Pamela J. Bates, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, has been in prison ministry for the past 25 years. It has been time well served as she travels extensively to state and federal institutions in the capacity of a speaker, as well as a vocalist. She is also a facilitator for a weekly bible study at the local Allegheny County Jail.

The ministry that she’s founded, Free Indeed Prison Ministry, networks with other ministries such as Prison Fellowship; The Gideons International; Pittsburgh Fellowship of Christian Churches; Lydia’s Place and The Covenant Church of Pittsburgh. “With liberty and Jesus for all” is her motto and motivation.

In addition to the prison ministry and a full time job in the financial industry, Pam has a prolific music ministry and is much sought after as a speaker. She has conducted seminars on various subjects, such as “Single Satisfaction” (dealing with experiencing the joy of a single life); “A Wealth of Wisdom: Financial Success of Biblical Proportions” (dealing with managing money profitably by applying biblical principles); “King’s Kids & Kid Kings” (dealing with how children assumed positions of leadership in biblical times and the call of greatness children are to embrace today) and even hot button topics such as “What to Do When Your Hormones Moan” (dealing with how to maintain self control and a godly respect for one’s self in a sex saturated society).

Pam is a Poet Virtuoso and specializes in writing acrostics for her own company, Pretty Personal Poetry. She is also the founder of My Father’s Business Ministries through which she writes devotions and creates and distributes her own greeting cards. These cards have been well received throughout the United States and around the world. The name “My Father’s Business” bears her determination & conviction: she must be about her Father’s business! It is also the determination (as in ‘conclusion’) that she wants everyone who comes in contact with her to come to: that she must be about her Father’s Business!

Pam has received numerous awards and recognition. In 1991, she was awarded the Finest in Finance by Federated Investors. In 1995, she received an award for outstanding ministry from the Pittsburgh Fellowship of Christian Churches. In 2001, she was given the Volunteer of the Year Award for over 20 years of faithful and consistent service in the prison ministry from the Christian Associates of Western Pennsylvania. In 2004, the Premiere Achievement Award was given to Pam for her high standard of service in the financial industry. She is also the recipient of the 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Justice.