Recognized National Ministry · Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus
|
Prison ministry
National Prison Ministry · Est. 1997

Reaching Those
Behind the Walls.
Walking Beside Them Coming Home.

A ministry of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus — bringing the Gospel to county jails, state prisons, and federal institutions across the United States.

Who We Are

Ministry Born Behind the Walls

In 1997, Chaplain Benjamin Carillo saw a need few were willing to meet: thousands of incarcerated men and women had no access to the Apostolic faith. He began visiting institutions one by one. In 2007, the Apostolic Assembly officially recognized APM as a National Ministry.

Today APM operates across three coasts — building volunteer teams, connecting formerly incarcerated individuals to faith-based transitional housing, and standing beside the families left behind.

"Our mission is to reach and minister to those in bonds, and to their families — building local teams of volunteers and connecting to available community resources."— APM Mission Statement
Apostolic Assembly

Recognized National Ministry Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus — recognized since 2007.

Request Ministry

Connect an incarcerated loved one with an Apostolic minister.

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Volunteer

Join a regional in-custody team and minister behind the walls.

→

Give

Support the mission financially — every dollar reaches behind the walls.

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"I thought God had forgotten me when those cell doors locked. Then a minister from APM walked in. That visit changed everything — not just for me, but for my family waiting on the outside."
Formerly Incarcerated Member, West Coast Region  ·  Matthew 25:36
Stay Connected

APM Newsletter

Monthly updates on souls reached, stories of transformation, and how your church can get more involved.

Northern California
Northern California
Jamestown · Ione · French Camp · Stockton · Vacaville · Delano · Avenal
Led by Chaplain Benjamin Carillo · 8 active facilities
Southern California
Southern California
Blythe / Coachella Valley Region
Led by Chaplain Cesar Beltran
"I was in prison and you came to me." — Matt. 25:36
Our Story

Ministry Born Behind the Walls

In 1997, Chaplain Benjamin Carillo saw a need few were willing to meet: thousands of incarcerated men and women had no access to the Apostolic faith. He began visiting institutions one by one. In 2007, the Apostolic Assembly officially recognized APM as a National Ministry.

Today APM operates across three coasts — building volunteer teams, supporting formerly incarcerated individuals through faith-based transitional housing, and standing beside the families often forgotten in the conversation about incarceration.

"Our mission is to reach and minister to those in bonds, and to their families — building local teams of volunteers and connecting to available community resources."— APM Mission Statement
Apostolic Assembly

Recognized Ministry — Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus Nationally recognized since 2007.

Ministry Impact

The Numbers Behind the Mission

Updated as APM grows — every number represents a soul, a family, a door opened.

27+
Years of Ministry
3
Coasts Active
10+
Active Facilities
7+
Residential Programs
304
Facilities on Map
50
States Mapped
📍 Founded 1997

Chaplain Benjamin Carrillo began visiting California state prisons one by one with no budget and a calling.

⛪ Recognized 2007

The Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus officially recognized APM as a National Ministry.

🗺️ Growing Nationally

From California to Texas to New York — APM teams are being planted in new regions every year.

In-Custody Teams

West Coast

Active Apostolic ministry teams across Northern and Southern California — serving incarcerated men and women in state prisons, county jails, and youth facilities.

Northern California
West Coast · Northern California
Northern California
Calm mountain lake · towering Sierra forest · golden sunset light
Chaplain Benjamin Carrillo
Stockton, CA
Bro. Julio Marquez
Ione, CA
Bro. Firo
Delano, CA
Bro. Powell
Avenal, CA
Southern California
West Coast · Southern California
Southern California
Joshua Tree · Coachella Valley · Inland Desert · Blythe
Chaplain Cesar Beltran
Blythe / Coachella Valley, CA
Facilities We Currently Visit

Active Institutions — West Coast

Access is subject to institutional approval and volunteer credentialing requirements.

Northern California
Sierra Conservation Center
Sierra Conservation Center
Jamestown, CA
Chaplain Carrillo's team
Mule Creek State Prison
Mule Creek State Prison
Ione, CA
Bro. Julio Marquez
San Joaquin County Jail
San Joaquin County Jail
French Camp, CA
Active team
CHCF — Stockton
CHCF — Stockton
Stockton, CA
Active team
CA Youth Authority — Stockton
CA Youth Authority — Stockton
Stockton, CA
Active team
Solano State Prison
Solano State Prison
Vacaville, CA
Active team
North Kern State Prison
North Kern State Prison
Delano, CA
Bro. Firo
Avenal State Prison
Avenal State Prison
Avenal, CA
Bro. Powell
Southern California
Blythe / Coachella Valley Region
Blythe, CA
Chaplain Cesar Beltran
Coming Soon
Southern CA — Expanding
Coming Soon
Southern CA — Expanding
In-Custody Teams

Mid-West / Central

APM is actively planting ministry teams throughout the central United States, beginning with Texas — where a growing Apostolic community meets a significant need behind bars.

