Passing Through Shadows

Passing Through Shadows traces the journeys by interviewing of a cross-section of ex-inmates from aimless, often violent lives before imprisonment, through time spent behind bars, and back into the community as transformed Christians. Ken Gartner also records the stories of family members (including children) who had to endure the pain and devastation of prison, and what it was like for them. Many people are not aware that families indirectly receive sentences as well, when a family member is incarcerated. This is a book that will take the reader right into the midst of the turmoil suffered by these family members, who eventually came through victorious because of their faith in Jesus.

It is well known that the United States’ incarceration rate of persons imprisoned per 100,000 people is the highest in the world. per capita, with New Zealand being not far behind. Approximately two and a quarter million men and women are incarcerated in United States prisons at any one time, resulting in around 10 million Americans who are directly or indirectly subjected to the effects of imprisonment. This equates to the presence of huge amounts of pain, loneliness and desperation, the universal companions of those subjected to imprisonment whether in New Zealand or the USA. These are the recorded stories of some of those men and women ex-prisoners and their family members – who endured imprisonment in New Zealand, and came out victorious through the love of Jesus.

Ken Gartner is a New Zealand Maori and ex-inmate. He is also a gospel singer, author of Dying to Live (Xulon Press, 2007) and has been a volunteer in prisons since 1993, serving men and women prisoners around Aotearoa (New Zealand). He has also introduced people to the stark reality of prison life by speaking in many churches around New Zealand in the last 6 years. Ken was a teacher for most of his working life, until his career came to a sudden end in 1983 after he served a short term of imprisonment. He turned to Christ after that experience. Upon his release, he enrolled at Victoria University where he gained a BA, BA (Hon), and MA degree in Maori Studies. He has also enrolled for a doctorate degree. He is a member of Prison Fellowship NZ and takes services on a regular basis in both men and women’s prisons, fulfilling a covenant he made with Jesus to tell prisoners everywhere about His love. He is married to Ann, and they both belong to Wellington Elim International Church.