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 […]
GraceInside Attends Events Presented by the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Roanoke College – Salem, VA On July 13th – 15th, 2022, Rev. J. Randy Myers & Rev. Lois Carter headed to the beautiful campus of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia for the Virginia Synod’s combined events (“Power In the Spirit” and “Worship & Service Celebration”). This was the first in-person gathering in two years for […]
Little-Known Facts about Chaplain Hasan Zarif
We would like to introduce to you our brand new Chaplain for Greensville Correctional Center (S-1): Chaplain Hasan Zarif! Did You Know… Chaplain Hasan Zarif was a licensed DJ at the radio station WANT 990 AM at age 16. He was chosen to attend the 1970 White House Conference on Youth by then President Richard Nixon. […]
Thoughts from the President: September 2022
The Power of Partnership “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” – Philippians 1:7 (NIV) YOU are my PARTNER. You are […]
“The Amazing Praise” 48-hour giving celebration begins September 20
The Amazing Praise is getting ready to launch this year’s 48-hour giving celebration (online from September 20th through September 22nd from 12 noon to 12 noon). This year’s lineup of participating faith-based Richmond area non-profit organizations will be: Assisting Families of Inmates, Belmont Community Resources Service, Bethany Project, Boaz & Ruth, Christian Counseling & Training […]
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 […]
Thoughts from the President: July 2022
It must have been at least 25 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a young Substance Abuse Therapist serving on a special “Therapeutic Community” (TC) recovery unit at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW – Goochland – then Virginia’s only state women’s prison). I was an ordained Christian […]
Are you PASSIONATE about SECOND CHANCES?
Donate to GraceInside’s “Summer of Passion” campaign – July 1-September 5 – to help us raise $50,000 and provide second chances to “the least of these!” Have you ever made a bad decision or a poor choice? And have you ever been given a SECOND CHANCE – the chance to make things right and to […]
GraceInside Staff Changes & Updates as of Spring 2022
GraceInside has had quite a few Chaplain changes in recent times (especially over this past year). Chaplain Curtis Wall has retired as Chaplain at Lunenburg Corr. Ctr. and Baskerville Corr. Ctr. We thank him for his faithful service and wish him every good blessing! Baskerville has been filled (see below), and we are in the […]
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, […]
