I am really excited to start my 15th season of playing softball and sharing the Gospel with the Saints Prison Ministry! Last year was a special year for the ministry as we visited over 100 facilities across the country, handed out over 12,000 Gospels of John, and saw 1,000 men make professions of faith in the Lord!
Last year, the Saints Prison Ministry Illinois softball team visited 9 different prisons, handed out 811 Gospels of John, and saw 87 men make professions of faith. In addition to ministering in Illinois, I was also blessed to go on two Crusades and on two Federal team trips to Texas, Kentucky and Louisiana (twice!). Between those two Crusades and two Federal team trips our teams handed out 1,285 Gospels of John and we saw 97 men make professions of faith.
2025 was a special year of ministering alongside old friends, introducing new Missionary Athletes to the ministry, visiting several different prisons we have never been to before, and seeing the Lord work in so many different ways. 2026 is already shaping up to be a big year for the ministry, and I can't wait to be part of it again this year!
Our Illinois team is visiting five Illinois prisons that we have never been to before in 2026 in addition to 4 more that we will make returning visits to. I am planning on attending trips to Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Texas, and New Hampshire.
As a Saints missionary athlete, I need to establish a prayer team who will pray for me, our teams, and the inmates to whom we will be ministering. Our Illinois team goal for 2026 is $12,000. I also need to raise $4,000 to cover my travel, literature, and softball equipment as I travel with the Illinois team and on the additional Saints trips to Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Texas.
There are two different ways you can donate this year. You can write a check made out to the Saints Prison Ministry and mail it using the included envelope. Or, you can make a donation online by going to saintsprisonministry.org/donate and clicking on “Donate Now.” Under Donation Categories check “MA Support.” Click on the fund drop down menu and select “MA Support- Illinois Softball-Tom Gibson.”
Thank you again for your support. To see more pictures, updates from our visits this summer, and stories from past prison visits, please visit my blog: gibsonupdateblog.blogspot.com
In Christ,
Tom Gibson
