We seek to equip parishes—faith communities small or large, traditional or rag-tag—in every town to build supportive pre-release relationships with just one person returning to their community from prison.

They build release plans together, “roll away the stones” of reentry barriers together, and discover that we belong to one another.

We believe this could empty the prison system over time. And transform each community.

We are building in San Antonio and Austin. Fill out our interest form to connect with us about how you and your church can join us.

HOW DOES OPOP WORK?

ONE PARISH ONE PRISONER pairs your congregation with someone releasing to your area and guides your 7-person team (including the pastor) through a two-year journey of relationship-building, release planning, and holistic reentry support together.

Authentic Relationship

A local church community, gathered in the name of forgiveness and resurrection, has everything a releasing person might need to rebuild a new life: trusting friendship and community, pre-release housing searches, rides to appointments, job connections, funds to pay off stranglehold fines and get a driver’s license, hope.

Mutual Transformation

Just as importantly, this relationship would transform every church. Accompanying one person out of the underground reveals the wounds in the wider community—and often uncovers those hidden inside the church as well.

Parish Team

ONE PARISH ONE PRISONER pairs your congregation with someone releasing to your area and guides your 7-person team (including the pastor) through a two-year journey of relationship-building, release planning and holistic re-entry support together.

Healing & Integration

We believe this gets at the roots of mass incarceration today: by embracing the people and parts of ourselves we fear, we quickly discover that we need—and belong—to each other. And we stop throwing people away.