OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY FOR A SUCCESSFUL RETURN INTO SOCIETY

Partner with us, make a difference & transform lives.

Beyond Incarceration

Freedom from Within equips and empowers prisoners to Unleash the Masterpiece already inside of them to live meaningful and productive lives inside and outside of prison.

Cliff and Sue Parrish have been ministering inside the prison system for more than ten years now, investing thousands of hours in prisoners, prison staff, and prison leadership, identifying issues, and creating programs to empower those behind bars. 

Cliff and Sue built Freedom from Within on top of a framework for transformation which has been researched, developed, and practiced over the last 35 years. Together, they have leveraged this framework to equip and empower those incarcerated to Unleash the Masterpiece in themselves, their relationships, groups, organizations, and communities. Over the years, a program consisting of four connected courses has been developed called Transformational Rhythms, which has proven successful in restoring the broken to wholeness, breaking generational issues, and restoring a positive legacy for future generations

The numbers are great, but our faith is greater.

At this moment, roughly 2 million people are incarcerated in the United States
Those who get out find themselves unemployable and often outcast or forgotten. When a person is released to your community, how important is it to you that they are transformed to a point that you can call them your friend?

90%

of all people in custody
will return back to our communities

600,000

people will be released
in any given year.

50%

will commit another
crime and return to prison in 3 years

Unleash the Masterpiece

At Freedom from Within, we believe that God has created every person in His image, as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, waiting to be fully unleashed. Our programs are designed to create personal freedom by teaching life skills and personal growth principles that come from God’s Word.

Live it to Give It

We believe the best people to train new volunteers are those that have had a personal revelation with our program.

Transformational Rhythms

The Transformational Rhythms Program provides guidance for all aspects of our lives, offering principles, practices, and tools to empower students in four distinct contexts.

2nd Chance Hiring Network

The unemployment rate for ex-felons is 5x higher than the general population. Our 2nd Chance Hiring Network helps our students find employment and improve their lives, benefiting their loved ones and community.

Live it to Give it

We believe the best people to train new volunteers are those who have gone through our program, done the work, and experienced personal transformation. We believe that our Alumni who have been released from prison are the best people to train new volunteers, equipping them to lead the program in prisons. We see this as a primary key to reaching more prisons throughout the state of Illinois and the US.

  • Speaking engagements

  • Guest Visits

  • Events and Activities

Book our transformative workshop experience at your prison facility.

Our Impact

  • I’ve been around for a while; 3 decades of consecutive years on incarceration. Over those years I’ve compiled an impressive amount of program certificates, but none of those previous ones are as impactful as the ones from Freedom From Within.

    Prisoner

  • I am revealing the masterpiece to myself and the world though I fail from time to time, I am still as Ephesians 2:10 states “A Masterpiece.” I seek, to widely impact the world by showing people they are of value. Just as Cliff Parrish told me.

    Prisoner

  • A few years ago I had the privilege of working together with Cliff and Sue. The lessons taught in Freedom From Within were part of their daily walk and life within their company. It was a great time of personal learning, growth, and application for me.

    Steve Bailey, Volunteer

Proud Community of over 1200+ Graduates!

Help individuals in custody develop the skills and mindset for a successful transition back into society. Our heart is to support individuals in custody with the resources to thrive post-release.