South Texas
Mid-West / Central · South Texas
South Texas
San Antonio · historic missions · Spanish colonial heritage · South Texas communities
Chaplain Phil Marroquin
South Texas
North Texas
Mid-West / Central · North Texas
North Texas
Wide open country roads · red barn · rolling prairie · Dallas / Fort Worth
Chaplain Ruben Rizo
North Texas
Chaplain Bene Marquez
North Texas
Facilities We Currently Visit

Active Institutions — Texas

Access is subject to institutional approval and volunteer credentialing requirements.

Texas
Sanders Estes Correctional Center
Sanders Estes Correctional Center
Venus, TX
Chaplain Phil Marroquin
Coming Soon
North Texas
Coming Soon
Mid-West Expansion
In-Custody Teams

East Coast

APM is establishing its East Coast presence, beginning in New York under Chaplain Tony Nunez. Facility listings are coming soon as teams are credentialed and access is established.

New York
East Coast · New York
New York
Liberty Island · New York Harbor · the Eastern Seaboard
Chaplain Tony Nunez
New York, NY
Facilities

Active Institutions — East Coast

Facility listings coming soon as teams are credentialed and institutional access is established.

New York
Coming Soon
New York
Coming Soon
East Coast — Expanding
Coming Soon
East Coast — Expanding
Resources

Faith-Based Residential Programs

Transitional housing and reentry programs affiliated with local Apostolic Assembly churches. Open to all who are committed to a faith-based, structured environment.

⛪ About these programs: All programs are operated by Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus churches. They welcome individuals of all backgrounds prepared for a spiritually active, discipleship-focused environment.

New Life Outreach

CA
📍 San Ysidro, California
Faith-based residential for men in recovery and reentry. Structured discipleship, community accountability, and a pathway to independent living.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 619-428-9582 · Director: Bro. Edward C.

Lifeline — Ventura

CA
📍 Ventura, California
Apostolic-affiliated transitional housing with spiritual mentorship and community reintegration support for men exiting incarceration.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 805-643-0214

Lifeline — Pacoima

CA
📍 Pacoima, California
Structured residential anchored in Apostolic discipleship and connection to the local church body.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 818-896-3840

Lifeline — Whittier

CA
📍 Whittier, California
Long-established program through First Love Church Apostolic — reentry support, counseling, and employment navigation.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 562-692-9396 · Website ↗

Free Life Outreach

CA
📍 Salinas, California
Central Coast region — spiritual formation, recovery support, and Apostolic community reintegration.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 831-422-3375

Restoration Life Center

CA
📍 Stockton, California
Holistic restoration — spiritually, emotionally, practically — for men exiting incarceration in the Central Valley.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 209-430-3960

Christian Restoration Center

AZ
📍 El Mirage, Arizona
Greater Phoenix faith-based residential — structured living, discipleship, and Apostolic church community in Arizona.
⛪ AAOFCJ Church
📞 623-215-6221 · Website ↗
+

Is Your Church Running a Program?

Contact us to be listed in the national directory.

Resources

Reentry Support

Coming home from incarceration is one of life's hardest transitions. APM walks alongside individuals — spiritually, practically, and relationally.

Three-Step Process

How It Works

1st
Virtual Connection
We can schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting and talk about your needs, challenges, and most importantly — pray together.
2nd
Plan
We can help you develop a new plan or support your current one — it's up to you. One of the biggest challenges leaving custody is failing to plan the next step.
3rd
Prayer Group
You'll be invited to weekly Zoom prayer groups with others who have also come home from incarceration. Community matters.

✉️ Sign Up for Reentry Support

✅ Thank you! We'll reach out within a few days to schedule your first Zoom meeting.

🔒 Your information is confidential and shared only with APM leadership.

Family Support

Request Ministry for a Loved One

If someone you care about is incarcerated and you'd like an Apostolic minister to visit — we want to help make that connection.

How It Works

Four Steps

1
Fill out the form with your loved one's name and facility information.
2
Our regional team leader identifies available ministers near that institution.
3
We follow up within 5–7 business days, subject to facility access policies.
4
A trained Apostolic minister or chaplain seeks to visit your loved one.
Open to family members, friends, and congregation members of the Apostolic Assembly, as well as anyone seeking faith-based ministry for a loved one in custody.

