Dear Friends of Crossroads Prison Ministries,
After a thorough nationwide search, the Crossroads Prison Ministries board of directors is pleased to announce that it has unanimously selected Joe Pryor to be Crossroads’ next President and CEO, effective February 3, 2022.
Joe Pryor has dedicated much of his professional career to prison ministry. He joins us with twenty-nine years of experience in correctional administration, including time spent as the chief chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the senior director of reentry services for CoreCivic. He has also served as a warden and assistant warden. Before he took his first chaplain position, Joe earned his master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with his chaplaincy career, Joe has served as the senior pastor of three churches.
“I love the purity of the Crossroads mission,” Joe said. “Bringing the Gospel to incarcerated men and women around the world and matching them with Christian mentors is truly life-changing. I am humbled and honored to serve alongside the dedicated staff, board and volunteers of Crossroads Prison Ministries.”
The board is confident that Joe is the right person to build on Crossroads’ thirty-eight-year legacy of love and compassion for our brothers and sisters in prison. We believe that Joe’s ongoing and positive relationships with state and federal correctional leaders and his experience with national faith-based programs will propel us forward in pursuit of our vision.
Lisa Blystra is retiring from her position as President and CEO of Crossroads after six years of faithful and dedicated service. We are grateful to Lisa for her visionary and transformative leadership. We pray that God will bless her richly as she continues to serve Him in the next chapter of her life.
“I care deeply for Crossroads,” Lisa told us. “Having had the opportunity of spending time with Joe, I can see that he has been picked for such a time as this. His heart for those behind bars is evident, and his love for the Lord just radiates. I believe that Joe will continue to build on the culture and values of Crossroads and is the right person to lead the ministry forward.”
Finally, thank you for the critical role you play in the ministry of Crossroads as we invite men and women in prison on a spiritual journey of knowing Jesus more fully and becoming more like Him.
With gratitude,
Dan Rinzema
Board Chair