Jade01
09-01-2005, 06:21 PM
BY CHRISTIE STORM ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Ministry to prisoners is an important outreach for members of Fellowship Bible Church in Harrison, and this year church members hope to provide inmates with a Christmas gift that will warm their bodies and hearts.
Church members are raising money to give sweat suits to more than 1,000 inmates at the Varner Unit near Grady. The Rev. Charles Freyder, a chaplain at Varner, says the unit has 1,600 inmates, although not all are eligible for such a gift. Inmates on death row or in the "supermax" unit cannot participate.
Teri Garrett and Debbie White are two members of Fellowship Bible Church who started the fundraising drive. Both women participate in the prison ministry at the church and regularly write to inmates, offering encouragement and prayer. Ministry participants also travel to the units and visit inmates and lead worship services on occasion.
The idea for the sweat suits came from a pen-pal correspondence. White had been writing to a 17-year-old inmate who mentioned that he got cold at night during the winter. The women contacted Freyder about doing something to help the inmates and came up with the idea of buying a sweat suit for each person.
Last year, the nondenominational church raised money to buy toys for the inmates at the Cummins Unit, also near Grady, to give to their children for Christmas.
For the sweat suit project the church has raised about $4,400. The total needed is about $12,000. Each suit costs $12.
Freyder says about 550 of the inmates are indigent. He says a gift like the one planned by the Harrison church will be a big morale booster for all.
"To get something like that during Christmastime is really going to be awesome," he says.
Freyder says he hasn’t spread the word about the sweat suit drive too much, but those attending chapel know about the plan.
"Some are saying this is probably going to be the best Christmas some of these guys have ever had," he says. "It’s a huge undertaking for this church."
Garrett says she got involved in the prison ministry after someone she knew was incarcerated. She saw how the individual’s life changed and felt led to get involved.
"Many of their families disown them," she says of the inmates. "But they need that hope. Everybody wants to be loved and cared for. It means a lot to have someone care for them."
Garrett says others at the church participate to show the love of the Lord to others.
"They want to show compassion for them, too," Garrett says.
Garrett says she feels the ministry is her life’s calling.
"I’ve seen it change so many people’s hearts," she says. "I just want to keep doing it. There are so many who’ve made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean a person can’t change or have a second chance to be different. There are circumstances where people can change."
Garrett says that as fellow human beings, the inmates have a need to feel loved, but she acknowledges that not all will turn their lives around. But she holds to the hope that her efforts can reach some.
"Even if we affected just a few people and it made a difference, it’s all worth it," she says.
White says the pen-pal ministry means a lot to the inmates.
"That I take the time to send them a card on a holiday... how can I not do this?" she says. "They are so thankful. I’ve never met a group I do things for that are this thankful. They need people who care about them."
White and Garrett understand that some might not understand why they correspond with the inmates or are working to buy gifts for them. The women say that as Christians they are called to serve others, including those who have done wrong and might be outcasts or reviled by society.
Freyder also understands those concerns.
"I understand these men have committed crimes, but they are human beings and they have needs, and we try to meet those needs through the chaplain’s office," he says. "Hopefully we can make a difference in [their] lives."
The chaplain says he has seen hardened criminals truly affected by simple acts of kindness.
"They will break down and say, ‘I’m really thankful for what you are doing,’" he says, adding that the gift of a sweat suit will be a true luxury for the inmates. "Things like this make a difference. Something like this makes them think about what they’ve done, and that in spite of that, people still care. That’s really what it’s all about."
Anyone interested in helping can send donations to Fellowship Bible Church, 408 Ozark St., Harrison, Ark. 72601. Donors must write "inmates" in the memo portion of the check to ensure the donation goes to the fund. Information is available by calling (870) 741-3912.
This story was published Saturday, August 27, 2005
Ministry to prisoners is an important outreach for members of Fellowship Bible Church in Harrison, and this year church members hope to provide inmates with a Christmas gift that will warm their bodies and hearts.
Church members are raising money to give sweat suits to more than 1,000 inmates at the Varner Unit near Grady. The Rev. Charles Freyder, a chaplain at Varner, says the unit has 1,600 inmates, although not all are eligible for such a gift. Inmates on death row or in the "supermax" unit cannot participate.
Teri Garrett and Debbie White are two members of Fellowship Bible Church who started the fundraising drive. Both women participate in the prison ministry at the church and regularly write to inmates, offering encouragement and prayer. Ministry participants also travel to the units and visit inmates and lead worship services on occasion.
The idea for the sweat suits came from a pen-pal correspondence. White had been writing to a 17-year-old inmate who mentioned that he got cold at night during the winter. The women contacted Freyder about doing something to help the inmates and came up with the idea of buying a sweat suit for each person.
Last year, the nondenominational church raised money to buy toys for the inmates at the Cummins Unit, also near Grady, to give to their children for Christmas.
For the sweat suit project the church has raised about $4,400. The total needed is about $12,000. Each suit costs $12.
Freyder says about 550 of the inmates are indigent. He says a gift like the one planned by the Harrison church will be a big morale booster for all.
"To get something like that during Christmastime is really going to be awesome," he says.
Freyder says he hasn’t spread the word about the sweat suit drive too much, but those attending chapel know about the plan.
"Some are saying this is probably going to be the best Christmas some of these guys have ever had," he says. "It’s a huge undertaking for this church."
Garrett says she got involved in the prison ministry after someone she knew was incarcerated. She saw how the individual’s life changed and felt led to get involved.
"Many of their families disown them," she says of the inmates. "But they need that hope. Everybody wants to be loved and cared for. It means a lot to have someone care for them."
Garrett says others at the church participate to show the love of the Lord to others.
"They want to show compassion for them, too," Garrett says.
Garrett says she feels the ministry is her life’s calling.
"I’ve seen it change so many people’s hearts," she says. "I just want to keep doing it. There are so many who’ve made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean a person can’t change or have a second chance to be different. There are circumstances where people can change."
Garrett says that as fellow human beings, the inmates have a need to feel loved, but she acknowledges that not all will turn their lives around. But she holds to the hope that her efforts can reach some.
"Even if we affected just a few people and it made a difference, it’s all worth it," she says.
White says the pen-pal ministry means a lot to the inmates.
"That I take the time to send them a card on a holiday... how can I not do this?" she says. "They are so thankful. I’ve never met a group I do things for that are this thankful. They need people who care about them."
White and Garrett understand that some might not understand why they correspond with the inmates or are working to buy gifts for them. The women say that as Christians they are called to serve others, including those who have done wrong and might be outcasts or reviled by society.
Freyder also understands those concerns.
"I understand these men have committed crimes, but they are human beings and they have needs, and we try to meet those needs through the chaplain’s office," he says. "Hopefully we can make a difference in [their] lives."
The chaplain says he has seen hardened criminals truly affected by simple acts of kindness.
"They will break down and say, ‘I’m really thankful for what you are doing,’" he says, adding that the gift of a sweat suit will be a true luxury for the inmates. "Things like this make a difference. Something like this makes them think about what they’ve done, and that in spite of that, people still care. That’s really what it’s all about."
Anyone interested in helping can send donations to Fellowship Bible Church, 408 Ozark St., Harrison, Ark. 72601. Donors must write "inmates" in the memo portion of the check to ensure the donation goes to the fund. Information is available by calling (870) 741-3912.
This story was published Saturday, August 27, 2005