The Valley of Dry Bones

A Call to the Church to Stand with Returning Citizens

Few images in scripture are as haunting—and as hopeful—as Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. A prophet stands in a wasteland littered with bones, remnants of lives that once held promise. God asks him a question that feels almost cruel in its obviousness: “Can these bones live?”-Ezekiel 37:3 It’s a question that echoes today in a place Ezekiel never saw but would have understood intuitively: the modern prison.

Prisons, like Ezekiel’s valley, are full of people society has written off as “too far gone,” “beyond repair,” or “better forgotten.” Yet the dry bones vision is not a story about death—it’s a story about what can happen when we refuse to accept that death is the final word. Below is why this ancient metaphor resonates so deeply with the realities of incarceration.

🦴 1. Dry Bones Represent Lives Stripped Down to Their Lowest Point

In Ezekiel’s vision, the bones are not just dead—they are very dry, long abandoned, beyond any natural hope of restoration. In prison, people often describe feeling the same way:

Stripped of identity
Cut off from community
Reduced to a number
Disconnected from purpose
Forgotten by society

Many incarcerated people talk about feeling like they’ve been placed in a valley where nothing grows. Their past mistakes overshadow their humanity. Their future feels predetermined. Their present feels suspended. The dryness is not just physical confinement—it’s emotional, relational, and spiritual desolation.

🌬️ 2. The Question “Can These Bones Live?” Mirrors Society’s Doubt About Redemption

When God asks Ezekiel whether the bones can live, the prophet doesn’t say yes or no. He says, “Only you know.” That’s the tension we live with today.

We debate whether people can truly change.
We argue about punishment versus rehabilitation.
We question whether someone who has done harm deserves another chance.

The valley forces us to confront our assumptions about human potential. Prisons force us to confront them too. The question is not whether transformation is possible—it’s whether we believe it is.

🧩 3. Restoration Begins With Being Spoken To, Not Spoken About

In the vision, the bones begin to come together only after Ezekiel speaks directly to them. Not about them. Not around them. To them. This is a profound detail. People in prison are often spoken about—by courts, by media, by policymakers—but rarely spoken to in ways that affirm their humanity or potential. Change begins when someone:

Calls a person by their name.
Sees their story beyond their crime.
Speaks hope into a place defined by despair.
Treats them as capable of growth.

Words alone don’t fix everything, but they can spark the first movement of bones coming together.

💨 4. The Breath of Life Represents What Prisons Cannot Provide Alone

In Ezekiel’s vision, the bones come together, flesh appears, skin covers them—but they are still lifeless until the breath enters them. This breath symbolizes:

Purpose
Dignity
Connection
Hope
A future

Prisons can enforce structure, routine, and discipline. But they cannot breathe life into a person. That requires:

Community
Education
Mentorship
Healing
Opportunity
Belief

The breath comes from outside the system—through relationships, programs, and the willingness of society to see incarcerated people as more than their worst moment.

🌱 5. The Valley Becomes an Army of the Restored, Not the Perfect

When the bones rise, they don’t become an army of flawless saints. They become an army of people who were once written off. That’s the heart of the analogy:

The vision is not about perfection.
It’s about restoration.

Many people leave prison determined to rebuild their lives, reconnect with family, contribute to their communities, and break cycles of harm. But they face barriers that often feel as impossible as resurrecting dry bones:

Stigma
Employment discrimination
Housing restrictions
Lack of support
Trauma
Chronic health issues
Aging behind bars

Yet, like the bones in the valley, many rise anyway—slowly, painfully, but powerfully.

🔥 6. The Valley Teaches Us That Transformation Is Collective, Not Individual

Ezekiel doesn’t resurrect the bones alone. The bones don’t resurrect themselves. The breath doesn’t come from within the bones. Transformation is a collaborative act. Likewise, prison reform, reentry success, and personal transformation require:

Community investment
Policy change
Compassionate leadership
Restorative justice
Support networks
Public imagination

The valley becomes a place of life only when multiple forces work together.

🌄 7. The Valley Is Not the End of the Story

The Valley of Dry Bones is not a story about death—it’s a story about what happens when we refuse to let death, despair, or desolation have the final word. Prisons can feel like valleys of dry bones. But the vision reminds us:

No one is beyond restoration.
No life is too fractured to be rebuilt.
No story is too broken to be rewritten.
No valley is too barren for hope to grow.

The question “Can these bones live?” is not a test of the bones. It’s a test of our imagination, our compassion, and our willingness to believe in the possibility of transformation. And if Ezekiel’s vision teaches us anything, it’s this:

Dry bones can rise. But only if we dare to see life where others see only death.

