Bringing the Word of God to those behind bars is the mission of one young man in sixth grade at St. James School in Arlington Heights. “It all happened one day when I thought how lucky I was to have a relationship with God,” said Tom Constertina. The 12-year-old was inspired to help people who aren’t connected to the Lord. “The first thing that came to my mind was the prisoners,” he said. “Being in prison they think they have nothing to thank God for.” He felt Bibles would be a good way to share God with the incarcerated because they can turn to any page and find messages of hope, redemption or forgiveness. To raise money for his project, which he calls Bibles Behind Bars, Constertina reached out to a Bible study at his family’s home and his fellow St. James’ students. He also donated $100 of his own money to his project. He raised more than $500, which he — with the help of his parents — used to purchase 72 English Bibles and 72 Spanish Bibles. The Bibles are titled “Free on the Inside” and were written for those in prison and for use in prison ministry. Describing why he chose this Bible, Constertina said, “Prisoners, they may be enslaved behind bars, that doesn’t stop them from their relationship with God on the inside. Their life is still free on the inside.” When he first starting forming the idea of donating Bibles for use in prisons, Constertina talked to St. James’ pastor Father Bill Zavaski, who recommended he get in touch with Kolbe House, the archdiocese’s jail ministry. Constertina’s mom reached out to Father Arturo Perez Rodriguez, Kolbe House’s director, who said he would be happy to take the Bibles. Constertina also donated one case of Bibles to Willow Creek Community Church, which requested some Bibles. As the sixth-grader receives more donations he will purchase more Bibles to donate for prison ministry. He and his father set up the website www.biblesbehindbars. com to tell his story and seek donations. Doing something for God was easy for Constertina. “I’ve really just had a strong relationship with God my whole life,” he said, crediting his parents and grandparents for his faith. “God and Christianity is a strong part of our family.”