About The Koinonia
Our Story: Finding Fellowship in Isolation
The Koinonia was not founded in a boardroom—it was founded inside a county jail cell. Our mission is born from the personal experience of our founder, who, at 50-plus years old, suddenly found his world turned upside down by incarceration.
The Reality Behind the Walls
Nothing can prepare the uninitiated for the reality of jail: being crammed into a windowless room with dozens of men, accompanied by a crushing sense of boredom, anxiety, depression, and despair. While cards and a few chess boards might be available for purchase, genuine opportunities for social connection and human engagement are few and far between.
Facing this profound isolation, our founder, a lifelong enthusiast of board games and role-playing games, found an unexpected purpose. A simple conversation with a fellow inmate about games they missed playing outside sparked an idea. He decided to act on it.
Crafting Community from Cardboard
By scavenging milk cartons, old playing cards, and the backs of legal pads—and with help from fellow inmates and even guards—our founder began crafting jailhouse versions of popular board games. The first was a handmade copy of The Settlers of Catan.
The game was an instant phenomenon. Demand was so high that waiting lists formed just to play. Over the next few months, he created two additional copies, an expansion pack (Seafarers of Catan), and full versions of Ticket to Ride and Scrabble.
The Transformation of Eli
Beyond alleviating boredom and stress, the greatest result of these efforts was the genuine fellowship (Koinonia) that developed. No story illustrates this better than that of a young man named Eli. When Eli arrived, he was angry, withdrawn, and hostile toward the other men. He initially scoffed at the sight of the inmates playing Catan. But curiosity soon took hold. He began watching, asking questions, and eventually, he played his first game. The transformation was visible to everyone. Eli went from being an angry young man to a gregarious and empathic friend, socializing easily and finding positive ways to connect with his peers. The games provided him with the structure, communication practice, and safe space he needed to shed his defenses, embrace community, and get back in touch with his Christianity.
A Purpose Found
As our founder navigated his time in jail, seeking guidance from God on his purpose, the experience of helping men like Eli provided a stark answer. Experiencing the harsh reality faced by the segment of the population that society often disdains and casts out reminded him of the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
He decided then and there that if he gained his freedom, he would pursue this purpose—to bring genuine fellowship and tools for positive growth to correctional facilities. From that realization, The Koinonia was born.
We exist to use the power of structured play to turn moments of isolation into opportunities for connection, skill-building, and hope.
Our Mission
To foster human connection, teach constructive social skills, and support rehabilitation by providing engaging, educational tabletop games to correctional facilities nationwide.
Our Vision
A justice system focused on restorative growth, where every individual has access to the tools needed to build a life of contribution, purpose, and community upon reentry.
The Power of Play in Prison
Correctional facilities are defined by isolation and a lack of constructive stimulation. This environment erodes the essential social and cognitive skills that are necessary for a successful return to society. High rates of recidivism often stem from a profound lack of preparation for real-world social interaction.
PAtience and strategy
Financial planning, long-term employment.
Conflict Resolution
Managing disputes with family, coworkers, and community.
Coping with Loss
Handling setbacks and failure without a destructive reaction.
Cooperation and Trust
Working on a team, forming positive social bonds.
Our Commitment to Excellence
We are meticulous about the games we provide, ensuring every set meets strict facility regulations while maximizing therapeutic and educational value. Our process includes:
Vetting
Only games that encourage cooperation, strategic thinking, and emotional management are selected.
Compliance
All materials are non-offensive, non-violent, and adhere to the security standards of correctional institutions.
Impact Tracking
We work with facility staff to gather feedback on which games create the strongest positive interaction and behavioral changes.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
I. Mission & Program Overview
The Koinonia is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering fellowship and building essential social skills for incarcerated and justice-involved individuals through structured, therapeutic tabletop gaming programs.
Our games are specifically chosen and utilized as non-clinical tools for rehabilitation. They require participants to practice vital, pro-social skills in a low-stakes environment, including communication, negotiation, conflict management, patience, and coping gracefully with failure—all skills critical for successful reentry.
Koinonia (Greek: κοινωνία) means fellowship, sharing, or joint participation. It encapsulates our mission to restore community and connection where isolation exists.
Unlike passive lectures or simple recreational activities, our programs offer a structured, highly engaging simulation of real-world social demands. Research (e.g., APA studies on TTRPGs) confirms this approach is effective for reducing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, and building essential cognitive skills
II. Operations & Logistics
We focus on strategy and social games that encourage cooperation, sequential thinking, and communication. Examples include cooperative adventure games, strategy games, and role-playing games (TTRPGs). We strictly adhere to facility guidelines, ensuring all games are non-offensive, non-violent, and security-compliant.
In the initial phase, we provide materials and detailed usage guides to facility staff (or vetted volunteers) who facilitate the sessions. As we grow, our goal is to develop formal training for correctional staff to effectively use the games as an integrated part of their rehabilitative programming.
We work directly with correctional staff (Chaplains, Activities Directors, Educational Coordinators) to identify facility needs. We then purchase or create sets that meet strict security protocols (e.g., specific materials, no metal components) and deliver them directly to the institution.
We are currently focused on partnerships within Texas and are actively seeking opportunities to expand our reach to institutions nationwide committed to adopting the California Model of rehabilitation.
III. Financial & Impact
The Koinonia is a registered non-profit organization, actively pursuing 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. Once approved, all donations will be retroactively tax-deductible.
- $50 can sponsor one complete, facility-compliant game set, which can be used by dozens of individuals over its lifespan.
- $250 can fund a core Koinonia Starter Kit for one entire housing unit, initiating a new program.
We are committed to transparency and efficiency. Currently, 90% of every donation directly funds the purchase and delivery of game sets, supporting materials, and volunteer logistics. Our financial reports will be publicly available upon request.
We measure success through qualitative and quantitative feedback, including:
- Staff Feedback: Reports from facility staff on participation rates and observed changes in pro-social behavior.
- Resident Surveys: Gathering anonymous feedback on perceived improvements in communication skills, empathy, and emotional regulation.
- Anecdotal Evidence: Collecting and sharing powerful stories (like the transformation of “Eli”) that illustrate the human impact of fellowship.
IV. Getting Involved
We welcome volunteers for roles such as Fundraising Support, Grant Writing, Facility Involvement, or Game Assembly/Vetting. We also seek individuals with experience in criminal justice, social work, or non-profit management to join our Advisory Council. Please contact us via the form on our “Get Involved” page.
If you have a connection with a Chaplain, Warden, or Activities Director, please refer them to our website. We provide materials explaining our evidence-based approach and compliance protocols to facilitate new partnerships.
Due to strict security and compliance requirements (e.g., no metal, no weapons, specific component types), we cannot accept used games. However, you can make a monetary donation that allows us to purchase the exact, compliant versions required by correctional facilities.
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