🙏 Request a Ministry Visit

✅ Thank you! Your request has been received and forwarded to our regional team leader. We will follow up within 5–7 business days.

🔒 Your information is kept confidential and used solely to coordinate ministry outreach.

Join the Mission

Get Involved

Whether you're called to minister behind the walls, partner your church, or give — there is a place for you in this mission.

Volunteer

Volunteer Interest Form

Before You Apply — What to Expect

1
Background Check
All volunteers must pass a DOJ background check. APM guides you through this process.
2
Institutional Credentialing
Each facility has its own approval process. We help coordinate your application.
3
Orientation Training
Complete APM orientation covering safety, protocol, and Apostolic ministry in a correctional setting.
4
Team Placement
You will be connected with the regional team leader nearest to you and assigned a facility.
5
Ongoing Accountability
Regular check-ins with your team leader, prayer support, and continued training as needed.
Timeline
Background check: 2-4 weeks
Facility credentialing: 4-8 weeks
First visit: within 3 months

Has God called you to minister behind the walls? Fill out the form below and our regional team leader will reach out about training, credentialing, and team placement.

What to Expect

  • Ministry training and orientation
  • Background check and volunteer credentialing
  • Facility access requirements by institution
  • Team assignment based on your location
  • Ongoing support and accountability

🙋 Volunteer Interest

✅ Thank you! Our regional coordinator will reach out within 5–7 business days.
Church Partnership

Three Ways to Partner

Choose the level that fits your congregation right now. Every partnership matters.

Tier 1
Prayer Partner

Commit to praying for APM monthly. Receive our newsletter with specific prayer needs from the field.

  • Monthly prayer updates
  • APM newsletter
  • No financial commitment
Tier 2 — Most Common
Ministry Supporter

Provide financial support and send volunteers to join an existing regional APM team.

  • Everything in Tier 1
  • Financial giving to APM
  • Send 1-3 volunteers
  • Listed as APM partner church
Tier 3
Active Partner

Launch your own in-custody ministry team or host a reentry program through your church.

  • Everything in Tiers 1-2
  • APM training and credentialing
  • Launch a local facility team
  • Host transitional housing
Ready to Partner?

Church Partnership Inquiry

Tell us about your church and which tier fits best. Our regional coordinator will be in touch.

⛪ Church Partnership Inquiry

✅ Thank you! We've received your inquiry and will be in touch within 5–7 business days.
Resources

Books & Videos

Resources produced by and for the APM community — testimonies, ministry guides, and stories of transformation from behind and beyond the walls.

Books
Prison Ministry Manual

Prison Ministry Manual

A practical guide to Apostolic prison ministry developed from decades of real ministry experience inside California state prisons and county jails. An essential resource for anyone called to serve the incarcerated.

Order on Amazon
My Truth Behind Bars

My Truth Behind Bars

Developed during six and a half years (2014–2020) of unjust incarceration in four California state prisons: San Quentin, Pelican Bay, Stockton, and Mule Creek. A memoir of bitter dawns, simple moments, and the extremes of the human condition.

— David Iván Gálvez, Sr.

Barnes & Noble Español — Amazon
Video Testimony

Bro. Noel Valdivia — A Life Sentence Redeemed

Brother Noel Valdivia was baptized while at San Quentin State Prison in 1981. God not only transformed his heart but released him from a life sentence.

Support the Ministry

Your Gift Reaches Where Few Will Go

Every contribution enables APM to reach more prisons, more souls, and more families. God bless you in advance.

APM is a recognized national ministry of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus.

Stay Connected

APM Newsletter

Monthly updates on souls reached, stories of transformation, and how your church can get more involved.

Find a Facility
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Connect with APM

Leave a Prayer Request

You don't need to explain everything. Just share a name, a situation, or simply ask for prayer — our team will lift them up.

Why Prayer Matters

We Believe Prayer Opens Doors

"I was in prison and you came to me." — Matthew 25:36

Every ministry visit, every open door, every transformed life begins with someone praying. Your request goes before our team and before God.

Who can leave a prayer request? Anyone — family members, friends, pastors, concerned neighbors. You don't need to be part of the Apostolic Assembly. If you have a loved one behind bars, your prayer request belongs here.

🙏 Prayer Request

🙏 Thank you. Your request has been received and will be prayed over by our team. God bless you.

🔒 Your request is kept confidential unless you grant permission above.

Family Support

Find Your Loved One

Official inmate locator tools by state and system. Find which facility your loved one is in, then request ministry through APM.

