The Centre of Prison Ministry

By Janet Melissen

My name is Janet Melissen, and for most of our 51 years of marriage, I watched my late husband, Arnie, devote himself to prison ministry through M2W2. Over those years, I saw him mentor people in prison, serve on the board, help shape new programs, and keep returning to one guiding principle: keep the main thing the main thing.

For Arnie, the main thing was always the person impacted by incarceration. Prison takes a great deal from a person. Freedom is the most obvious loss, but it isn’t the only one. Work and routine are interrupted, confidence erodes, and connection to family, church, and community becomes harder to maintain. By the time someone begins thinking about life after incarceration, they may be facing the future with very little stability and very few people in their corner.

That is where Arnie believed prison ministry had to begin. Every idea, program, and decision had to come back to a simple question: What will actually help this person rebuild their life?

Good Intentions Are Only the Beginning

Arnie’s involvement in prison ministry began when he was a young man. I remember him being deeply affected by Jesus’ words, “I was in prison, and you visited me.” Visiting people in prison and eventually becoming involved with M2W2 was a natural response to that conviction.

I remember one of his early experiences that taught him that compassion alone isn’t enough. A young man connected with M2W2 received a day pass. Arnie took him into downtown Vancouver and quickly realised how uncertain he felt about the situation. He wondered whether he was prepared and whether he really knew how to handle the responsibility well.

Rather than deciding the work was too difficult, the experience pushed Arnie to learn more and become better equipped. Prison ministry requires people who care, but also people who are willing to listen, learn, and ask what the person in front of them actually needs. The goal isn’t simply to be kind; it’s to help restore some of what incarceration, isolation, and instability have taken away.

Restoring What Has Been Lost

Often, that restoration begins with a relationship. It’s a powerful experience when someone leaves prison not alone, but with a friend on the outside. Someone who consistently visits, listens, and keeps showing up can help someone remember they’re still worth knowing and don’t have to face every challenge alone.

But relationships are only part of what may need rebuilding. Work, responsibility, confidence, and a sense of belonging also matter. I saw that firsthand through the Hidden Treasures thrift store. Arnie played a significant role in the store’s creation. It wasn’t originally his vision for people from halfway houses and correctional settings to work there, but over time, we both saw the effect it had.

I remember watching people grow in confidence as they worked. They were given responsibilities, contributed alongside others, and became part of an ordinary working community. That experience helped Arnie and me see how practical opportunities could support someone’s transition from incarceration into community life.

That same question continued to shape the way Arnie thought about M2W2’s work: Does this actually help people impacted by incarceration? A thrift store, a woodshop, a mentorship program, or any other initiative mattered only if it served that larger purpose.

The Results Show Up in People

We found some of the clearest evidence of that approach in the relationships and lives that continued long after a program or visit ended. One of Arnie’s longest mentoring relationships became so meaningful that the man later spoke at Arnie’s funeral.

I also remember the quieter changes. I saw people become more confident at Hidden Treasures. I saw the difference it made when someone returning from prison was welcomed into homes, churches, workplaces, and community life.

Those outcomes highlight how people impacted by incarceration need more than services around them. They need opportunities to rebuild the parts of life that have been weakened or lost, and to be treated as people with value, abilities, responsibilities, and a place in our community.

The Mission Stays the Same Even When the Methods Change

Over the years, I watched M2W2 change significantly. Rules around prison access changed, new programs were created, and the ministry began paying more attention to what happens after someone leaves prison, because that transition brings its own set of challenges.

I remember how Arnie was eager to explore new ideas. But he always returned to the core question: what will have the greatest impact on people affected by incarceration? That helped keep new ideas connected to the mission rather than allowing M2W2 to pursue projects simply because they sounded promising.

There were also difficult years when it wasn’t always clear how the work would continue. Yet staff, volunteers, and donors kept stepping up. Resources became available through all seasons, and people carried the work forward.

Now It’s Your Turn

M2W2 is now celebrating 60 years of prison ministry. Across those decades, programs have changed, and generations of volunteers and leaders have come and gone.

Arnie and I were part of one generation that answered the call, alongside others. Now, as M2W2 celebrates the end of its sixth decade and the start of its seventh, you have the opportunity to take part in what comes next.

There are still people in prison and returning to our communities who need someone to see their value, create opportunities, and help them rebuild. Keeping them at the centre is still the main thing.

There is no pressure, but if you feel called to this ministry in any way, we invite you to attend M2W2’s 60th Anniversary Gala. Connect with the M2W2 family, hear the stories that have shaped this work, and learn how you can help carry it forward.