From August 6 to 10, 2025, the Prison Ministry Cross-Reach Conference convened in Toronto, Canada. This event, co-sponsored by the North American Division (NAD), and the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and brought together ministry leaders, volunteers, and partners involved in outreach to incarcerated individuals and returning citizens.

The leadership team included Andre Bill Watson Payne, NAD Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director, Cleveland Houser, NAD Prison Ministry coordinator, Andrew King, Compassionate Ministries director for the Ontario Conference, Anika Anderson, NAD Event Management Services assistant director, Franklin Dorsey, NAD associate professional, and the NAD Prison Ministry planning committee. 

Presentations were delivered by a range of speakers, including preachers and chaplains, representatives from the Canadian justice system, and organizations connected to prison ministry and reentry support, such as Amazing Facts, juvenile-focused ministries, transitional housing providers, and youth support organizations.

Workshop topics encompassed volunteer recruitment, ministering to marginalized populations and sex offenders, transitional housing, and youth ministry. 

Payne delivered the Sabbath (Saturday) message and also presented on mission and prison ministry. Devotionals were led by Mansfield Edwards, Ontario Conference director of Seniors Ministry, and J. Alfred Johnson, former NAD director of Adult Ministries. The schedule also included a presentation from Don’t Follow Me Youth Support Organization in Nashville, Tennessee, an initiative founded by Houser and led by former offenders, as well as a session by Damien Johnson focused on strategies for recruiting younger volunteers for prison ministry.

A panel discussion on reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals was moderated by Justice Donald McCloud of the Ontario Court of Justice and included people with lived experience of incarceration and representatives from organizations serving individuals in custody and returning citizens.

Additional presentations were offered by Shirley Buchanan, vice president of program and missions for Prison Fellowship, Rosie Kennedy, a women’s ministry advocate, Christopher Clark, Prison Ministry director from Lake Region Conference, and Noel Richards, chaplain at McMurtry Youth Center, with an emphasis on reaching diverse incarcerated populations.

The conference concluded with a formal banquet recognizing more than 80 individuals for their contributions to prison ministry. Organizers said the event emphasized collaboration, shared learning, and best practices to support ongoing ministry efforts.

Dr. Cleveland Houser is the North American Division’s Prison Ministry coordinator and executive director of Don’t Follow Me, an anti-drug and alcohol youth support initiative aimed at keeping young people away from the harmful effects of substance abuse, particularly within the prison environment.

The original article was published on the North American Division news site.