An Inmate Becomes a Light for Jesus!
by “Larry,” an inmate at Green Rock Correctional Center I was raised in a Christian family and gave my life to Christ, asking Him to come into my life when I was 14 years old. However, by age 18 I had turned from Jesus, choosing to follow my own worldly desires and to “do my own thing.” This “freedom” eventually led me to hit rock bottom and to be arrested. I was sentenced to serve 10 YEARS in prison! After
The People That Walked in Darkness…
by Daniel Theiben, Restorative Housing Unit Chaplain (Red Onion State Prison & Wallen Ridge State Prison): Walking through maximum security pods, I noticed that R. B. was downcast. When I asked how he was doing, he shared that his heroin addiction had driven him to commit a “stupid crime.” He was worried that when he gets out of prison in less than a year his wife will leave him if he relapses. He wanted me to send him some materials
Sharing in the Light
by Jerusha Tiller, FCCW COVID hit institutions hard: schools, childcare programs, hospitals. retirement homes, nursing homes and prisons were affected. At Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, we had additional challenges like staffing shortage of both officers and volunteers, and as a result, our religious programs were affected. Our program numbers dwindled as schedules shifted and older preachers refrained from entering the prison systems; inmates struggled to find the strength to beat these challenges. Life does not have to be perfect
Chaplain Ball Retires after 42 Years of Service
Chaplain Ball worked in Security for 25 years for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), and then he worked for 17 years as a Chaplain with GraceInside, totaling 42 years of distinguished service for the Commonwealth of Virginia and for our prison ministry!!! Always a dedicated servant of Christ, with a powerful witness and with experience as a Correctional Officer, Corrections Lieutenant, etc., Chaplain Ball has made a tremendous difference in hundreds, if not thousands, of inmate and staff lives. He has been a “rock” for GraceInside, and his legacy
Chaplain Rodney Receives “Unparalleled Commitment” Award
Dr. Claudette Rodney, our Central Region Supervising Chaplain (and Chaplain at Beaumont Correctional Center) and Chaplain Lisa Brown (Haynesville Correctional Center & Haynesville Corr. Unit) recently went on another of their famous road trips – this time to Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Rodney was the recipient of the “Unparalleled Commitment” Award from the Women’s Health & Wellness Ministry. This ceremony was done by her denomination, The House of the Lord Church. What an honor! Congratulations to this committed woman of God!
Chaplain Spotlight: Tommy Armstrong
Dillwyn Correctional Center The way I became a part of the GraceInside Family was:When I was in high school, most of the kids I hung out with knew I would end up in prison. God knew I would, too, but as a Chaplain. Glory to God! My deepest thanks to Rev. Cecil McFarland, who saw something in me, something that I didn’t know I had. He saw that I had the capacity to love and not judge. My “most positive
Chaplain Moses Speaks at Missions Connection Celebration in July 2023
From July 19-21, 2023, Chaplain Jerusha Moses (Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women) was invited to speak at the Missions Connection Celebration (MC2). This Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia (WMUV) / Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) summer conference is held annually at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center (Lynchburg, VA). It includes hands-on missions projects for all ages, worship, fellowship, and dialogue with missionaries. As one of the Camp Missionaries, Chaplain Moses led 8 workshops for children, youth, and adults, teaching them about God’s unconditional love and grace, extended to
Baptist Chaplaincy Relations (BCR) Spring Chaplaincy Training in April 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 in Texas and one here at the BGAV Building (where GraceInside’s Central Office is located) in Henrico, VA. GraceInside is always invited to participate. Last