Prison

"I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:36

The Prison Ministry was organized in September 1992 under the leadership of Reverend Norwood T. Calvin.  It started off with twenty members.  The purpose of the ministry was and still is, to carry out the mandate found in Matthew 25:36 … I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  

Our goal was and still is today, to minister to those that are incarcerated and are not able to attend church on the outside of the prison walls. Our first two services were at Dixon Correctional Institute with Rev James H. Davis and Rev. Max Thomas as the ministers in charge.  Our first two services were very spirit filled and uplifting, then we were invited to continue our service there.

The ministry continued to grow spiritually the late Rev. Edward C. Gaines joined in with us as the musician and preacher and in charged of all the music. We were invited to continue our ministry at Hunts Correctional Institute, Women’ Prison and Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. In September 2005 the Warden at Angola call and ask for the women in the prison ministry at St Mary to assist them with the women that were placed at Angola from New Orleans, Lake Charles and Women’s Prison at St Gabriel because of hurricane Katrina.  We went to Angola from September 2005 to March 2006, on each Monday and Friday.

With the support of Reverend Knighton were able to supply the women with clothes and hair supplies that were not used for the men. We preached and ministered to the women and baptized more than seventy women during their stay at Angola.

Today we are still carrying out the Lord’s mandate by visiting those that are in prison.  We are ministering at Angola and Dixon also we help with the Returning Hearts. To be an active participant in prison ministry you must attend an orientation once each year

Rev. Emily Stewart, Director