Going Big with Heather Rice-Minus: Hope Behind Bars and the Power of Second Chances

Most people never step inside a prison. But what if some of the most compelling stories of change in America are happening there?

In this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry interviews Heather Rice-Minus, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship, about what she has seen in prisons across the country and why she believes hope can grow in the hardest places.

The conversation traces the origins of Prison Fellowship through the story of Chuck Colson, whose conversion and time in prison helped spark a movement that now serves incarcerated men and women, supports families, and partners with churches nationwide.

Heather shares vivid, personal stories from inside prison walls, including a woman known as “Turtle” who is serving a life sentence yet has become a leader and mentor to others. She also challenges the “us vs. them” mindset and explains why defining people by the worst thing they’ve ever done can block real restoration.

The episode also explores the scale of incarceration in the United States, the impact on children and families, and the growing focus on second chances through community engagement and practical next steps.

Heather closes with a quote from Colson that captures the theme of the conversation: “My greatest humiliation being sent to prison was actually the beginning of God’s greatest use in my life.”