Sweet Freedom: More than just a book!

August 29, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of Humanity for Prisoners. This is the 11th in a series of reflections by founder Doug Tjapkes.

The words “Sweet Freedom” have been a part of HFP’s history for a long time!

That was the title of my book, published in 2006, which told the story of a 10-year battle to prove Maurice Carter’s innocence and get him out of prison.

But there’s more, and much of the credit goes to the late Dr. John Mulder.

John was more than a physician and a nationally known palliative care expert. He was a fine, fine musician! I loved joining him on the piano as he played and sang in our church services.

10 years after I founded Humanity for Prisoners the agency was doing wonderful work, but the cold reality of prisoner advocacy is that it is not a popular topic and raising necessary funds to keep the operation moving forward is a constant challenge.

I spoke with John after church one Sunday in 2011, suggesting that perhaps he and I could do a benefit concert for HFP.

I soon learned that when John liked an idea there was no stopping him! From day one he thought big!

John felt that the music would be even better and more appealing if we added more players and singers. His brother David played the trumpet, his friend Cal Olson played both bass and tuba, Lee Ingersoll was a percussionist and ukulele player…all were singers as well. I plunked along on the piano. John felt the group's name should be the same as the book, Sweet Freedom.

Our benefit concerts drew crowds and raised much-needed funds. We even brought our music and our message behind bars, presenting a program for appreciative ladies living in Michigan’s only prison for women!

John didn’t stop there.

It was his opinion that a recording of our music could also help to raise funds for HFP. He not only arranged for our group to record many gospel favorites, but he enlisted a couple of professional musicians to “sweeten the pot!” Guest appearances by keyboardist Roger Mac Naughton and gospel vocalist Allison Durham Speer made the music even better!

To finish this project, John recruited Brian Speer of the famous Speer Family to do the mixing, coordinated efforts for a beautiful album cover, and then made final arrangements for delivery of a fine compact disc.

It’s a beautiful album! We're now making arrangements to place all of these marvelous tunes online. Watch for future announcements.

We lost my dear friend John Mulder last year.

But, I’m proud to say that, included in his amazing and incredible legacy, there's the production of gospel favorites, performed by a small group of unknown musicians, not only for the benefit of an agency committed to helping “the least of these,” but also in praise of our God.

Our world, so worn and weary,

Needs music, pure and strong,

To hush the jangle and discords

Of sorrow, pain and wrong.

—Frances Ellen Watkins Harper