As an instructor with Divine Hope, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in two correctional facilities. On Friday evenings, Divine Hope volunteers come from several different Reformed churches and lead a Bible study with a group of twelve to sixteen ladies at the Rockville Correctional Facility in Rockville, Indiana. This is the largest women’s prison in the state. Presently, we are studying the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Some ladies have been attending the Bible study faithfully for more than nine years, while others have recently joined. We have studied many of the Lydia Brownback Bible studies from her Flourishing series including 1 & 2 Peter, Habakkuk, and Luke. Each year when December rolls around, we switch to a study on the advent of our Lord Jesus, which the ladies always enjoy!
Some of our volunteers come from as far away as Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the beginning of October, we held a conference entitled Encounters with Jesus, and approximately 100 ladies attended throughout the weekend. Mrs. Julie Murphy from New York City and Mrs. Angela Bout from Ontario, Canada were the featured speakers. They encouraged the women in God’s Word with a focus on four accounts in the New Testament of women who encountered Jesus when He was on earth. There is always a time for questions & answers which Ken Anema oversees. At every conference we bring helpful resources to share with the attendees, and when the conferences conclude they are donated and placed in the chapel library. At our recent conference, Rev. Richard Bout preached from Psalm 130 during the Sunday chapel service. We received so much positive feedback from the attendees and staff. Lord willing, Divine Hope will offer a spring conference at the end of April 2025. Contact me to see how you can attend and see firsthand how Divine Hope is serving the ladies in the Rockville Correctional Facility. We are always eager to train more volunteers, too, who can facilitate discussion in our Friday evening studies. Contact me for more information on how you can participate in this much needed ministry.
At least once per week I teach at Danville Correctional Center, a medium security men’s prison, in Illinois. My role there is with the Spanish speaking inmates. Sixteen students attend the Thursday morning class on TheGospels, and most come eager to learn. Class time is interactive with Scripture memorization, homework questions, and application of the Scripture. It is great to see some of the more experienced students mentoring the newer students. I have enjoyed getting to know these brothers in Christ.
In the afternoon, a Spanish Chapel Service is held in the same classroom where I teach my class. Approximately twenty inmates attend the service which includes prayer, singing, reciting of the Apostles Creed, reading of the law, and a Scripture message presented by an inmate. It is such a blessing to hear the men praise God and read the Bible in their native language. Please contact me if you would like to accompany me on a Thursday to Danville. It takes a couple of weeks to complete the background check, and you will receive a blessing as you observe the ministry there.