ABOUT US
Friends Fellowship of Indiana, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the timeless truth found in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times."
Guided by this principle, our primary purpose is to be "the Lord's hand and heart to those who hurt." Through compassionate outreach, encouragement, spiritual support, and meaningful relationships, we minister to incarcerated women and help foster hope, healing, and personal transformation.
We believe that every person deserves friendship, dignity, and the opportunity for a new beginning. By sharing God's love and walking alongside women during some of life's most difficult circumstances, Friends Fellowship seeks to make a lasting difference both inside correctional facilities and throughout the communities to which these women return.
Madeline Manning Mims, Founder
Ruth Winstead & Roe Farris, Former Director and Assistant Director
Our History
Friend's Fellowship of Indiana, Inc. is a ministry dedicated to serving incarcerated women through faith, encouragement, and fellowship.
The ministry's roots began in February 1982 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the leadership of Madeline Mims, an Olympic athlete with a passion for prison ministry. After visiting the Indiana Women's Prison, Madeline recognized a need for this ministry in Indiana and began working to establish a presence within the state.
On April 18, 1984, the ministry was granted a Certificate of Admission by the Indiana Secretary of State and began operating under the name Free in Jesus Prison Fellowship.
Among the early volunteers was Roe Farris, who faithfully served alongside Madeline Mims. In 1986, Rev. Farris became Director of the Indiana chapter. Under her leadership, the ministry expanded its outreach and strengthened its commitment to serving incarcerated women throughout Indiana.
In December 1992, the organization became an independent ministry and was officially recognized as Friend's Fellowship of Indiana, Inc.
The ministry continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. Roe Farris and Assistant Director Rev. Ruth Winstead. Their dedication and faithful service helped shape Friend's Fellowship into the ministry it is today. After 30 years of service from Rev. Farris and 25 years of service from Rev. Winstead, both women retired in 2012.
Following their retirement, Delores Epps, a longtime Friend's Fellowship volunteer, assumed leadership as Execut Director and continued the ministry's mission of bringing hope, encouragement, and spiritual support to incarcerated women.
Today, Friend's Fellowship remains committed to sharing God's love, fostering meaningful relationships, and supporting women as they pursue positive life changes during and after incarceration.
OUR MISSION
To share the hope, love, forgiveness, and transforming power of Jesus Christ with women incarcerated throughout the Indiana prison system.
Through faith-based programs, discipleship, encouragement, and compassionate support, we strive to help women discover their God-given worth, experience spiritual growth, and find hope for the future.
OUR VISION
To see every incarcerated woman in Indiana have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ, experience His unconditional love, and embrace the hope of a transformed life.
We believe that lives can be changed through faith, friendship, and the power of God's grace. A vision becomes reality when faith is put into action, and we are committed to serving, encouraging, and walking alongside women on their journey toward healing, restoration, and new life in Christ.