📋 These are official government databases. APM does not have access to inmate records. These links go directly to the state Department of Corrections or federal BOP search tools.
Federal System
Federal Bureau of Prisons
bop.gov/inmateloc
Search all federal inmates nationwide
California
CDCR Inmate Locator
cdcr.ca.gov
California state prison inmates
VINELink
vinelink.com
County jail custody status — CA & nationwide
Texas
TDCJ Offender Search
tdcj.texas.gov
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
New York
NY DOCCS Inmate Lookup
nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov
New York State Department of Corrections
All Other States

For all other states, use the national inmate search tool below — it covers 50 state DOC systems plus county jails.

Search All States on VINELink ↗
Can't find them? They may be in a local city jail, a private facility, or awaiting transfer. Call VINELink: 1-877-846-3592 for assistance.
Found them? Request Ministry Now.

Once you know which facility they're in, APM can work to connect them with an Apostolic minister.

Resources

Ministry Information Packet

Download and share with your pastor, bishop, or church board. Everything they need to understand APM in one document.

What's Inside

APM Ministry Overview

This packet is designed for pastors and bishops who want to understand APM's mission, scope, and how to partner with the ministry.

📋
Mission & Vision
Who APM is, where we've been, and where we're going.
🗺️
National Scope
Active regions, team leaders, and facilities currently served.
🤝
Partnership Opportunities
Three tiers of church partnership — prayer, support, and active team launch.
📖
Theological Foundation
The biblical mandate for prison ministry — Matthew 25:36.
APM Ministry Packet
Apostolic Prison Ministry
A National Ministry of the AAOFCJ
Est. 1997
✓ Mission Statement
✓ National Team Overview
✓ Residential Programs
✓ Partnership Tiers
✓ How to Get Started
✓ Contact Information

Use Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) → Save as PDF

💡 For pastors: Print this page or save as PDF and bring it to your next board meeting or district meeting.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026

Apostolic Prison Ministry (APM) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information submitted through this website.

Information We Collect

We collect only the information you voluntarily provide through our contact forms — including your name, email address, phone number, and ministry-related details. We do not collect information automatically beyond what is standard for website operation.

How We Use Your Information

Information submitted through our forms is used solely to respond to your request and coordinate ministry outreach. We do not use your data for marketing, and we do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties outside of APM ministry operations.

Cookies

This site uses a single cookie to remember your cookie consent preference. No tracking or advertising cookies are used.

Third-Party Services

Forms on this site are processed by Formspree. Map functionality uses OpenStreetMap. YouTube videos are embedded from YouTube. Each of these services has its own privacy policy.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy can be directed to admin@apministry.com.

Our Legacy

The Story Behind
the Ministry

What began as a quiet conviction in the hearts of a few faithful men became a national ministry reaching thousands of incarcerated souls across America. This is that story — told honestly, in honor of every chaplain, bishop, pastor, and volunteer who answered the call.

"I was in prison and you came to me."
Matthew 25:36 — The verse that started it all
The Beginning

A Ministry Born from Obedience

Long before there were regional teams, official recognition, or a national map — there was a burden. A burden shared by a handful of Apostolic men who believed that the Gospel had no walls, not even prison walls. The Apostolic Prison Ministry was not launched with fanfare. It was built visit by visit, prayer by prayer, in facilities that most churches never considered entering.

What follows is the documented history of how God took that burden and built something that now reaches across coasts, cultures, and institutional systems — and is still growing.

2007
2008
The Foundation & Prophecy

Where It Begins — A Table, a Vision, and a Word from God

Every great movement begins somewhere modest. For APM, it began with Victor Prado and a series of initial meetings that asked a simple but audacious question: what would it look like for the Apostolic Assembly to formally reach the incarcerated?

Those conversations bore fruit. The ministry was officially founded within the Apostolic Assembly — not as a program, but as a calling with institutional backing.

📣 The Prophecy — 2008

"This ministry will not remain local. It will grow to become a national mission — and then reach the world."

— Bishop Frank Romo, 2008

At the time, these words may have seemed impossible. A handful of men visiting a handful of facilities. But Bishop Romo spoke with prophetic certainty — and the years that followed began to confirm every word.

2009
2010
Structural Development

Building the Infrastructure of a National Ministry

A prophetic word requires practical obedience. 2009 and 2010 were years of building — not just spiritually, but structurally. The kind of behind-the-scenes work that never makes the highlight reel but makes everything else possible.

2009 — The Curriculum

Bishop Martin Delcampo, Head of Christian Education, commissioned Chaplain Ben Carrillo to author the official Prison Ministry curriculum for the AAOFCJ Bible College. For the first time, prison ministry had a theological and educational framework within the denomination.

