SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER:  Preparing for Life 

Many criminal offenders have multiple addictions to alcohol and/or other drugs, weak problem-solving and self-management skills, poor parenting skills, and low self-esteem. Offenders have also typically established poor priorities in life and are involved in dysfunctional relationships. Faith communities can play a significant role in the lives of inmates by providing hope, compassion, and helping them to understand and internalize ultimate issues. 

Why a Spiritual Life Center is needed and the benefits it offers:
ECF has constructed a freestanding Spiritual Life Center (SLC) with approximately 9,167 square feet of floor space.  The design incorporates six classrooms, an audio/video/book library, two Chaplain offices and a sanctuary that accommodates up to 300 people. The building project was accomplished primarily through the efforts of volunteers and facility staff using inmate labor. Project funding has come exclusively from donations received from individuals, corporations and grants from pirvate foundations. Other funding has come through the inmates who have sold craft items, made Jaycee's donations and made tithes.

ECF houses 832 medium/minimum-custody inmates and annually processes approximately 1,400 inmates through the facility. Current space limitations are stifling most prison ministry expansion opportunities. During the past 13 years, inmate participation in religious programming has tripled. The SLC provides opportunities for inmates from diverse faiths to develop and restore relationships with God, their families, communities and crime victims.

 Rational for Expanding Religious Programming/Facilities

The impact of prison ministry and the "Faith Factor" is now being revealed through objective and scientific research. Recently, Professor and Criminologist Byron Johnson of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, conducted a study of Prison Fellowship Programs in several New York correctional facilities. His study concluded that inmates who attended at least 10 bible-study sessions during their prison term were 66 percent less likely to break the law once they returned to the "free world".

Research conducted on inmates in other faith-based programs has also revealed positive results, some of which are listed as follows: 

• Fewer returns to prison
• Increased crime-free periods following an inmate's release from prison
• The crime-severity (as compared to the original offense) when inmates do return to prison lessens
• Improved prison adjustment
• More direction is gained through exposure to life planning activities
• Greater assumption of personal responsibility
• Improvement in basic life skills management
• Improved family relationships
• Reduced  inmate Idleness
• Inmates gain hope and meaning in their lives

Current and Planned Religious Programming

Chaplaincy Services are currently designed to assist inmates affiliated with all recognized faith groups/denominations to achieve individual spiritual growth. Inmates are afforded opportunities to participate in their primary worship service and any special services/activites open to the general population. A variety of counseling services are alsos available to include individual, marriage, parenting, crisis, grieving and spiritual.

The SLC provides space to expand support group activities such as Jaycees, Alcoholist/Narcotics Anonymous, Master Life, Experiencing God and Making Peace With Your Past. Life skills training will also be expanded to include such classes as:  character development, forgiving others, overcoming bad habits, anger management, parenting classes and grief. The SLC offers Faith Builder's International Ministry Academy and Hesston College Courses.

 Strategic Fundraising and Programming Plan

The fundraising and programming campaign for the SLC continues to move forward.  Statistics show us that over 95 percent of all incarcerated individuals will leave prison and return home. Opportunities are being afforded through the SLC so the men at ECF may change their lives and be better prepared to return home to their family and community. These changes will successfully occur with help from community people such as you. 

Utilization of Donations & Volunteer Services

Classroom Curriculum & Books:  Funding and Volunteers are needed for classes with subjects on: Spiritual growth, parenting, marriage, life skills,  self-help, grief, addiction recovery, etc.

Building & Equipment Updates:  Funding continues to be needed to update the building, furniture and electronic equipment used to provide classes and programming in the SLC.

Library Updates:  Monetary and material donations help keep the library inventory current with new release books, videos, audio tapes, etc.   

Transportation Costs:  Funding is needed for costs associated with transporting minimum-custody inmates for drama, music and testimony presentations in churches, schools and other community venues. For more information or to schedule a date, please contact Chaplaincy at the enclosed phone number.

Concerts & Seminars:  Funding and Volunteers are needed to enlist quality outside groups to minister inside the prison.

Craft/Gift Shop Materials:  Donations of cloth, wood, limestone rock and tools are needed for the inmates to manufacture crafts for Tender Thoughts Gift Shop. 

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please send to:

 ECF Spiritual Life Center Fund
c/o Chaplaincy
P.O. Box 107
Ellsworth, KS  67439

All donations are tax deductible per Internal Revenue Service Code, Section 170.

 The Spiritual Life Center 

• Serves as a symbol of hope.
• Provides sufficient space for inmates to worship, engage in quiet or classroom study, participate in one-on-one counseling, and take part in various religious programs/activities facilitated by staff and volunteers.
• Provides sufficient space to accommodate outside prison ministries, special music programs, plays, and a prison choir.
• Provides creative values-based programs designed to:  explore and address spiritual needs and the root causes of problems, foster responsible thinking, promote accountable behavior, enhance personal and family relationships, heighten victim awareness, and address criminal thinking patterns.
• Facilitates programming opportunities for victim-inmate reconciliation.
• Provides a sufficient library with video and audio resources; the latest books, commentaries, magazines, and periodicals; greeting card distribution, children’s books for the Papa Teller program; and Tender Thoughts Gift Shop.
• Provides great opportunities to create and capture teachable moments.
• Expands community volunteer accessibility

 
  How You Can Assist With the SLC Campaign:

Provide gifts-in-kind, e.g. materials, equipment, etc.

Pledge or give a cash gift

Donate specialized services

Serve as a prayer partner

Serve as a Volunteer to teach a class, one-on-onementoring, etc.

• Lead the Choir
• Develop grant funding proposals

Promote prison ministry in churches

Promote the SLC by speaking at civic clubs/service organizations

Network with businesses to promote the project

We Make A Living By What We Get;
   We Make A Life By What We Give.

 
VOLUNTEER SERVICE APPLICATION

 

   ___________________________________________________

   Name

 

   ___________________________________________________

   Address

 

   ___________________________________________________

   City, State, Zip

 

   ____________________________________________________

   Home Phone                                                              Work Phone

 

 

“Government cannot fill the spiritual well from which we draw day to day, only faith can do that.”

Former President George W. Bush

 For more information, contact:
Herbie Harris & Dale Bailey, Chaplains
Ellsworth Correctional Facility
PO Box 107
1607 State Street
Ellsworth, KS  67439

Telephone:  785-472-5501

x 46213 (Herbie Harris, Chaplain)
HerbieH@doc.ks.gov

x46214 (Dale Bailey, Chaplian)
DaleB@doc.ks.gov

 Return completed Service Application form to Chaplains Harris or Dale Bailey.