Yokefellow Prison Ministry of N.C., Inc. is an interdenominational, racially-diverse Christian ministry of reconciliation begun in 1969 (and incorporated in 1972), which includes both lay and clergy, male and female. It is founded on the idea that people’s lives are changed through committed relationships. The ministry is conducted by trained volunteers who lead weekly meetings of small groups inside North Carolina’s correctional institutions. Yokefellow is not focused on worship, preaching, teaching, counseling, or Bible study, but is a ministry of listening, sharing, caring, encouragement and support provided by community volunteers from the “outside” yoked in fellowship with those on the “inside” through the weekly small group meetings.