2010 — Phoenix, Arizona

A foundational trip was made to Phoenix to meet with Chaplains Manny Gomez, Jorge Molina, and Hector Jaimes. Out of that meeting came something every ministry needs to survive: its financial foundation. Accounts were established, structure was put in place, and the ministry took a step from vision to institution.

2012
Regional Expansion & Outreach

Three States. Thirteen Baptisms. One Mission Expanding.

2012 was a year of multiplication. The ministry stopped being a California story and became a national one. Three separate expansions — in Arizona, Texas, and Georgia — each tell the same story in a different accent: God opening doors that no institution can keep shut.

🌵
Arizona — Baptism Behind Bars

A need for baptisms in Arizona was identified. After outreach to local churches, Pastor Medrano of Central Phoenix Apostolic Church answered the call — committing to enter the prisons. One pastor's willingness opened an entire state.

⭐
Texas — The Lone Star Expansion

Expansion into the Texas District began through collaboration with Pastor Marroquin and Brother Rizzo in the Dallas area. Texas — with one of the largest prison populations in the nation — was now on the APM map.

🕊️
Georgia — Thirteen Men, One Name

Perhaps the defining moment of 2012. Chaplains Nunez, Rizzo, and Ben traveled to Georgia — and inside the walls, thirteen men were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Each one a testimony that Bishop Romo's prophecy was not wishful thinking. It was a divine itinerary.

2017
East Coast Breakthrough

The Ministry Reaches the Atlantic

APM partnered with Chaplain Nunez to promote and establish the ministry throughout the East Coast District. From the Pacific to the Atlantic — three coasts, one mission, one name above all names.

The East Coast expansion fulfilled a geographic milestone. APM was no longer a regional ministry with national ambitions — it was a national ministry with regional depth.

2024
Transition & Expansion

From Prison Ministry to Apostolic Chaplaincy

Seventeen years after those first conversations with Victor Prado, the ministry entered its most significant evolution. High-level meetings with Pastor Roberto Bruno and Chaplains Hector Jaimes and Eli Perez marked an institutional pivot — from the title of "Apostolic Prison Ministry" toward the broader vision of Apostolic Chaplaincy.

This wasn't a rebranding. It was a recognition. The work had always extended beyond prison walls — into hospitals, law enforcement, the military, and community. The new name was catching up to the calling that had always been there.

What Apostolic Chaplaincy Means

Five branches. One mission. Hospital/Medical · Law Enforcement · Corrections · Military · Community/Civic. The Apostolic Assembly finally moving toward the kind of credentialed, endorsed chaplaincy presence that can reach every institution in America.

2024
–
2026
Continued Advocacy

National Platforms, Lasting Foundations

The ministry entered this season with momentum and visibility. A special acknowledgment belongs to Bishop Quezada for providing the platform to represent APM at the Evangelism Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada — an opportunity that placed the ministry before the full denominational leadership and confirmed that the work of decades had not gone unnoticed.

"Bishop Romo prophesied that this ministry would go national and worldwide. We are not at the finish line — we are at the beginning of what that prophecy fully means."

Apostolic Prison Ministry — 2026

Those Who Answered the Call

In Honor

This ministry exists because of men and women who said yes when the doors of the church didn't reach the doors of the prison. Their names deserve to be remembered.

Victor Prado
Founding Partner
Bishop Frank Romo
Prophetic Voice, 2008
Bishop Martin Delcampo
Curriculum Commission
Chaplain Ben Carrillo
Founding Chaplain & Curriculum Author
Chaplain Manny Gomez
Arizona Foundation, 2010
Chaplain Jorge Molina
Arizona Foundation, 2010
Chaplain Hector Jaimes
Arizona & 2024 Transition
Pastor Medrano
Central Phoenix Apostolic Church
Pastor Marroquin
Texas District Expansion
Brother Rizzo
Texas & Georgia
Chaplain Nunez
Georgia Baptisms & East Coast
Pastor Roberto Bruno
2024 Transition Leadership
Chaplain Eli Perez
2024 Transition Leadership
Bishop Quezada
Platform & Advocacy — Las Vegas Congress
Your Name Could Be on This List

The story isn't finished. Every chaplain who joins, every church that partners, every volunteer who enters a facility — becomes part of this history.

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⛪ AAOFCJ Recognized National Ministry
🛡️ We do not sell your data
📋 501(c)(3) Pending
Copyright © 2026 Apostolic Prison Ministry · All Rights Reserved · A Ministry of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus