Prison Ministry

prison

"I was in prison and you visited me. Truly I tell
You, just as you did it to one of the least of these
My brethren, you did it to me.” - Matthew 25:36

Diocese of East Carolina Prison Ministry Commission

2007 Calendar Dates

November
Kairos (men) Pasquotank C.I. Elizabeth City

November 30 – December 2
North Carolina Prison Ministry Conference
Trinity Conference Center, Salter Path, NC

December
One Day With God Camp – Pender CI.

Important Events Not Yet finally scheduled

Pamlico CI – Prayer and Share in preparation for Kairos # 1
Visit to NC of Dr. Wilson Goode, Amachi Mentoring Program
(Keynote speaker at December 2006 Kanuga Prison Ministry Conference, and former Mayor of Philadelphia)

Reflections on the 2007 Camp Hope Experience

“Weeping may linger for the night,

But Joy comes with the morning”

Psalm 30:5

This summer at Camp Hope, thanks to the generous support of many individuals, parishes, the Diocese of East Carolina, and the Episcopal Church, 55 children with incarcerated parents gathered at Camp Bob, Kanuga for a special camping experience. The children came from many parts of North Carolina and were gathered at several pick up points along the I-40 corridor.

On the second day of camp, Scottie Barnes, the founder of Forgiven Ministry, spoke to the children about her childhood, growing up with a father who spent most of his life in prison. She spoke to the children’s hearts and they were visibly moved. Even the chaplain shared that his father had been incarcerated when he was only four. He had kept the pain inside for many years, and he found release through hearing Scottie’s testimony. The children realized that they were not alone. Each child was struggling with the same situation, and this realization allowed them to share their pain. The worship time throughout the week was very special and the nightly prayer sessions in the various cabins allowed the children to give their hurts and fears to God.

During the day, the campers were kept busy with the usual camp activities – swimming, crafts, music, drama, archery, challenge course team building, cook-outs, camp-outs, nature trails, canoeing and hiking – and yes, the adult volunteers did their best to keep pace! It was a fun-filled, exhausting week.

One of the highlights of the week was the presentation of 60 hand-made quilts by the Holy Comforters quilting guild from the western part of the State. Each camper was allowed to choose a quilt to take home. Their faces expressed the excitement and joy these quilts brought them. Some of the quilters came to hand out the quilts to the campers. Some were moved to tears to see the recipients of their labors of love.

The closing Eucharist on the last night of camp was a time I will never forget. Instead of a homily, the celebrant invited people to share from their hearts. The testimonies from counselors, campers and volunteers were moving, but what took us all by surprise was the wailing that could be heard as one child after another broke down and sobbed uncontrollably. It was as though the Hand of God moved over the place, allowing the children, counselors and volunteers to reach out to one another in Christ’s love to comfort and console each other. The wailing and crying out to God that could be heard allowed the hidden pain felt by the children to be released and then for healing to take place. By the time the children came up to receive communion, a peace had fallen over the place. Light from the floodlit cross was reflected on their tear-stained upturned faces. Later that night as I tiptoed through one of the girl’s dormitories, I was overcome with the beauty of seeing fourteen girls sleeping peacefully on their bunk beds under their newly acquired quilts.

The next morning at breakfast, there was joy and laughter as the children anticipated returning home, this time with uplifted hearts. On the bus home, one small boy remarked to me, “Miss Jane, I saw you crying last night too!” It was as though I now belonged to their group through the shedding of tears. It was a camping experience I will never forget. Thanks be to God!

Jane Merritt

Camp Hope Coordinator and Volunteer

“The World Sees You as Animals ….”
Twenty lay and clergy prison ministers on a pilgrimage to a dozen states journeyed March 1 to the Louisiana State Prison – once called the “bloodiest prison in America.” Read the story.

“Congregations Inside Create Hope”
Earlier this year, at the Diocesa of East Carolina Prison Ministry Conference & Workshop in New Bern, NC, it was stressed that you have to work outside the box when dealing with prisons, inmates. Read the story.

Camp for Kids
Grace Camp, Camp Stoney, Santa Fe, NM
www.campstoney.org/grace.htm
Camp Good News, Camp Allen, Texas
www.epicenter.org/txepis/sept04/art3.htm
Camp Caritas
Duncan Gray Center, Canton, MS
www.graycenter.com

Epiphany Ministry, Inc.
www.epiphanyministry.com
PO Box 1923
Conway, SC 29528
(843) 248-3677
Executive Director: Peggy New
pnew@epiphanyministry.org
Changing the lives of incarcerated youth through a 3- day
short course in Christianity and an on-going follow-up process.
Epiphany’s mission: “To show Christ’s love to incarcerated youth.”

Federal Prison Visitation Support
www.prisonervisitation.org
The Federal Prison Visitation Support ministry offers training
and help to anyone interested in ministering to those incarcerated
in Federal Prisons.

C.B. Evans regularly visits the Brig at Camp Lejeune.
For more information: cbandve@earthlink.net

Kairos/Kairos Outside
www.kairosprisonministry.org
Alex and Joan McIlwraith
JAM98WILIG@aol.com
Gordon and Dee Keifer
gordonkeifer@hotmail.com
deekeifer@hotmail.com
Kairos is a three-day interdenominational Christian weekend
offered by volunteers inside prisons with follow-up group reunions
and meetings. This program is based on the Cursillo Movement,
and tailored to prison ministry. Kairos Outside is for families of inmates
and former inmates.

Prison Fellowship Ministries
www.prisonfellowship.org
Prison Fellowship
P.O. Box 5892,
Cary, NC 27512.
(919) 481-0677
Ministry Support Center Manager: Rose Mitchell
Executive Director: W. Edward Privette
ed_privette@pfm.org
NC Representative: Melanie Sink
Melanie_sink@pfm.org
Programs include Angel Tree, Camps, and Mentoring and the “One
Day with God” program through Forgiven Ministry, Inc.
www.forgivenministries.org
(704) 633-2539

Transition Aftercare Network (TAN)
www.doc.state.nc.us/DOP/chaplaincy/TAN
NC Department of Correction
Division of Prisons – Chaplaincy Services
4263 MSC
Raleigh NC 27699-4263
Chaplain Melvin Solomon
(919) 833-3612
Dawning Of A New Life: people reaching out helping
others help themselves.

Affiliated programs:

Exodus House
212 E. Holly Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(919) 583-9902
Pastor Donald Wilkerson
www.ncchaplainsprogram.com/Wilkerson,Donald.pdf

R.E.P. Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 12411
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910)350-0257
atms@ec.rr.com
President: Rodney E. Payton
Housing, On the Job Training, Aftercare Services.

LINC, Inc.
Leading Into New Communities
1202 Castle Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 762-4635
Executive Director: Frankie Roberts

Yokefellow Prison Ministry of North Carolina, Inc.
336-724-9801
Volunteers in the Yokefellow program meet with inmates in small groups
on a regular basis. The purpose is for volunteers to listen with compassion
to the pain, the loneliness, and the isolation expressed by the inmates and
to offer encouragement in the Christian walk.
Diocesan representative: C.B. Evans
cbandve@earthlink.net