Welcome

Welcome to Fortress of Hope!

I’m so glad you stopped by for a visit. My name is Shonda Whitworth, founder and president of Fortress of Hope Ministries. In 2011, my husband, Eldon, and I found ourselves in a situation we never imagined–our first born son was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to state prison.

We had no idea where to turn for help. So we turned to the only place we knew to go–our local church. While our pastor did all he knew to do and directed us to individuals who helped along the way, overall, there was not a support group to be found anywhere for those who dealt with someone they love going to prison.

In local churches we find recovery groups, divorce care groups, moms groups, and so forth. But most churches do not have anything in place for those who are going through the adjustment and ongoing challenges of the prison family journey. (Click here to read more about The Hole in the church.)

That’s where Fortress of Hope wants to help. We provide a safe place for families and friends who need to share their concerns unique to the prison family with others who relate. We walk with each other on this journey providing comfort and encouragement.

No matter the reason our loved ones are incarcerated,
we have hope for a future.

We provide this safe place for families in the following ways:

We provide a NO-COST Fortress of Hope Membership where you have access to all the resources we provide and recommend for you. To learn more about this membership, click here. To go to the membership enrollment page, click here.

We have a monthly Zoom support group meetings on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Click here to learn how to join a Zoom Support Group Meeting.

Text FOHINFO to 888-878-9232 to receive support group meeting notifications as well as other information!

We have local support group meetings in Lubbock, Texas. If you live in Lubbock or the surrounding area, we invite you to personally join us. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday each month. Click here to learn more about these meetings in Lubbock.

We have resources for you on this site. One of those resources is a book I wrote sharing my testimony of having my son sentenced to prison with what I’ve learned from the Bible about making effective appeals to the courtroom of heaven. To learn more about this prayer book, read a free chapter, and see what others are saying: click here.

We also have resources and information for health & healing and finances. Be sure to click the Resources button on the menu bar to find all we’ve put together for you.

We also post informative articles on our blog. Click here to find the blog posts on this site.

We offer a free email newsletter with information, resources, and prayers for you. Click here to sign up for the free newsletter (your information is kept confidential and will not be sold).

On Facebook, we have a public page with information for you. Also, we have a closed Facebook group where members encourage one another and post prayer requests so we can pray for each others needs.

Be sure to like our public Facebook page by clicking here.

Submit your request to join “Hope for Prison Inmate Families” closed Facebook group by clicking here.

Watch YouTube videos with encouraging messages of hope.

Listen to “Finding Hope” podcasts with messages to restore your hope.

None of us would have chosen this path, but we do not have to walk through this journey alone.

Will you join the Fortress of Hope Community today? All you have to do is one or all of the above to start receiving encouragement and hope for your family’s future!

Blessings-