Christ reaches out to women prisoners

By Dianna L. Cagle

BR Editorial Assistant

Daily routines become monotonous behind bars.

And for some inmates, the people who surround them are negative, angry and sometimes violent.

"People and personalities you're around are so discouraging," said Rachel Ferguson, a prisoner at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women (RCCW). "(Chapel services are) like a weekly reminder that you need to stay focused and a reminder that you are loved."

Volunteers regularly enter the facility to lead Bible studies and worship services.

Ferguson, who has been in prison for more than 20 years, was transferred to RCCW in the last year and has been attending the Sunday morning service as well as a Bible study class on Wednesday nights.

Elaine Funderburk, who substitutes at the prison as a Sunday School teacher, has been involved in prison ministry for more than 20 years. She got her start with Bible Study Fellowship and now encourages members of her church - Christ Baptist Church in Raleigh - and individuals to volunteer.

Training is required of regular volunteers, but Funderburk said the reward is great.

Funderburk lead a lesson on "Joyful in Hope" July 1 for about 40 inmates of RCCW.

"If you live for God here ... God can use you to save your whole family," she said to the women.

That night, she came back with members of her church for a special movie night.

More than 80 inmates watched "Facing the Giants," a movie written and produced by a church in Georgia.

"Rather than being a burden to the prison, our goal is trying to be a blessing to them," Funderburk said. Her church carried in enough popcorn, soft drinks and candy bars for each of the inmates in attendance. When she teaches at the facility, Funderburk takes in hand-outs, folders, and writing utensils.

Carol Farrell has been at the facility for about eight months. She attends a study on Sunday nights about women of the Bible.

"At first, I was dragging my feet," Farrell said about getting involved in chapel or Bible studies. "I was mad and angry; I thought, this can't be real. Now I live with encouragement and hope. This is real stuff, and I'm happy."

When she started attending the study, she said it made her hungry for more of God's word. She began reading other parts of the Bible and using the devotion and scripture in a devotional book.

Farrell became a Christian at age 13 "but did not know what that meant in her life," she said. After beginning the Bible study in prison, she said she prayed and repented of her "wrongs."

She knows why God brought her to prison.

"He wanted to straighten my tail out," she said.

Being in prison is part of Carla Evans' call to ministry, she said.

It was only through God's provision that Evans arrest "wasn't too traumatic," she said.

Evans, who became a Christian at age 16, is working on her ninth year in prison.

The volunteers that come to RCCW encourage Evans.

"It gives me strength to know that people would not just take the time to worship with prisoners ... that they have a heart to serve God," Evans said. "Their heart to serve Him is the biggest thing to me."

While Evans had seen the movie shown at RCCW on July 1, she said she was happy that Christ Baptist brought the film into the prison. Her sponsor took her to see the film Thanksgiving Day 2006.

"We cried from the beginning to the end," she said.

Funderburk said training usually occurs twice a year for volunteers - spring and fall. A background check will be completed on everyone who volunteers.

She said volunteers can do many things within a prison: mentor an inmate, serve as a pen pal, teach or help with Sunday School or Bible study, donate to the clothing closet or library, teach crafts or a skill, help with horticulture, etc. Some volunteers even serve as a sponsor to check inmates out of prison for outings or to go to church.

Call a local facility and ask about volunteer opportunities for you or your church. Ask to speak with someone in charge of programs or the chaplain. To learn more about prison ministry contact Women's Missionary Union of North Carolina at (919) 467-5100.

Other organizations work within prison walls, including:

Prison Fellowship - prisonfellowship

Kairos Prison Ministry International - kairosprisonministry

Bible Study Fellowship International - bsfinternational