History
Prison Sports Ministries began in 1980 when a basketball team from Los Gatos Christian Church joined a local San Jose league, not just to compete, but to share Christ through sports. Games quickly became opportunities to build relationships, invite people to church, and model Christlike character on and off the court.
Where It Started
By 1981, the group sought new places to reach people and was soon invited to play a volleyball match at Soledad State Prison. That moment marked the beginning of Prison Sports Ministries. Over the next decade, teams from LGCC and South Valley Christian Church visited multiple state prisons, bringing basketball, softball, volleyball, football, tennis, and track and field into environments where few outside influences reached.
A Turning Point
In 1996, everything changed when Don Smith stepped onto the yard at San Quentin for the first time and sensed God’s calling: “What a great place to do ministry.” As more volunteers joined, the programs at San Quentin grew quickly with multiple events each week. Additional sports were added including softball in 1999, flag football in 2003, and soccer in 2016. Through consistent presence and genuine relationships, God has moved powerfully. What once felt like a spiritually dark place is now home to inmate-led devotionals and a strong Christian community.
In 2019, the success at San Quentin inspired a bigger vision. If lives were changing at one prison, why not many more. That shared conviction led to the official formation of Prison Sports Ministries Inc. in 2020. The mission is to help local churches partner with their nearby prisons, build ongoing relationships through sports, and share the hope of Jesus Christ.
This story is still unfolding and we believe God is only getting started.