⚖️ 8. The Valley: What Returning Citizens Face

Ezekiel describes the bones as “very dry.” That’s not just death—it’s abandonment. Many returning citizens experience the same:

No ID
No housing
No job
No community
No sense of belonging
Nationally, many states see 40–60% of people return to prison within three years and 82% are rearrested within 10 years, showing how long incarceration impacts behavior and opportunity^[1].

The valley is deep. These rates reflect not just individual choices but systemic barriers to reintegration. Based on the latest statistics, the state of Michigan is a bright spot.

Michigan’s recidivism rate is just 21%—the lowest in state history

79% of people on parole do not return to prison. Michigan’s success is not magic. It’s ministry in motion—practical supports that mirror the heart of the Gospel.

🌬️ 9. When God Says “Prophesy to These Bones”

In Ezekiel 37, God doesn’t tell the prophet to walk away. He tells him to speak life. Michigan’s reentry model does exactly that:

Helping people get state IDs and driver’s licenses.
Providing transitional housing.
Offering skilled trades training and post‑secondary education.
Connecting people to peer recovery coaches.
Supporting them before and after release.

These are not just programs—they are acts of restoration. They are the modern equivalent of Ezekiel speaking to the bones.

💨 10. The Breath: What Programs Alone Cannot Give

In the vision, the bones come together, flesh appears, skin covers them—but there is no breath until God sends it. Reentry programs can:

Train
House
Supervise
Prepare

But they cannot breathe hope, belonging, or identity into a person. That is where the Church becomes essential. The Church is uniquely equipped to offer:

Community
Purpose
Spiritual grounding
Mentorship
Love without condition

These are the things that turn structure into life.

📉 11. Reality Check: Not All Programs Work

The U.S. Department of Labor’s evaluation—shows the limits of fragmented reentry efforts:

72% of participants received education or training.
43% received occupational skills training.
Only 2.3% received on‑the‑job training — the most effective form of workforce preparation.
Participants were 5.1 percentage points more likely to be convicted of a new crime than the comparison group.
They were 4.1 percentage points less likely to be employed.
They earned $693 less on average in later quarters.

Why? Because partial support produces partial transformation. Programs that lack depth, continuity, and real‑world connection often fail to deliver lasting change, especially for individuals with serious prior justice involvement^[5].

Bones rattled—but they didn’t rise. This is why the Church’s role is not optional. It is the missing breath.

What Churches Can Do: Five Actions That Bring Life to the Valley

These are practical, doable, deeply biblical steps.

✝️ 1. Become a “Second Chance” Church

Many formerly incarcerated people have a very difficult time finding a church that will allow them to worship with their congregation. They are turned away because there is no plan in place to address the “security challenges” that some parolees might pose based on fear, misinformation and prejudice. Returning citizens are a class of the “least of these” that require special handling and care for the church accommodate them. The plan should include how to:

Publicly welcome returning citizens.
Train greeters and volunteers.
Preach on restoration, not retribution.

A church’s posture can be the difference between someone rising or returning to the valley.

🏠 2. Support Housing Stability

Housing insecurity is nearly three times more common than homelessness alone^[3]. Formerly incarcerated individuals often face:

Disqualification from public housing
- Discrimination by landlords
- Lack of savings or credit

This instability undermines health, employment, and family reunification. How the church can help:

Partner with transitional housing programs.
Offer rental assistance.
Create host‑home networks.
Adopt a returning citizen as a congregation.

Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry.

💼 3. Create Employment Pathways

Unemployment among formerly incarcerated people is 27%, higher than any national rate in modern history^[2]. Those who do find work earn 50–60% less than the general population^[2]. Stigma, lack of credentials, and legal restrictions all contribute to this economic exclusion. How the church can help:

Hire returning citizens for church roles.
Partner with local employers.
Offer resume workshops and interview coaching.
Provide transportation to work.

Work is hope. Work is resurrection.

🤝 4. Build Mentorship and Discipleship Teams

Programs in prison like Keryx work because they include aspects of revival, peer led small group accountability, Spiritual engagement and service. Freedom Dreamers and others have created similar programs to provide these necessary functions to returning citizens and the church can help by offering more opportunities in every community.

One‑on‑one mentorship.
Small groups for returning citizens.
Peer support led by formerly incarcerated members.

People rise when someone walks with them.

