A door opened: how one church is reaching into prisons
A door opened: how one church is reaching into prisons
For Senior Pastors Steve and Angie Campbell of C3 Church, prison ministry wasn’t part of the original plan.
‘Prisons weren’t on our radar; they weren’t high on our priority list,’ they reflect. “But a door opened, and we had to walk through it.”
That door came through WayOutTV, a channel broadcasting educational and inspirational content into prisons across the UK. When the pandemic began, C3 was already broadcasting on YouTube—a providential step ahead of many churches. So, when WayOutTV came looking for a service they could broadcast into prisons, where people were often locked up for 24 hours a day, C3 Church was positioned to respond.
Their services were adapted and edited for a prison audience, enabling people behind bars to engage in worship and teaching from their cells.
Angie recalls the moment: ‘OK God, we’re doing prisons now, are we? Let’s go!’
Church in a cell
Alongside the broadcasts, the church set up a freepost address, inviting those watching in prison to write in. A team now responds to these letters, creating a vital two-way connection—something deeply valued in an environment where communication can be limited.
The impact is already being felt.
One story they share speaks powerfully of what this can look like in practice. During a service, people in the congregation were invited to step across ‘a line in the sand’ as a symbol of leaving the past behind and stepping into a new life with God.
Watching from his cell, one man decided to respond. Alone, he physically stepped across a line he had imagined on the floor, choosing to put his trust in God and leave his past behind. He prayed that when he was released he would be sent to Cambridge—where C3 Church is based.
Sometime later, that prayer was answered. After his release, he was given a food voucher. When he went to redeem it, he found himself standing in a food bank…run by C3 Church.
Stories like this are a reminder that even the smallest act of faith can carry profound meaning—and, as we know, God is at work in places we may never see.
Equipping for the future
Alongside church services, Steve and Angie are also involved in the Global Leadership Network, which runs the Global Leadership Summit.
These TED-style leadership talks are now also being made available in prisons, offering practical teaching on topics such as self-leadership, social skills and emotional awareness.
The aim is simple but significant: to help people in prison think differently about their future.
By equipping individuals with tools for self-regulation, responsibility and vision, the programme supports behavioural change and helps prepare people for life beyond prison—contributing to more positive outcomes and stronger rehabilitation.
As the Global Leadership Network puts it, ‘When a leader gets better, everyone around them benefits.’
A shared mission
For volunteers involved in prison ministry, stories like this are both encouraging and challenging.
Across the Church, God is stirring creativity, opening unexpected doors, and calling people to step into them.
They also highlight the importance of partnership.
Churches like C3 are playing a vital role—bringing worship, teaching and leadership development into prisons in ways that complement and strengthen existing ministry. By building relationships with churches which share this heart, we can work together more effectively to support people in prison and those rebuilding their lives after release.
What began as an unexpected opportunity has become a growing ministry—one that continues to reach into cells, offering hope, connection and the possibility of a new beginning.
We are grateful the C3 broadcast will now include our Prison Fellowship Prayer Line, enabling more people to ask for prayer when they need it most.
