"I pray before each court case begins,” Judge Judith Hawkins told the congregation at Beacon Light Church. “God has placed me in a position where I can give individuals some time to regroup and decide where they are in life. At times, that’s just what they need. And at times individuals have come back to thank me for making a difference in their lives.”

Keynote speaker at the Aug. 11-12 annual prison ministry weekend, Hawkins, shared insights from her years as a judge and from her background of training in family relations and child development.

Hawkins presides in Leon County, Fla., and is a role model in her community, promoting service to others and interest in the wider world. She recently received the 2006 Volunteer of the Year—Education award for participating “in activities related to creating and/or supporting an environment where knowledge flourishes, whether related or not to a classroom setting.”

The weekend was also highlighted with speakers Sarahlynn Bristow, chaplain at Lower Buckeye Jail, and Lin Armstrong, volunteer coordinator, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and other local talent.