🙏 5. Advocate for Justice and Restoration

The church can provide a strong voice of reason and compassion in public discourse by:

Supporting ID access, housing reform, and fair‑chance hiring.
Partnering with MDOC and local reentry coalitions.
Educating your congregation about the realities of reentry.

Advocacy is prophecy in action.

Conclusion: The Church as the Breath in the Valley

The path after prison is steep and full of obstacles. But with:

Stable housing
Fair employment opportunities
Access to education
Community support
Policy reform

…success becomes not just possible, but sustainable. We must stop asking whether people can succeed after prison—and start asking whether we’ve given them a fair chance too.

Ezekiel watched as the bones rose—not because they were perfect, but because God breathed life into them. The Church is called to be that breath today. Michigan’s success shows what happens when a community invests in restoration. The US Department of Labor’s findings show what happens when support is fragmented. The valley is real. But so is the God who raises the dead. And He invites His people to stand in the valley and speak life.

Here are several faith-based programs in Michigan actively supporting returning citizens on parole or probation. Notably, Michigan’s low recidivism rate (21%) is linked to strong community partnerships—including churches and ministries offering housing, mentorship, and job support.

🙌 Faith-Based Reentry Programs in Michigan

1. Good News Ministries (Detroit)

Focus: Transitional housing, spiritual mentorship, job readiness
Services: Bible studies, recovery support, employment coaching
Website: goodnewsdetroit.org

2. Celebration Fellowship (Ionia & Muskegon)

Focus: In-prison worship and post-release discipleship
Partners: Christian Reformed Church, MDOC
Unique Feature: Operates inside prisons and continues support after release
Website: celebrationfellowship.org

3. Crossroads Prison Ministries (Grand Rapids)

Focus: Bible correspondence courses, mentorship
Reach: Serves incarcerated and returning citizens nationwide
Website: cpministries.org

4. The Isaiah House (Detroit)

Focus: Faith-based transitional housing for men on parole
Services: Recovery support, spiritual formation, job placement
Affiliation: Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
Website: ccsem.org

5. Nation Outside (Statewide, faith-rooted)

Focus: Advocacy and peer-led support for formerly incarcerated people
Faith Connection: Founded by justice-impacted Christians; partners with churches
Website: nationoutside.org

6. Prison Fellowship (National, active in Michigan)

Focus: Angel Tree, in-prison ministry, reentry support
Michigan Presence: Works with MDOC and local churches
Website: prisonfellowship.org

Michigan’s Offender Success network is a statewide reentry initiative run by the Department of Corrections (MDOC) that provides housing, employment, health, and mentoring support to parolees and probationers. It’s a key reason Michigan’s recidivism rate is just 21%—among the lowest in the nation.

🛠️ What Is Offender Success?

Offender Success (OS) is Michigan’s comprehensive reentry system designed to help individuals succeed after incarceration. It operates before and after release, with staff embedded in prisons and communities statewide.

🔑 Four Major Areas of Focus

Area	Description
Evidence-Based Programs	Cognitive behavioral therapy, violence prevention, and other risk-reduction programs tailored to parole eligibility.
Education	High school equivalency, special education, career/technical training, and college degrees. Includes Vocational Villages—immersive trade schools inside prisons.
In-Reach	Dedicated staff help parolees plan for reentry before release, bridging prison and community.
Community Supports	Housing, job placement, health services, mentoring, and basic supplies provided through regional agencies and local partners.

🏠 Services Available to Returning Citizens

Eligible parolees and probationers may receive:

Residential Stability: Transitional housing, rental assistance, landlord partnerships
Job Placement Assistance: Resume help, employer connections, transportation support
Health & Behavioral Health: Referrals to providers, recovery coaching, peer support
Social Supports: Clothing, food, vital documents, mentoring, faith-based connections

🤝 Faith-Based Partnerships

Offender Success actively collaborates with:

Churches and ministries offering housing, mentorship, and spiritual support
Local advisory councils that include faith leaders
Community coordinators who connect parolees to faith-based services

Faith organizations can join the network by contacting their regional Offender Success coordinator or attending local advisory meetings.

📍 How to Get Involved

Churches can offer space, volunteers, or mentorship
Service providers can join local advisory councils
Returning citizens should speak with their parole agent to access services
Families can call 2-1-1 or use the Calvin University/MDOC Resource Map (Returning Citizen Services) to find local help

📚 Footnotes

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States (2021) ↩ ↩
Prison Policy Initiative, Out of Prison & Out of Work (2020) ↩ ↩
Urban Institute, Housing Challenges After Incarceration (2022) ↩
RAND Corporation, Evaluation of Reentry Programs (2023) ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Labor, Reentry Employment Opportunities Study (2024) ↩

Digging Deeper

Are Michigan’s reentry efforts actually more successful than the rest of the U.S.?

