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
The Plan
The Community Resource Council (CRC) of the Pender CI is proposing to build a Religious Services Center next to the existing gym. The Department of Correction has approved this plan and the location. The services of an architect have been obtained and preliminary plans for the structure have been designed. The proposed structure will have an auditorium that will accommodate 200+ inmates, two classrooms which would accommodate 20 people for small group worship or study programs, office space, equipment storage area and restrooms. More importantly, perhaps, the building will be designed for religious services. The other spaces in the prison are mostly utilitarian, concrete blocks painted gray. The chapel will be bright, open with a large stained glass window in the worship area. It will have a feel that is entirely different than any other space in the prison. When an inmate enters that Religious Services Center, he will immediately know that this is a place where he can sense the presence of God.
In a typical week at PCI, the Religious Services Department will sponsor between 25 to 40 different worship services, study groups or fellowship meetings attracting anywhere from 5 to 200+ inmates. At present, all of these meet in spaces that were not designed for religious use. Inmates who are trying to get their lives straightened out deserve facilities that will promote that type of transformation.
The proposed RSC will allow three events to take place simultaneously under one roof, enormously easing the scheduling problems that currently exist. It will allow the chaplains to spend more of their time in providing services to inmates and less on administration.