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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
From Prison Food to Cajun Fried Chicken & Biscuits: Former Female Inmate Becomes Restaurant Franchise Director
The following letter was recently received by Chaplain Claudette Rodney (currently serving as GraceInside’s Chaplain at Beaumont Correctional Center in Powhatan, VA and as our Central Region Supervising Chaplain). At one time Dr. Rodney served as Chaplain for Brunswick Women’s Work Center and for Deerfield Women’s Work Center. It was during that timeframe that she […]
