By Brett Mahlen
Classes are back in session at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, IN after a nearly two-month delay, due to a lockdown. The lockdown was due to terrible circumstances in which an inmate murdered a worker connected to Prison Industries. The murder took place on April 10th and ISP was on lockdown from that day until the end of May. Therefore, our spring semester was interrupted.
These sad circumstances brought about a delay of a graduation ceremony planned for early June (likely delayed until August) and cancelation of a summer class. Instead, the professors have resumed the Spring semester and those classes will take up much of the summer. Divine Hope students are enthused about beginning again. They are studying the doctrine of salvation with Nathan Brummel. I am teaching one class on Biblical counseling and another on church history. Lockdowns are no joy for inmates because they are stuck in their cells most hours of the day, including those who are doing good and seeking to reform their lives according to the Word of the Lord. Many inmates get restless in those circumstances.
Please pray for the safety of our students and faculty as well as for the family of the worker who lost his life. Pray for an uninterrupted fall semester.