Bridges To Life
Zack Jonas
From Tragedy to Transformation: How Bridges To Life Is Healing Victims and Inmates Alike
Zack Jonas serves as the San Antonio Regional Coordinator for Bridges To Life, a faith-based prison ministry operating throughout the Texas prison system. With 15 regional coordinators statewide—each overseeing approximately seven prisons and each playing a critical role in ensuring Bridges To Life programs are successfully implemented behind prison walls.
Zack earned his degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University in 2019 and originally planned a career in law enforcement. However, as Zack explains, God closed that door and opened another—one that allowed him to work directly with prisons, coordinating with chaplains and wardens and using both his faith and education to impact inmates on a deeper level.
Building Bridges Inside the Prison System
Zack is responsible for connecting prison chaplains and wardens with Bridges to Life programs and coordinating the volunteers who make those programs possible. He ensures every detail is covered—from paperwork and name tags to study guides and Restoring Peace books—so volunteers can focus fully on ministry.
Volunteer Facilitators enter prisons once per week for 14 consecutive weeks, meeting for two-hour sessions each fall and spring. These sessions are the heart of the Bridges To Life program, creating a consistent space for reflection, accountability, and healing. A major part of Zack’s role also involves community outreach. He regularly speaks with churches and organizations to raise awareness about the ministry. One of his concerns is that many in San Antonio and the surrounding areas have not heard of Bridges To Life. Yet when people do hear about the impact God has had through the program, excitement and interest quickly follow.
The Story Behind Bridges to Life
Bridges To Life was founded by John Sage, whose life was forever changed when his sister was murdered during a robbery in 1993. Out of deep personal tragedy, God led John on a five-year journey of healing that ultimately shaped his calling to prison ministry. Through his time in prisons, John discovered something powerful: true healing must occur for both the victim and the offender. This belief became the foundation of Bridges To Life. Bridges To Life does not focus on preaching. Instead, Volunteer Victim Speakers—individuals who have personally experienced violent crime—share their stories with inmates. They speak openly about their lives before and after the crime and about the difficult but transformative journey toward forgiveness and healing.
Healing Through Testimony and Accountability
One powerful example Zack shares is the story of a mother who lost her son to gang-related violence. Her son was not involved in a gang—he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Through Bridges To Life, she became a victim speaker, allowing God to use her testimony not only to heal her own heart, but also to help inmates understand the real human impact of crime.
After each testimony, inmates are given the opportunity to ask questions. Some stand up and say they don’t have a question—they just want to say “thank you.” Zack has witnessed hardened men brought to tears as they begin to grasp the depth of suffering caused by their actions. The program then breaks into small groups for deeper discussion. At the end of the 14-week course, inmates participate in a graduation session with an open-mic format. Many share how their relationship with God has grown and openly take responsibility for their crimes.
Measurable Impact, Lasting Change
Participation in Bridges To Life is always voluntary. Inmates may leave at any time, yet many wait one to two years just to get into the program. They come because they want to grow, heal, and change. The results speak volumes. Inmates who complete Bridges To Life have an 11% recidivism rate, compared to the national average of approximately 30%.
“God brings such good out of such terrible things,” Zack says. “When healing happens, it changes lives—on both sides of the bars.”
To learn more about Bridges To Life, volunteer, or make a donation:
📞 Call: (210) 410-4333
📧 Email: zack@bridgestolife.org
🌐 Website:
www.bridgestolife.org
