Staff
Thomas Snow
Thomas Snow is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry. Thomas also serves as a Regional Director for NewLife Behaviors. The Tennessee Prison Ministry is currently composed of approximately 250 volunteers from 30 congregations, conducting worship services, Bible classes, and NewLife Behavior classes across the state. Thomas also oversees two board approved halfway houses, New Life Transitional, and directs an annual summer camp for children of the incarcerated. Thomas travels across the state, speaking and conducting training sessions for churches seeking involvement in prison ministry.
Previously, Thomas served fifteen years as the full-time Pulpit Minister for the Trinity Lane Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. Thomas is a graduate of Freed Hardeman University (B.A.), Middle Tennessee State University (M.A.), Lipscomb University (M.A.R., and M.Div) and Harding School of Theology (D.Min). Thomas and his wife Donna have four children. The Snows live in Madison, Tennessee.
Grant Carey
Grant Carey is the Assistant Director of the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry. His responsibilities include coordinating volunteer services in the state prisons and county jails. Grant is the chaplain for the Sumner County jail and coordinator for the Sumner County Homeward Bound Program. Grant has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Amridge University and is a Senior at Lipscomb University. Grant responded to the gospel in 1986 while incarcerated at age 19 in Indiana. He shares his story with prisoners and congregations, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel. Grant is married and has 4 grandchildren between 2 & 14.
Carole McDonald
Carole McDonald, a member at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, first began working with the ministry in 2001. In 2005, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW).
Currently, Carole teaches several classes in Death Row/Segregation, Special Needs, new admissions, and the Closed Unit at the TPFW. Carole also spends one day a week at TPFW working in the Chaplain’s office as a Volunteer Chaplain. Carole serves as secretary to the Community Resource Board at TPFW. She also serves on the Community Resource Board at Turney Center and as secretary to the Tennessee Community Resource Board. She also serves on the Executive Committee of that board.
In 2010, Carole began teaching the New Life Behavior/CASA curriculum at the Davidson County Female Correctional Development Center. Later in the year, she began teaching these classes at TPFW. She has recently been named “Women’s Program Coordinator” for the ministry.
Naomi Hurt
Naomi Hurt serves as an assistant with the prison ministry concerning all office responsibilities. Prior to joining the ministry, Naomi was incarcerated on numerous occasions related to illegal behavior to support her drug addiction. She found the Lord upon her last incarceration at TPFW in 2008. Upon her release she entered the New Life Transitional House, sponsored by this ministry. Upon completion, she moved into independent housing and began volunteering at the ministry. Now, she has joined the staff. Naomi has a powerful story of God’s grace, her recovery from addiction and the transformation possible through Christ. She now is able to return to the prisons and local jails to share her story with the incarcerated.
Helen and Harold Cox - Directors Emeritus
The Tennessee Prison Ministry had its beginning in 1963 with the work of Harold and Helen Cox of the Madison Church of Christ. They began the ministry by volunteering at the Nashville jail. In 1984, the Coxes and Ron Goodman formed the Federal Prison Outreach Ministry, a team of volunteers dedicated to traveling across the nation to conduct life-skill seminars in federal prisons. Harold and Helen Cox are recognized as Directors Emeritus of the ministry. In 2012, Helen retired from the ministry and Harold retired in March, 2013. On April 16, 2013, Harold and Helen were recognized for the Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years of service.
