“You Visited Me”
Prison Ministry in Raleigh, North Carolina

All Are My Children
Sunday morning service at the Raleigh, North Carolina, congregation involves between 60 and 70 worshipers. Wednesday evening prayer meetings have up to 25 participants--a great turnout considering the geographical scattering of members means some must drive up to an hour to reach the church. There is something else unique about their attendance, though. Each week at both services, three to four current and former inmates of the nearby Wake Correctional Center become an integral part of their numbers.

Otis Hardy, Dwonne Paul, Adam Marable, and Jeff Barker are among the inmates that have been most actively involved with the Raleigh congregation. An account of this special prison ministry follows a letter composed by these men to be shared with the North Carolina Department of Corrections and others who might be touched in some way by their story….

“We have been blessed by the opportunity to be ministered to, loved, and supported by a wonderful group of people,” the inmates wrote of their experience with the Raleigh congregation and its Citizen Volunteers. The four inmates have several combined years of experience working with volunteers and have attended various church services through prison administrative programs. They describe the ministry provided by Community of Christ volunteers from Raleigh as “wonderful and unique.”

To date, five congregational leaders have completed 40 hours of training and were approved by the Department of Corrections as Citizen Volunteers: Betty Cowick, pastor; Ken Cowick, elder; Don Elliott, elder; Jerry Gibson, district president for Eastern North Carolina; and Harold Weeks, teacher. Inmates were impressed by the motivation of these particular visitors. “None of these sponsors knew anyone in prison before they began,” wrote Hardy, Paul, Marable, and Barker. “They chose this as a ministry.”

Elliott initially guided the congregation through this outreach endeavor. He made contact with the community’s Prison Fellowship Ministries Board and assisted other members in becoming certified volunteers. “Because we as a congregation reached out to these men and they responded,” said Elliott, “we have been richly blessed.”

The inmates realize that many church groups consider prison ministry to be the personal effort of one or two members, supported by the prayers and encouragement of the congregation. When the Raleigh Saints determined that they wanted to be involved in prison ministry, it became part of the overall congregational objectives--complete with a formal plan and budget to support the effort. This ministry belongs to all the members in Raleigh.

Betty Cowick explained that when the congregation decided to become a Transformation 2000 model ministry, members wanted to do something that would require the best from all of them. “We are responding to the Lord’s request found in Matthew 25:36,40,” said Cowick: I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Though some church members are more involved than others, Cowick said, “We found that all play an important role in the success of this outreach program.” Each person has had an opportunity to give by providing items for apartments that are prepared for released inmates. Choir members performed the Christmas program at the prison. Still others have written letters and sent cards to inmates, supplied them with Herald subscriptions, and donated clothing. “Most important,” said Cowick, “is the total acceptance and love shown to each prisoner as they attend our church.”

Reaching Out
Three to five of the church’s Citizen Volunteers, sometimes joined by others from the congregation, attend a weekly Yokefellows meeting at Wake Correctional Center. This is not a Bible study or Christian training opportunity. Instead, the focus is on meeting new inmates, listening to the needs of old and new inmates, and offering counseling and support from a Christian perspective. Volunteers also provide assistance for parole and clemency hearings when needed. Since Raleigh congregation members first began visiting at Wake in September 1998, they have met with dozens of different inmates through Yokefellows.

The Raleigh branch also participates in the prison’s Nehemiah Program, a congregation-wide effort supporting the transition of inmates directly before and after release from prison. It is the Nehemiah volunteer training that allows church members Ken Cowick, Elliott, Gibson, and Weeks to sponsor inmates for passes off the grounds of the correctional facility. (Only men are allowed to sponsor inmates for passes.) Elliott has become an instructor through this program and teaches prisoner-training classes. “He got to know all of the participants,” wrote the inmates, “and has since become a valued counselor to many of them.”

In the beginning of this prison ministry, an inmate could accompany a sponsor to church or fellowship at someone’s home, though only one inmate was allowed to be at any private residence. At that time, the Raleigh congregation’s Wednesday evening prayer meetings were held in the Weeks’ home because Donna Weeks had a condition that kept her housebound. This meant that only one inmate had the opportunity to attend the official prayer service each week.

During the course of 1999, pass rules were tightened up by a new superintendent. Each inmate had to identify a single sponsor to take them on passes, as opposed to past policy that allowed them to go with any qualified sponsor. Inmates were no longer allowed to go to meetings at private residences, but could attend regularly scheduled meetings at churches or for Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous. A meal at a sponsor’s home or restaurant could still be provided en route to the meeting or on the trip back to Wake.

“Instead of complaining about the changes, or giving up,” wrote the inmates, “they simply modified how they interfaced with us to continue, and even improve upon, their ministry within the new rules.” The new pass rules, combined with the fact Donna Weeks had received a healing blessing allowing her to leave home for the first time in seven years, led to official Wednesday evening prayer services at the Raleigh congregation. Now each sponsor had a reason to schedule an inmate two times a week.

Sponsors found themselves with insufficient time to take inmates to their respective homes for a meal before Wednesday prayer service. The solution? Members began sharing a meal at the church prior to the meeting. These get-togethers are not limited to inmates and sponsors. Several other members join in this special fellowship as well.

