Inception
After a personal and business relationship that started in the late 1990s, Fred Sloan and Andy Duke decided to work toward forming a prison and jail discipleship ministry. Their past life and ministry experiences with gospel teaching in prisons and jails led to a strong desire to bring the truths of Scripture and the gospel of Christ to inmates. Fred had preached for several years in the Henrico County Jail. Andy learned firsthand the comfort and joy of strong biblical discipleship while he was incarcerated in the early 1990s.
Prison Discipleship Ministry (PDM) was officially formed as a ministry of the James River Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in 2017. As an ordained minister in the PCA, Fred was called by the James River Presbytery as an Evangelist to lead Prison Discipleship Ministry. The presbytery also appointed a commission to oversee PDM.
Fred served as director of PDM and was instrumental in its inception, growth, development, and ministry. He was an invaluable member of the PDM team until his retirement in 2024.
Rev. Ryan Cavanaugh was called as ministry assistant and Evangelist in 2023 to take up the preaching and teaching duties after Fred’s retirement.
Scope
PDM’s service area is central Virginia. Initially ministry efforts were conducted at the Henrico Jail, Richmond City Jail, and halfway houses operated by REAL LIFE in Richmond.
Today PDM ministry activities include teaching and conducting worship services in eight jails and prisons, 10 REAL LIFE halfway houses, and the Fix Ministry.
PDM also operates a residential discipleship program for ex-offenders, the PDM Program House, and plans to develop more. It is an intensive discipleship program for participants and is managed and administered by PDM volunteers and staff.
In all, PDM conducts 30 ministry meetings each week. These meetings involve about 50 PDM volunteers who minister in jails, prisons, and halfway houses, and some who work behind the scenes in support roles.
Leadership
PDM is led and managed by a board of directors that meets monthly. It initially functioned with a three-member board that has grown to a robust and active board of seven members. All board members are members of a PCA or Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) congregation in the greater Richmond area.
The ministerial and administrative staff consists of Ryan Cavanaugh, an ordained minister in the PCA, and three part-time administrative personnel who also serve as volunteers.
Funding
PDM is a ‘self-funded’ ministry. All operating funds are donated by individuals and PCA and OPC churches in central Virginia.
PDM hosts an annual ‘Awareness Dinner’ fundraising event each spring. All donations are fully tax deductible. Since ‘day one’ the Lord has been gracious to provide for PDM and He is trusted to continue His kind provisions!
Goals
The board of directors seeks to grow PDM’s discipleship ministry in central Virginia by:
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