The Pender Development Fund
P. O. Box 1058
Burgaw, NC 28425
Links:
Religious Programs at Pender Correctional Institution
"Remember those in prison as if
you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you
yourselves were suffering."
Hebrews 13:3
What Others are Saying
The Pender Chronicle I Burgaw, NC I July 30, 2008 I p. 5
Prison chapel plans are nearing reality, but funds are still needed
By Barbara Hardin
Associate Editor
Plans to construct a chapel on the grounds of The Pender Correctional Institution in Burgaw have progressed a great deal since they were announced in February, but approximately $75,000 is still needed to complete the project, estimated at $525,000.
A prison chapel is sorely needed because the 20 x 24 room currently used as a makeshift chapel is much too small to handle the number of inmates seeking to worship.
Head Chaplain Jim Spiritosanto said he is forced to turn many of the inmates away from religious services every week, simply because there's no room for them.
A total of 765 inmates are housed at the facility.
The proposed chapel would formally be called the Religious Services Center and would be constructed adjacent to 'the prison's gymnasium, he added. The sanctuary in the building would seat about 200 inmates.
There would also be two larger rooms that would be utilized as classrooms and a library. Office space and bathroom facilities would be included in the layout.
Although the state has agreed that the prison can use that particular piece of land for the chapel, the state won't fund any part of the construction.
The preliminary work is currently in progress, said Spiritosanto, and a great deal of it is being done free of charge due to the nature of the project.
"We have an architect that has been working with us and he's doing this without charge,” said Spiritosanto. "We also have taken soil samples of the area where it's going to be constructed. That will determine the capability of the soil and what needs to be done as far as the foundation of the building. The company that did that also did not charge us ‑ they were also kind enough to offer their services like that."
The N.C. Baptist Men have also offered to provide all the labor for the construction of the chapel at no cost to the prison, which Spiritosanto said is estimated to be worth upwards of $200,000.
"We are waiting now for the architects to get the reports back and the structural engineers to determine the type of foundation that well need," he said. "Once that's done ‑which should be happening any time now ‑ then well be able to create the drawings for the building."
Several donations for the chapel construction have already been received by the prison's Community Resource Council (CRC), a nonprofit group of community volunteers that acts as a liaison between the community and the prison.
The CRC created a special account, called The Pender Development Fund, and donations have come in from churches, individuals and organizations, said Spiritosanto.
A few contributions even came from people in New Mexico and Oklahoma, due to the local coverage that ultimately went nationwide, he said.
"One foundation gave us $10,000, so that was a nice gift that we received," he noted. "The churches have given us anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more. One small church recently gave us $3,000. The money has been coming in, and we've been encouraged by that as we've gone through each week. I think we have roughly $30,000 in the bank account at this point.”
Once the preliminary work is completed, Spiritosanto said they should be able to get a very accurate accounting of just it will cost to construct the building. And, although they can't yet be sure, they feel that the cost may very well be less than they initially thought.
“That's an encouragement, too,” he noted. "Basically, what we're needing funding for is the construction materials themselves ‑ concrete for the foundation and other materials that will be used to construct the building. We're wide open for anyone who would like to donate materials."
And, he pointed out, all contributions ‑ whether they be materials or money ‑ are tax deductible because of the organization's nonprofit status.
There still hasn't been a date set for a ground‑breaking or for the start of construction, as that all depends on how quickly the money comes in to cover the expenses. But Spiritosanto said he's happy with the progress thus far.
“These are all very positive things that have been happening,” he commented. “Everyone needs those rays of light. We’re happy to have those, and we think the Lord is really blessing this project. We're moving along step‑by-step, making progress towards completion of the building."
Spiritosanto pointed out that religion is one of the things that inmates can become involved with that is very positive and helps their rehabilitative process.
In a letter recently sent to businesses asking their participation, CRC President Shirley Steele wrote, “The truth is that not much has been found to be effective for rehabilitation with the exception of religious programming.”
Steele said FBI statistics show that 93 percent of all inmates will be released at the end of their sentence. Of those, 70 ‑ 80 percent will reoffend within years and be resentenced.
"We have to do better than this,” Steele stated. "The state of North Carolina cannot afford to keep building new prisons.”
“You can educate a prisoner and what you will get is an educated criminal ‑ added Chuck Colson Prison Fellowship. “You have to change his heart.”
Anyone interested in assisting with this project – financially, to donate materials or as a volunteer – should contact Spiritosanto at 910-663-3076 or Chaplain Jimmy Joseph at 910-663-3077.
This 20‑foot by 24‑foot room is currently used for religious services at the prison and is clearly inadequate for the needs of the facility's 765 inmates.