“Eating together as a congregation,” said Gibson, “has been a very significant element of this ministry.” After the meal, they sit in a circle on donated couches and chairs that will later furnish apartments for released prisoners to share the blessings and prayer concerns in their lives. On Sunday afternoons, it is also common for church members and inmates to break bread together. Often the entire congregation goes to lunch at a local restaurant for continued fellowship before inmates must return to Wake.

An Extended Family
Carol Gibson’s first involvement with prison ministry was when her husband, Jerry, asked if he could bring an inmate he was sponsoring home for dinner. Carol admitted that, having never met Dwonne Paul, she had reservations about having him in her house. “It was quite a different situation to have a prisoner come to our home and share in our lives,” said Carol, “than it was to support my husband and enjoy hearing about his visits to the prison.”

“I’m sure my face showed a little hesitation when I first shook Dwonne’s hand,” said Carol. However, she recalls how polite Paul was, as well as articulate and bright. “He was a reader as a child and had honors classes in middle school,” explained Carol, “so we discussed our favorite books.” When Paul left that evening, Carol kissed him on the cheek and sealed the bond that had developed between them.

Since that time, Carol has come to consider Paul her adopted son. She commented that though she and Jerry recently saw the last of their biological children graduate from college, she believes they will be helping Paul go to college one day too. “I can’t describe what it means to us as a family to have Dwonne be part of our lives,” said Carol. “He’s a gracious, loving young man who deserves a fresh start in life,” she continued, “and he’s ministering to us and to many people at church as he journeys toward that goal.”

“We have been in each of the sponsors’ homes on several occasions,” wrote the inmates, “and are treated as adopted members of their families.” The welcoming of these individuals does not end with the sponsors’ families. Hardy, Paul, Marable, and Barker wrote, “We are all known and genuinely loved by every member of the congregation.”

Inmates are encouraged to participate in all congregational activities. “We have shared testimony and given sermons, prayers, and readings at regular services,” inmates wrote. “We have been in dramas, ushered, collected the offering, acted as door greeters, etc.,” they continued. The inmates have also been touched by the opportunity to counsel the congregation’s teenagers about typical teen problems, and the chance to help teach Sunday school classes. “We are as much a part of the congregation as any other members,” inmates wrote, “and we are repeatedly assured that our presence and participation are blessings to them as well.”

Pastor Cowick said, “Our church attendance has almost doubled and our Wednesday fellowship services are a favorite among inmates.” There have also been four ordinations in the past year--the first in this branch in nearly 10 years. Cowick expressed that the congregation is more focused as a result of this ministry and there is a strong sense of purpose among members. “Personally,” said Cowick, “I have never been so busy, and yet enjoying every minute.” Jerry Gibson acknowledges that other factors have certainly contributed to congregation growth too, but the prison ministry program is the most tangible cause. “Whatever the reasons,” he said, “it is clearly a transformed congregation from where it was just two years ago.”

The Raleigh congregation has taken the time to get to know and minister to inmates’ families too. Relatives of inmates have come for Saturday family visits at the correctional facility, stayed the weekend in congregation members’ homes, and then participated in church fellowship on Sunday. The volunteers take care in complying with pass rules by not taking inmates out on passes on the same days family members visit their congregation. They have strictly insisted that all prison rules be carefully observed. “They know and love our families,” the inmates wrote of this mutual respect; “we know and love their families.”

A Place to Call Home
A paramount aspect of this particular ministry, is the support provided by the congregation after sponsored inmates are released. In addition to Hardy, Paul, Marable, and Barker, other inmates have also been sponsored for passes. Two of them have since been released and were helped to set up housing, obtain driver’s licenses, and find employment, among other things. Harold Weeks even spent an entire day helping renovate a halfway house where one of the men would reside.

Marable was the first long-term sponsored, Nehemiah Program inmate to be discharged in November 1999. What he looked forward to upon leaving prison included a two-bedroom apartment leased for him in the church’s name at a nice complex with several amenities. The congregation made the deposit and guaranteed future payments, though arrangements were made for Marable to directly pay the rent to help him establish a credit history. Furnishings and appliances were collected to equip the apartment. A vehicle was loaned to Marable after his release and a loan was guaranteed so he could purchase his own transportation and further develop his credit. Arrangements were also made for him to obtain a checking account.

“Marable walked out the gates of the Wake Correctional Center with more than 60 people in the community who love him,” inmates wrote, “and it will be a rare day that at least one of them is not in direct contact with him. He has a job, a checking account, and a banker who knows him, as well as a car, a nice, clean, new place to live, and more friends to visit and have dinner with than he will be able to schedule. What a blessing! How many more inmates discharged from prison would be able to make it, if they had that kind of support?”

Marable has since been promoted to store manager at a large fast food restaurant. “This is great progress,” said Gibson, “for a 21-year-old who was released just two months ago after nearly six years in prison.” Hardy was paroled shortly thereafter. He has plans to form a not-for-profit corporation that will provide transitional ministry for others being released from prison. Hardy has already gained significant interdenominational support for this project, which will remain closely tied to the Community of Christ.

Thanks to the Raleigh congregation, many more Nehemiah Program participants will have these types of opportunities. Hardy, Paul, Marable, and Barker wrote that they consider it a privilege and a blessing to be part of this group. They stated, “This congregation practices a relational ministry that proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Christ seven days a week.”

-Kendra Friend reporting
August 2000 Herald