Earlier this summer, May 19, 2025, Life 88.5 (KJNW, Kansas City) partnered with contemporary Christian artist Tasha Layton to stage an outdoor concert and day-long outreach at the Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF)—the only women’s prison in the State of Kansas and currently home to roughly 800 residents.

From the moment volunteers arrived, the yard buzzed with connection. Two tents framed the afternoon: one offering games and prizes such as the station’s “Birthday Wheel,” and another – by far the busiest – staffed by prayer volunteers and stocked with 314 free Bibles supplied through a partnership with Bible League International. Lines for prayer and Scripture stretched the length of the yard.

Between worship songs—including a moving finale of “Goodness of God” sung in unison by hundreds of inmates—Layton spoke directly to the women:

“You are not a prisoner. You are a person!”

She went on to share the Gospel message of hope and freedom, then stayed afterward to greet and pray with residents one-on-one.

“TCF was honored to partner with Life 88.5 and our LEAD volunteers to bring in Tasha Layton,” said Warden Dona Hook. “She provided encouragement to women who needed to hear it and gave everyone room to feel heard and respected as human beings. The event created quite a buzz around campus and opened space for women to discuss their own spiritual journeys.”

The funding for this came from Life 88.5 listeners who bought “tickets to a concert they couldn’t attend: Their funding cared for the logistics and equipment costs.. “Kansas City responded above and beyond,” said Station Manager Adam Hannan, noting that donations fully covered expenses. Listeners also fulfilled an Amazon Wish List for TCF’s Mother and Grandmother Center, donating more than 100 toys, books, and plush animals so incarcerated moms and grandmothers can share meaningful moments with their children during visits.

Throughout the day, volunteers witnessed:
• A woman praying for the first time in years.
• A self-described satanist asking for prayer in Jesus’ name.
• Countless residents saying they knew their presence at the concert “was no accident” and committing to read their new Bibles.

“Lives were changed in real time,” said Hannan. “It’s a privilege to see what happens when radio listeners, volunteers, and artists work together so that people behind bars can experience the love of Christ.”

Life 88.5 is a part of the Northwestern Media Network.