Rev. Dr. Valerie Carter Smith (WMUV) and Rev. Lois Carter (GraceInside) Give Joint Presentation about Two Important Mission Fields
Rev. Dr. Valerie Carter Smith, Director of the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia (WMUV) invited Rev. Lois Carter (GraceInside’s Outreach & Community Relations Manager) to speak with her at Shalom Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA on November 28, 2022. Rev. Valerie spoke about human trafficking and how important it is to her to serve the women on Jefferson Davis Highway that are trapped in this modern-day version of slavery. Rev. Valerie’s mission is to be out on the battlefield, assisting
Annual Chaplains Training Retreat Held at Roslyn Conference Center in November 2022
What a homecoming for GraceInside’s Chaplains and Staff!!! Due to the pandemic, it had been almost three years since the last Annual Chaplains Training Retreat. This 3-day retreat was at the Roslyn Retreat Center off of River Road in Richmond, VA on Wednesday-Friday, November 2-4, 2023. As usual, we had a wonderful mix of practical skills training, spiritual growth/worship and fellowship time. We had Melissa Welch (our DOC Contract Administrator) and Bernie Morris (Religious Advisor to GraceInside and to the
Chaplain Nick Meyer Serves as Guest Speaker/ Ambassador for GraceInside at Several Churches & Events across the Commonwealth
It is always exciting and more “real” when an actual Chaplain – a person that serves “in the trenches” can speak at a church or event about GraceInside and about what our Chaplains do. One such individual that stays very busy speaking at churches and events around the Commonwealth is Chaplain Nick Meyer (Coffeewood Correctional Center). On October 30, 2022, Chaplain Nick spoke at the Charlottesville Mennonite Church. After that, Nick served as guest speaker for the Roanoke Valley Baptist
Powerful KAIROS Closing at Pocahontas State Correctional Center
During the weekend of October 22, 2022, Chaplain Darrell Hunley and and the Kairos Team at Pocahontas State Correctional Center offered the traditional “open mic” segment of the Kairos Closing to the inmate program participants/graduates. The Holy Spirit moved in a powerful way, helping 16 inmates to express how God had moved in their lives during this weekend experience. Chaplain Hunley said, “I’m still amazed at how the Holy Spirit moves, and I pray that this amazement never ends!” Following
Chaplain Ashton Brock Attends North American Mission Board (NAMB) Annual Chaplains Training Retreat in October 2022
The Chaplains Commission of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) provides denominational endorsement to over 3,700 Chaplains in the following categories: Community Services, Corporate, Correctional, Disaster Relief, Healthcare, Military, and Public Safety. This endorsement signifies that the endorsed Chaplain is a Minister and Chaplain in good standing with their local church and with their chaplaincy employer. Chaplains endorsed by the North American Mission Board are required to submit quarterly reports to NAMB regarding their
Friendship for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?
A prison psychologist, also known as a QMHP (Qualified Mental Health Provider), is a key staff member. However, it is a rare thing when a former QMHP transitions from a mental health career to prison chaplaincy. Rarer still is when a former QMHP, now a Chaplain, becomes reacquainted with a former inmate client, and both persons are employed by the same prison ministry. These are the blessings showered upon Dr. Claudette Rodney, Chaplain at Beaumont Correctional Center and Central Region
Dancing with Jesus
GraceInside is very blessed to have Chaplain Daniel Theiben set apart to minister to the men incarcerated in the Virginia Department of Corrections’ (VADOC’s) “Restorative Housing Units” (the most secure and lonely cells at the two highest security state prisons – Red Onion State Prison and Wallens Ridge State Prison – both located in Wise County, VA). Chaplain Theiben recently sent in this exciting monthly report: “I was able to visit all of the Restorative Housing Unit (RHU) pods at
All of Us are Broken, but None are Beyond Hope
by Chaplain Nick Meyer, Coffeewood Correctional Center In October 2022, some inmates from the Spanish church group approached me to ask about getting baptized. I coordinated with a couple of volunteers who brought a 12-part teaching on baptism for the full church, approximately 30-40 inmates. By January 2023, they had finished these catechism classes and on January 27, six brothers were baptized during a Friday evening church service. We have a temporary baptismal pool that can be set up and