To be fair in the treatment of the data that I referenced in this blog entry, I have included the following assessment to highlight the differences in how the data was reported. It is difficult when combining data sources to ensure that the comparisons are accurate unless the definitions of key terms and methods of data collection and reporting are the same. The Michigan Department of Corrections, the US Department of Labor and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are not all using the same definitions so any comparisons must be understood to be more representative of magnitude than an exact arithmetic interpretation. The data is simple a useful tool to draw attention to the success rate of programs that are working better than programs in other states.

High‑level comparison

Dimension	Michigan	Rest of U.S. (typical)
3‑year return to prison	~21% returned to prison (≈2 in 10)	Roughly 2–3x higher in many states (often 40–60%+)
Trend	Historic low, declining over last decade	Generally flat or modestly declining, still high overall
Framing	State explicitly credits reentry supports (IDs, housing, education, jobs)	Reentry often fragmented, uneven by state and county
Programming	Statewide, coordinated through MDOC with budget lines for reentry	Patchwork of state, county, nonprofit, and federal grants
Evidence quality	Administrative recidivism data, descriptive but not causal	Mix of BJS stats + scattered program evaluations, few rigorous

1. Recidivism outcomes: Michigan vs national picture

Michigan’s Department of Corrections reports a 21.0% recidivism rate, defined as people who return to prison within three years of parole—its lowest rate on record and a 79% “success rate” for those paroled in 2021.

Nationally, federal studies typically find that around two‑thirds of people released from state prisons are rearrested within three years, and a substantial share are reconvicted or returned to prison. Even allowing for definitional differences (rearrest vs return to prison), Michigan is clearly performing much better than the national norm on basic recidivism metrics.

Key point: Michigan is not just slightly better—it’s in a different tier of recidivism performance.

2. What Michigan is actually doing differently

Michigan’s own reporting repeatedly links lower recidivism to “full circle” reentry support, not just to tougher supervision. Core elements include:

IDs and licenses: Help obtaining state IDs or driver’s licenses before or shortly after release—critical for work, housing, and services.
Housing supports: Investment in transitional housing and help finding stable placements.
Employment & training:
- Job placement assistance and employment services.
- 14 skilled trades programs operating inside prisons.
- 12 post‑secondary education programs, with thousands of graduates.
Recovery & behavioral health: Funding for peer recovery coaches and recovery resources.
Continuity of care: Emphasis on support during incarceration and on parole, not just at the gate.

This is closer to a statewide reentry ecosystem than a loose collection of programs.

3. How that contrasts with much of the U.S.

In many other states, reentry looks more like:

Higher baseline recidivism (often 40–60%+ return to prison within 3 years).
Fragmented services—short‑term grants, county‑level programs, and nonprofits with limited capacity.
Weak housing infrastructure—very few dedicated transitional beds, long waitlists, and strict exclusions.
Limited in‑prison education—far fewer post‑secondary options and trades seats per capita.
Minimal ID/benefits preparation—people leave without IDs, health coverage, or a clear plan.

So, while Michigan is not perfect, its combination of IDs + housing + education + employment + recovery is more comprehensive than what many states offer.

4. Caveats when comparing Michigan to “the rest of the U.S.”

Raw comparisons can mislead. Important caveats:

Different definitions: Michigan’s 21% is “return to prison within 3 years of parole,” not “any rearrest.” Other states or federal stats often use rearrest, which is always higher.
Population differences: Michigan’s prison population has declined to its lowest level since 1991, which may mean more selective incarceration and parole practices.
Policy context: States differ in sentencing laws, parole practices, and community supervision intensity—all of which affect measured recidivism.
No randomized evidence at the state level: Michigan’s data show strong association, not definitive proof that reentry programs caused the lower rate.

So: Michigan looks genuinely strong, but we should treat it as a promising model, not a controlled experiment.

5. Reframing “success” beyond recidivism

Michigan is outperforming national recidivism norms, with about 1 in 5 returning to prison vs much higher rates elsewhere.
The state has institutionalized reentry supports (IDs, housing, education, trades, recovery) in a way many states have not.
The direction of change (historic low, downward trend) matters as much as the level.
True success should also track:
- Stable employment
- Stable housing
- Health and recovery
- Family reunificaiton
- Long-term desistance, not just 3-year returns.