wfn.org | Newsline: Author of 'Grace Goes to Prison' plans speaking tour

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

AUTHOR OF 'GRACE GOES TO PRISON' PLANS SPEAKING TOUR

(Dec. 18, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Melanie G. Snyder, author of the new Brethren  Press book "Grace Goes to Prison: An Inspiring Story of Hope and Humanity,"  is planning a cross-country speaking tour to foster understanding of resto rative justice and promote awareness of current issues in the American crim inal justice system.

She is a member of Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.

Snyder will share inspiring true stories from her book about Marie Hamilton 's 30 years of prison volunteer work, facilitate community dialogue about r elated criminal justice issues, and provide information on promising approa ches such as restorative justice and alternatives to incarceration--approac hes which are now receiving renewed attention as state budgets are strapped  and legislators seek better ways to address crime and reduce recidivism.

She will tour from mid-February to late April, visiting a number of cities  including places such as Charlottesville, Va.; Richmond, Ind.; Elgin, Ill.;  McPherson, Kan.; and Phoenix, Ariz. She is seeking speaking engagements wi th churches and other faith groups, colleges and universities, retirement c ommunities, civic groups, peace and justice organizations, prison ministry  groups, independent bookstores, public libraries, and book discussion group s.

To schedule a speaking engagement contact Melanie@MelanieGSnyder.com or 717 -572-2110. A schedule for the tour will be available at http://melaniegsnyd er.com/books. The book may be purchased from Brethren Press for $18.95 plus  shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org