OUR STORY
In 1979, the Lord answered the prayers of a small group of men who had the vision to begin a prison ministry in Chattanooga.
In the meantime, the Lord had prepared the heart of a former Vietnam POW who was wondering why God had spared his life. His experience as a POW and his heart for others made Roger Ingvalson the ideal candidate.
As the first Executive Director, he developed and led what became Chattanooga Prison Ministry. The years passed, the name changed a couple of times to its present name, Prison Prevention Ministries.
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In 1994 the ministry felt it was time to swim upstream. Under the leadership of Gretrell Watkins, a youth Prevention Program began. As Gretrell developed valuable relationships within our schools, the doors began to open for classroom presentations, prison tours and one-on-one mentoring opportunities. What began as a prison ministry 40 years ago has flourished into a regional prison prevention ministry.
PPM had dreamed of starting an after school program, when the COVID-19 pandemic this dream became a reality. In August 2020 InZone was launched. InZone is designed to provide early intervention and Prevention Services for youth ages of 10-14 who have been identified by a school administrator, teacher or parent(s), or by the juvenile courts as being at-risk for school failure, drop out, or juvenile delinquency.
Preventing inmates from returning to prison
Preventing youth from going to prison
Through a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Gospel
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OUR STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Matthew Williams, Board Chairman
Southern Champion Tray
Joseph Wingfield, Financial Chairman
Wingfield Scale
Gino Bennett
Hamilton County Sheriff Deparment
Sheriff Jim Hammond
Hamilton County
Fred Boeninger, Vice Chairman
Self Employed
Seth Faler, Secretary
Oaklyn Consulting
Dr. Marsha Drake
HCDE
Patsy Henry
Jay Hildebrand
Alderman Holdings
Kathleen Holloway
Will Mills
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Loranda Siler
Hamilton County Juvenile Court
Jackson Wingfield
Wingfield Scale
Gregory Williamson
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Natalie Woodard
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Angie Wynn
CHI Memorial