Prison ministry reaches out to those feeling forgotten
Joe Collins is serving a 17-year sentence at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
in Nashville, Tenn., where he helps coordinate a pen pal
program with members of Christ United Methodist Church in nearby
Franklin.
A UMNS video image. |
By Lilla Marigza*
Dec. 3, 2008 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)
In a maximum-security prison on the outskirts of a major city, some
inmates had not had a visitor in more than a quarter century of
incarceration until members of a nearby United Methodist church stepped
in.
|
Inmate Bill Pelfry attends a Disciple Bible Study class inside the prison.
A UMNS video image.
|
A pen pal ministry and visitation are among just a few of the prison
outreaches to forgotten men at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution by
members of Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, about 17 miles
south of Nashville.
Church members exchange letters with inmates like Joe Collins, who is
six years into a 17-year sentence and coordinates the pen pal program
inside Riverbend. "I talked to a guy who hadn’t had a visit in over 16
years," Collins said. "Now he gets regular cards, and his pen pal and
her husband come out every few months and visit him. His quality of life
has gone through the roof."
Inmate Bill Pelfry looks forward to letters from the outside and the
occasional visit. "Most of us don’t like ourself. We need someone to
instill some kind of love in us. … Give us some hope," said Pelfry,
whose pen pal became his first visitor in 27 years.
Dennis Rogers says writing to Pelfry has been therapeutic for both
Pelfry and himself—helping Rogers through a recent divorce. "I was sort
of in a pity party when I started the letter, but I realized how this
man would give anything he had to be doing what I was doing and be
free," Rogers said.
|
Jerry Nail feels closest to God when ministering to prisoners behind bars.
A UMNS photo by Ronny Perry.
|
The pen pal program grew out of an outreach started by Jerry Nail, 65, a
real estate agent and member of Christ UMC who has been involved in
prison ministry for nearly eight years.
Nail visits Riverbend at least two days a week and says he actually
feels closest to God when ministering to inmates inside prison walls.
The prison is a comfortable place for Nail now, but it wasn't years ago
when Nail's only passion was Disciple Bible Study. The curriculum
developed by United Methodist Publishing House is designed for small
groups and emphasizes not only Scriptural study and prayer but putting
faith into action.
Nail had been an active Disciple student for several years when a former
pastor mentioned that the study was being taught and learned
enthusiastically in jails in North Carolina. Nail remembers that day
clearly and a subsequent calling from God. "A voice said, 'That’s where I
want you. I want you in prison.' It was almost a 'Who, me?' reaction."
Lonely existence
Like most people, Nail was surprised to learn that hundreds of men
and women behind bars in his own community have little family support
and long for contact with the outside world.
Today, however, many are interacting on a spiritual level with members
of Nail's home congregation. They run weekly Bible studies at Riverbend
and invite inmates of all faiths to participate.
In addition to Bible study, volunteer clergy offer regular Wednesday
morning Communion and Sunday morning worship services. More than a dozen
Riverbend residents have joined Christ church, and many tithe their
meager wages—some earning as little as 17 cents an hour. "Once a month
we get a bunch of state checks. They’re from 3 to 8 dollars," said Nail.
"It’s not something you’re gonna run the church with except the spirit
behind it would run any church."
|
Church member John Slaughter leads inmates in study of Scripture.
A UMNS video image.
|
The relationships don’t end when a prisoner is released. Church members
partner with newly released inmates to help them find housing,
employment and other basic necessities. The church invests $1,000 per
ex-con to assure a successful re-entry into society.
Approximately 70 percent of prisoners eventually find themselves
incarcerated again, but the prison ministry offers a life-changing
opportunity for inmates, according to Riverbend Warden Ricky Bell. "They
were on the street. Unless they had family, inmates just didn’t have
any help," Bell said.
After spending 17 years in prison, Marcus Hamilton says he's grateful to
church members for providing an instant support system after his
release. "It’s just so many things you have to do that normal, everyday
people already have … like a driver’s license, ID, insurance, finding
themselves a job."
The ministry is just as committed, though, to helping inmates who will
never leave Riverbend. "There's one man there that has over 250 years,"
Nail said. "Obviously, he’s not gonna be out. But he is a member of the
church, and he does the same things that members of our church on the
outside do."
Nail emphasizes that God is a god of forgiveness and likes to echo the
saying of a prison chaplain about the men served by the ministry. "They
made some extremely poor choices," he acknowledged, "but it would be
terrible to be judged by the worst thing you ever did in your life for
the rest of your life."
*Marigza is a freelance producer in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Fran Coode Walsh, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Video Story
Power of Prison Visits
Related Video
Prisoners Meet Victims
Art by Inmates
Post-Prison Oasis
Employment for Ex-cons
Related Articles
Va. woman creates ministry from prison experience
Bridges to Life gives prisoners new perspectives
Prison Ministry: The Church at the "Cutting Edge"
Disciple Prison Ministry: ‘God Puts Skin on His Love’
Horizon uses interfaith dorm to transform prison inmates
Restorative Justice: An Ounce of Prevention
Articles about Restorative Justice
Resources
UMC.org Profile: Jerry Nail
Tennessee Conference Prison Ministries
Christ United Methodist Church
Restorative Ministries
Disciple Bible Study |
Translate
Korean News
