Friends Fellowship of Indiana, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded upon Proverbs 17:17: "A friend loveth at all times."  Our primary purpose is to be "the Lord's hand and heart to those who hurt." This ministry was birthed when Madeline Manning Mims, an Olympian gold and silver medalist (banquet speaker at left), came to the Indiana Women's Prison with the Bill Glass Ministries in June 1982.  While here, Madeline met an employee at the prison who eventually shared the same vision from God concerning a ministry to women incarcerated.  They worked together diligently from 1982 through 1985, setting the foundation of this ministry. In 1986, these ladies felt called to start a prison ministry in Oklahoma.  Rev. Roe Farris, an ordained Assemblies of God minister in Indianapolis, was asked to take the position of State Director for Friends Fellowship.  Feeling in her spirit that God had earlier called her to a prison ministry, Mrs. Farris eagerly accepted. The ministry has grown under the leadership of Rev. Farris and her able assistant, Rev. Ruth Winstead (click here to link to Leadership page).  Today, the ministry conducts weekly Bible studies, monthly church services, revivals, birthday parties for the offenders, and special classes on subjects such as "Healing for Damaged Emotions."  Ministry leaders and volunteers give thousands of hours of ministry each year to the residents of the Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. While most prison ministries have designed their programs for male offenders (because the majority of incarcerated individuals are men), Friends Fellowship tries to enhance what is already being done by using the identical programs for women and then develop specific programs to meet the many and particular needs of women prisoners. Special requirements are placed upon women as birthers to develop and nurture their children.  Many of the women incarcerated will return to their roles as mothers, raising future generations of our communities. Friends Fellowship hopes to bring self-acceptance to the women before returning them to their homes and families, and to help them develop skills as individuals and to unveil their inner beauty. They can then return to mold confident children, who will someday take their places in society.