Jake the Founder and CEO of God Behind Bars, has had a passion to befriend those who are far from God almost as long as he can remember. Having grown up in a big ministry family, he found God dealing with him in recent years in an unconventional way: To bring hope and a promise to the most unloved. To bring transformational life change, in fact, to those in prison. Jake was recently asked why he cares so much for society’s “losers.” His reply: “If you don’t believe in radical grace and second chances, how can you truly believe in salvation?” In the past few years God has shaped Jake’s unique vision: To take God Behind Bars across America and around the world. He lives with his wife and two children in Henderson, Nevada.
Matt works for Merrill Lynch on a team of professional investment managers. Originally from Albuquerque, N.M., he came to Las Vegas in 2002 to attend UNLV, from which he graduated with a degree in business. He is actively involved in the work of Central Christian Church’s Southwest campus, now a thriving worship center in its own right, and is a board member of God Behind Bars.
Bob was a teacher in the Clark County, Nevada, school system for more than 25 years. For part of that time he was director of the metropolitan area’s juvenile justice system. He was head care pastor at Central Christian Church for a number of years and now serves as its chief of global resource development. Bob has worked for and consulted with numerous non-profit organizations in the Las Vegas valley.
Kurt is an executive pastor at Central Christian Church. In that capacity he oversees the church’s partnering relationships and helps with strategic planning for God Behind Bars. During his pastoral career he has personally seen numerous lives transformed. “God is a God of second chances,” he says of the new ministry’s vision. “I know this . . . There are men and women who are currently incarcerated whom God has incredible plans to use.”
Mike is the senior leader of Central Christian Church, which with 15,000 weekly attendees is one of the fastest-growing churches in America. Mike is the father of Jake Bodine, whose passion for prisoners resulted in the founding of God Behind Bars. Mike’s involvement in the ministry is to lead the shaping of general strategy and to partner with Jake in establishing contacts and opening doors in prisons all over the world.