May 2023

Baptist Chaplaincy Relations (BCR) is a partnership between Texas Baptists and Virginia Baptists.  BCR exists to endorse various types of Chaplains and to offer ongoing training and support.  They have blessed GraceInside greatly in recent years (especially during the pandemic, with two internet-based, streaming training conferences).   Each year this group offers on training conference

The theme for the 2023 GraceInside Easter Campaign was: Hope Springs from an Empty Tomb! We all know that life can be very challenging (especially if you’re sitting in a lonely cell in a Virginia state prison), but as believers we have the comfort and assurance of knowing that Christ didn’t stay in the tomb. 

Each year GraceInside is “doubly blessed” by our Sisters and Brothers in the churches of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV).  First, we receive regular monthly budget support from the BGAV.  Then, as a yearly “bonus gift”, we receive part of the monies collected by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia’s (WMUV) and BGAV’s

The Lord has truly blessed GraceInside recently in regards to additional financial support to help with chaplaincy hours for the Geriatric Unit at Deerfield Correctional Center (Chaplain Lynn Robinson).  On December 8, 2022, we received a $2500 “Seeds of Hope” grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.  Hallelujah!  Then on January 6, 2023, we

As Randy continued to deal with the health issues of his elderly parents, the “Power Team” of Rev. Lois Carter (Outreach & Community Relations Manager) and Mr. Lee Hargrave (Office Manager/Executive Assistant) hit the road once again to serve as GraceInside’s representatives for another annual denominational convention.  This was the 104th Annual Convention of the

Huguenot Road Baptist Church (Richmond, VA) recently conducted a 7-week series of lectures/talks on structural racism in the metropolitan Richmond area.  The sessions covered a number of important social justice issues that Christians need to be concerned about and to take action on.  Former GraceInside Board Member Elwanda Cornelius gave a talk on January 4,

Chaplain Lynn Robinson served for many years as the beloved Chaplain at Deerfield Correctional Center (including ministering to men housed in the geriatric unit).  He left GraceInside for a time to complete his pastoral ministry at his church in the community.  However, we were truly blessed when (after his retirement), he returned to us as

Coffeewood Correctional Center “I’ve been a Chaplain at Coffeewood Correctional Center (near Culpeper, VA) through GraceInside, Virginia’s Prison Chaplain Service, for five years. For me, the most sacred part of being a Chaplain is serving Communion. ‘Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns.’ That

Greensville Correctional Center, S-2 “My first full-time appointment as a Methodist pastor was in a small rural town.  I served the church there for four years.  Unfortunately, when my time for re-appointment came, only a part-time pastor position was available.  That meant I was back to being a bi-vocational pastor (serving a church part-time and possibly

GraceInside’s annual Christmas Campaign was quite successful.  The theme was “What Can I Give Him?” (taken from the old Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter”).  As usual, the campaign went out as a mailed paper appeal packet (with a special Christmas bookmark enclosed), as weekly e-blasts (email messages/stories/pictures) to our donors, as weekly Facebook posts,