An organization whose main purpose is to be a national community of reconciliation and restoration to people in the prison system, their families and their victims, will hold a special event in Cochrane this Friday night (October 20).

Prison Fellowship Canada are hosting a Partnership Banquet at the Cochrane Alliance Church.

Tony Hilling, Regional Representative for Community Engagement with the group says they're trying to accomplish three things that evening.

"We want to raise our profile both in Alberta and in the southern part of the province.  We want to inspire new volunteers to come and assist us in this great ministry and we obvioulsy want to raise funds.  We're not supported in any way but by private funds.  This is one of the ways we attempt to do that, have a good meal, bring in some wholesome entertainment and ask people to consider volunteering and donating."

The evening features Christian humourist and author Phil Callaway and singer-songwriter Carly Reirson.  Well known television personality Darrel Janz will emcee the event.  

Hilling adds, "We also have some presentations by our CEO Stacey Campbell and we have some testimonies from ex-inmates to establish that it is possible to change, even when there's been wrong decisions made in the past."

In explaining the work of Prison Fellowship Hilling says, "We work with four groups of people, inmates, ex-inmates, their families and their victims.  As part of that, in the practical sense, we mobilize the church to respond to the issue of crime in our country and the idea is to present a faith based approach to transformation through the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus."

Hilling says stats prove that, when there is some type of scriptural based program involved, the tendency to reoffend is lessened. 

"Let me put it this way,  Generally there's not good stats when there's nothing happening.  In other words, if a prisoner is released the stats show that in 30 days, 40 percent will re-offend.  Our role is trying to bring that down and we've found that in our programs, where the inmate makes an attempt to respond to scripture and come to Jesus, then there's a marked downward turn in those stats."

Hilling says there are several programs that Prison Fellowship undertakes.  "Pen Pal Ministry, one which we call Angel Tree where we look after the families and After Care where we assist the inmate to make a good reintegration into society on his or her release.  That's where we place our emphasis."  

The Partnership Banquet starts at 6:00 pm Friday night at the Cochrane Alliance Church, 902 Glenbow Drive.  Tickets are $60 each, $50 of which is tax deductible.

Tickets are still available but the event is nearly sold out.  You can go online to get tickets here.