Military Veteran/Prison Chaplain Exemplifies Service and Sacrifice
If I Were a Shepherd, I Would Give a Lamb Have you ever known a person that just keeps GIVING and GIVING? You know, the kind of person that gives their ALL? The kind of person that never seems to run out of energy, excitement, enthusiasm and devotion? Like a certain battery-operated bunny on TV commercials, they just keep GOING and GOING and GOING! Well, Chaplain Vera Rhyne is just that kind of person! Just recently, the “Powhatan Today”newspaper did
Prisoners in Former Coal Mining “Boom Town” Experience the Riches of God’s Grace
What Can I Give Him, Poor As I Am? Pocahontas, a former coal mining “boom town” in Tazewell County (far Southwest Virginia) has seen its share of industrial decline, natural disasters, economic hardship, etc. From the early 1880s through the early 1920s, this town prospered from the coal mining industry, the railroads, tourists, etc. Thousands of European immigrants moved here from the northeast to work in the mines and to share in the wealth. But times changed. Big industry and
Prison Baptisms are Back!
It has been over two years since COVID-19 hit the world. The death toll was in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and in the millions worldwide. There were so many unknowns when this hit, and none of us was sure what to do at the time. Everything seemed to come to a standstill. Businesses and schools were impacted. And PRISONS were severely impacted. Sadly there were many cases of COVID-19 infections and deaths among DOC inmates and staff.
Road Trip: A Former Inmate and Two Prison Chaplains
Imagine being incarcerated for over 30 years. You served your time, but your church may not see it that way. That’s what happened to Lee. His church pushed him away, but Lee has friends that only see his “New Creation” heart, rather than judging him by his past. (“Are you my neighbor?”) Yes, Lee is a former inmate (now working at GraceInside’s Central Office). Yet two of GraceInside’s phenomenal Chaplains made Lee feel as if he was a part of
Thoughts from the President: August 2022
Have you ever heard of a husband-and-wife prison chaplaincy team? Did you know that such a thing even existed? Well, it does, and I am an eyewitness of one such team that I was blessed to know. Robby and Karen Burke lived in Harrisonburg, VA. They were both ordained ministers – affiliated with both the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) and with the United Church of Christ (UCC). This couple was inseparable. They even co-pastored a small church together. It
All Aboard: New Chaplains Attend Training and Orientation in April 2022
On April 5, 2022, we were able to hold our first “New Chaplain Training/Orientation Day” (live and in person!) since prior to the pandemic. Needless to say, we had quite a backlog of new Chaplains that had been waiting to go through this important training. This training was led by our very own Bernie Morris, our Religious Advisor/DOC Liaison. Bernie covered the essential DOC policies and procedures relating to faith-based/religious program and chaplaincy, went over the DOC’s “Virtual Library”, and
Group from GraceInside Attends CMCA Annual Summit in New Orleans
A group of eight GraceInside Chaplains and Staff Members were blessed and privileged to attend the 10th Annual Summit of the CMCA (Correctional Ministries & Chaplains Association) in New Orleans, LA, on May 27-28, 2022. The event was held at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (and was the first “live” summit CMCA has had since prior to the pandemic). The Summit and CMCA itself is out of the Correctional Ministries Institute at The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College
Spring 2022 Spiritual Care Training
On April 24-27, 2022, Baptist Chaplaincy Relations (BCR – a partnership between Texas Baptists and Virginia Baptists) offered a special training for various types of Chaplains (including a Correctional Chaplaincy Training Track). The following GraceInside Chaplains and Staff were able to participate: Dawson Bailey Janice Broadie Ashton Brock Clifton Cauthorne Oscar Grant Patrick Jones Toni Mayes William Moore Jerusha Moses Claudette Rodney Randy Myers (GraceInside Staff) Lois Carter (GraceInside Staff) The event started off with a Worship/Welcome Service on