At Bibb Correctional Facility in Alabama, there lives a man who was convicted of murder when he was 18 years old. Due to how violent he was in his previous incarceration as well as his participation in the Aryan Brotherhood, he ended up in isolation — and was there for years.
When officers there first gave him a Bible, he threw it out in anger. But there came a time when he asked for it back. After reading it over and over, he started writing to Christian publishers, begging them to send him books. He had hit rock bottom.
When this man ended up at Bibb Correctional, he was one of the first to graduate from a two-year ministry program called the Birmingham Theological Seminary Prison Initiative.
Transformed by the gospel, he is now one of the gentlest men there.
It was still a hard moment when Christopher Taunton, director for outside programs and external relations for UnBound216, told him he was denied parole. But after getting over the disappointment, the changed man said that maybe God had a plan for him to prepare those who will be released — and even if he spends the rest of his life in prison, he will just try to help those men.
Before that conversation was over, he asked Taunton about help for an inmate he had been mentoring, turning from distress one moment into compassion for others the next.
“That’s just one of the amazing stories I could tell you about the men in UnBound216,” Taunton said.
Impact
UnBound216 is a “faith-based transitional care ministry designed to prepare inmates for release by helping them discover their God-given purpose,” according to its website. It’s unique because it’s led by inmates; graduates of UnBound216 become teachers, leaders and mentors.
The entire program includes 46 weeks of discipleship classes during incarceration, along with ongoing mentoring and structure that isn’t found in the rest of Bibb Correctional. For qualifying candidates, there is also a one-year program that continues after release, which includes housing, structure, job assistance, a church and ongoing Christian support.
Not only is UnBound216 making an impact on the Kingdom, it’s also making an impact on the communities where the men go after release. The Department of Justice reports that more than 80% of those getting out of prison reoffend and return.
The recidivism rate for UnBound216 graduates is only 5%.
When UnBound216 (called Jumpstart at the time) first went into Bibb Correctional, it was one of the most violent prisons in the state. The 1,800 men there live in “bays” of 106 men in an open warehouse-type room with bunk beds to sleep on, one bathroom, two attached classrooms and absolutely no personal space.
When the first group of 20 men attending Birmingham Theological Seminary began, they had to take shifts during the night to keep from getting stabbed.
Now there are three UnBound216 bays, the third having been added just last year. Before UnBound216 entered, this most recent addition was described by Taunton as “Sodom and Gomorrah, having no structure like the wild, wild West.” He has already seen an amazing change since UnBound216 moved in.
For some of the men’s families, UnBound216 is an answer to prayer and they are extremely grateful, but many came from rough backgrounds or have burned bridges with their families.
“There are some pretty tragic and tough stories there, but here the men really have found another family among the men in the program. It’s actually really incredible to see the bonds that these men are forging with one another,” Taunton said.
God at work
Not only are UnBound216 classes being held regularly, but BTS, Ligonier Inside and Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute also have programs within UnBound216’s bays.
Samford’s MTI program began there in 2022 by partnering with Bibb Baptist Association. Bibb County Baptist churches provide textbooks and Taylor Gurley, pastor of Four Points Baptist Church in Centreville, is the lead instructor.
“I consistently hear about God’s work among the students as they study subjects such as systematic theology, spiritual disciplines, minor prophets and hermeneutics,” said Kevin Blackwell, Samford’s assistant to the president for church relations and executive director of MTI. “This work would not be possible without the efforts of the chaplain, Pastor Gurley and Bill Russell (the associational mission strategist for Bibb Baptist Association),”
After going through an interview process and being willing to commit fully to the program, the men who are chosen take classes that include topics like how to be a godly man, husband and father. If they qualify, they can also go on to take classes on addiction and crisis counseling and master’s-level theological classes.
Missions field
Though the classroom knowledge is life changing, what is most remarkable is what these former murderers, rapists and criminals do with what they learn.
They turn around and serve the men surrounding them.
“This is a missions field, so just like any missions field, when the gospel really takes root is when people there take it for themselves and run with it — where leaders are raised up and there’s a church there,” Taunton said.
“So really, we’re seeing a church behind the walls that’s growing and it’s really incredible.”
To learn more about UnBound216 go to www.UnBound216.org.
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