House Concurrent Resolution 106

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION AND SUCCESS IN CONDUCTING PRISON MINISTRIES.

WHEREAS, Champions for Life, formerly Bill Glass Ministries, has been reaching out to those people who are incarcerated by sharing the Gospel with inmates all over the nation; and

WHEREAS, over the 30 years that Champions for Life has conducted prison ministries, their volunteers have managed to visit well over 2,000 prison units and over 1,000,000 inmates, with over 175,000 making life-changing decisions by accepting and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, statistics reveal that the chance of an adult prisoner not returning to crime when released is twenty-five percent and the chance of a juvenile offender not returning to crime when released is only fifteen percent; and

WHEREAS, Champions for Life has found that the chance of Christian inmates not returning to crime when released is sixty-eight percent, and the chance for those finding a church and being discipled and mentored when released is an astounding ninety to ninety-five percent; and

WHEREAS, Champions for Life will be returning to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, March 28 through March 30, 2003, for their crusade, which is called the "Weekend of Champions" and will feature superstar athletes and various other attractions that draw out inmates so that they can hear about Christ; and

WHEREAS, no other prison ministry in the world has the impact of frontline evangelism that Champions for Life is having, where, according to its "Victory Report," nearly 10,000 inmates have made decisions to follow Christ in this year alone; and

WHEREAS, the Champions for Life's counselors present the Gospel in person to more prisoners than any other ministry in America, which has led to more prisoners making decisions to accept Christ each year than through all the chaplains of state and federal prisons; and

WHEREAS, the 2001 annual budget for Champions for Life was $3.4 million, and the number of life changing decisions for the Lord was more than 100,000, which is $34.00 per decision or a tax savings of more than $730,000,000.00 annually; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds it most appropriate to pay tribute to such a remarkable ministry as Champions for Life, in giving their time and resources to spreading the Gospel to those who have been incarcerated:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we commend Champions for Life on their success of eternal significance in sharing the Gospel with inmates all over the United States and extend to them our best wishes in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Champions for Life and the Capitol Press Corps.