1. Walking with Jesus on death row

2. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. - Matthew 25:36 (NRSV)

3. We all die a little bit on the row each day. - Richard M
We all die a little bit on the row each day. - Richard M. Rossi, Waiting to Die: Life on Death Row

4. Marvin

6. In 2014, Dismas International was formed. We are named after St
In 2014, Dismas International was formed. We are named after St. Dismas, the penitent thief crucified next to Jesus, and the patron saint of condemned criminals. We provide spiritual support and penfriends for men and women on death row, mainly through prayer ministry and providing penfriends. Do you think you may feel called to write to a death row inmate?

7. Firstly, are you happy about befriending someone who has committed a serious crime?

8. Secondly, regardless of what crime they may have committed, are you happy to let that go and focus on the inmate as a person, regardless of what he or she may have done?

9. Every human being is worth more than the worst act of his or her life
Every human being is worth more than the worst act of his or her life. - Sister Helen Prejean, The Death of Innocents

10. Thirdly, are you prepared to be challenged
Thirdly, are you prepared to be challenged? You may be asked if you have any idea how the friends and families of the victims feel, and you may be accused of ‘taking sides’ with killers over their victims.

11. Steve Andrews

12. Fourthly, would you prepared to send some funds to an inmate from time to time? I am NOT talking a huge amount. But I am talking about at least enough for them to be able to write back to you.

13. Finally, are you certain you can keep up such a commitment
Finally, are you certain you can keep up such a commitment? You should never start writing to someone on the row unless you are fully prepared to keep it up.

14. Becoming involved with a death row inmate means forming a lifelong friendship. It is a commitment to accompanying somebody on a difficult journey whose final destination is probably going to be an appointment with an executioner. It is going to be emotionally and spiritually demanding. But if you feel called on this journey, come and speak with me over the weekend. Finally, here are just some of the people on death row in the USA who need a friend.

15. Belinda

16. Caron

17. James

18. Frederick

19. James

20. August

21. Jason

22. Dismas International