director of Crossroad Bible Institute Canada. She is full of passion and energy for the...

David, a Crossroad Bible Institute student currently incarcerated in Michigan, recently sent us a written account of his testimony titled “The Night My Life Changed Forever.” He focuses on the evening he got high and accidentally shot a good friend—that’s the night...

For years, Nathan’s past would haunt him. Guilt consumed his thought life by day and ushered in nightmares by night. “I used to think about what I did and have lots of bad dreams. Sometimes I would cry in bed and just say, ‘God, why me?’” Nathan writes from his cell...

Chian’s life in a Malaysian prison was punctuated by death. As a death row inmate, he watched as the friends he had made on his cellblock were executed. Then there were the rumors and speculation every time an execution was expected. Panic would spread through the...

At Crossroad, we receive dozens of letters each month from prisoners across the world, who pour out their souls to us about the struggles and pain of living behind bars. Many also write about the hope and strength that they have found in their relationship with God....

 By Aaron Mueller, using Anthony's written testimony from a Minnesota prison Sitting on the cold cement floor and his head in his hands, Anthony wanted to scream. He wanted to unleash all his rage at God. Stuck in solitary confinement and left alone with his thoughts,...

Every week, thousands of people across the world prayerfully craft letters and send them to men and women they have never met in the darkest of places. The men and women in prison who receive the letters often say that they come at the perfect time with a message that...

This month, a group of Michigan students from Calvin Christian High School was given the assignment to perform a community service project. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="12" gal_title="High School Students Create Birthday Cards for Prisoners"]   This month, a group...

Crossroad Bible Institute Philippines is expanding the ways the ministry is caring for prisoners. In addition to continuing to provide Bible lessons [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="11" gal_title="Crossroad Philippines"]   Crossroad Bible Institute Philippines is...

Al Bonilla, a retired corrections captain, had a simple vision: to give a blank Mother’s Day card to the 11,000 men, women and teenagers in the jails of New York's Rikers Island. By doing so, he could reach 11,000 individuals and the 11,000 mothers and families who...

At sixteen months old, Robert was found by authorities in a dresser drawer. His body was malnourished and covered in rashes. His teenage parents were heavy drug users and headed for prison, leaving Robert in the hands of Canada’s child welfare system. The twists and...

Crossroad Bible Institute executive director Lisa Blystra and operations director JR DeGroot are hitting the road in May for three gatherings in Illinois and Iowa. During these Crossroad Conventions, they will bring updates from the ministry, share stories of lives...

Author and jail chaplain Chris Hoke visited Crossroad Bible Institute April 15 to learn about the ministry and to read excerpts from his book, [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="8" gal_title="Chris Hoke at Crossroad"]   Author and jail chaplain Chris Hoke visited...

Chris Hoke is an author, jail chaplain, coffee roaster and what he calls "gang pastor." He will bring stories from his unique spiritual journey to Crossroad Bible Institute on April 15. Join us as Chris reads selections from his book, Wanted: A Spiritual Pursuit...

President Barack Obama granted commutation to sixty-one prisoners last week, including Crossroad Bible Institute graduate Tairone Stanford. The people granted commutation were serving long sentences under harsh drug laws that have since been reformed. Stanford was...

Spend just a few minutes with Terry Ver Hage, and you will quickly learn something – she loves people. Her face lights up when she talks about her husband, family and friends. But her smile beams when she talks about her friends in prison. For twenty-four years, Terry...