Monday, July 29, 2013

The ministry of Prison Visitation Society

By David Wynne, Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach  

"I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

In addition to KAIROS, the Prison Committee at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, also includes a smaller ministry to the Federal Correction Complex (FCC) in Petersburg. The federal ministry is affiliated with the Prison Visitation Society; a national organization that specializes in visits to federal facilities. Although PVS ministers to all facilities, the principle ministry is to inmates with very long sentences for whom the family has stopped visiting.

There are many thousands of inmates nationwide waiting to have a visitor. At Petersburg, in our diocese, there are hundreds. We operate under the auspices of the Rt. Rev. J. Magness, Bishop of Federal Ministries. We have no qualifications, no special skills; we simply go.  

Similar to the Stephen Ministry, we simply provide confidential, non-judgmental listening. Our inmates can be Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Atheist, even Wiccan. In every case, they yearn for a kind presence and a contact outside the environment they endure. Although we do not actively witness, nearly always, sooner or later, God opens a door and when He does, we walk through it.

Last week I visited Bobby and Robert. The drive up to the FCC near Hopewell takes about two hours. Bobby is from Idaho, a former city parks worker; nearing the end of a twenty-five year sentence. His family can't afford the trip east but he only has five years to go. Bobby says he is a Wiccan, but he covets our prayers. When he gets out, God will be waiting. Robert is from New Hampshire, was a flooring contractor. He's 51, four years through a 33 year sentence. His parents are infirm and can't get down. He is bright, hopeful, planning his life after. During the sunshine of their hope and the blackness of their despair, we visit.

If you have some time to contribute, the need is great and every volunteer reports the greater blessing is always theirs. Contact David Wynne at diw1022@gmail.com.