CRC Establishes Prison Church

After many months of dreaming, planning, negotiations and meetings, the Ionia Bellamy Creek “Celebration Fellowship” Prison Congregation – the first of its kind in Michigan – has begun to hold Bible/book study and worship services.

The prison-based congregation that is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, is supported by Christian Reformed Home Missions, and yet is ecumenical in nature, held its first services on Nov. 3.

"Thirty prisoners were at the services that were held in a classroom in an educational building at the prison," says Pastor/developer Rev. Richard Rienstra. "In the first hour, twelve church member volunteers participated in group discussions with prisoners about 'The Purpose Driven Life' by Rick Warren."

In the second hour, he says, a worship team of prisoners led various parts of the service including confession, intercessory prayers, praise songs, reading of Scripture, and conducting a “children’s’ moment” where prayers were offered not only for prisoners’ children, but for the children and grandchildren of the “outside” church members.

Chaplain Mike Martin, head of the chaplains for Michigan prisons, says he commends the Christian Reformed Church in cooperation with the Reformed Church in America for its patience over the many months that it took for the “pilot congregation” to be established.

At the initial service, Martin encouraged the prisoners and volunteers present to extend the model and mission of the prison congregation to others. He challenged everyone, saying that “the torch is now passed to you.”

Rienstra, who has been helping to spearhead the project, says things finally came together on Oct. 23 in a special meeting in Lansing of the Michigan Department of Corrections Chaplains Advisory Council, composed of a cross-section of ministers and other faith leaders.

The council recommended the development of the first prison congregation in the State of Michigan. During the three-hour meeting, members discussed the various goals and the model for the prison congregation.

At that meeting, Michigan Department of Corrections Deputy Director Dennis Schrantz addressed the benefits of a prison congregation for prisoners who are showing improved behavior while in prison. He also said he strongly supports the CRC and RCA for joining in the department’s expanded efforts to provide “pro-social activities” for prisoners upon release.

In fact, this is an important part of the new congregation, which will be in fellowship weekly with at least 10 volunteers or partners from outside churches who will engage in Bible study and worship activities with the prisoners, says Rienstra. Many of the initial volunteers are from Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids.

The prison congregation will eventually match church members in mentoring relationships with inmates before they leave prison. "It is a hope of the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative program that the mentoring relationships will continue to provide support when prisoners return to their families, churches, and communities," says Rienstra.

Six prisoners serve as a worship planning team with Rienstra. In its many planning meetings the team is guided by a pamphlet - "So You've Been Asked to Plan a Worship Service" - written by Dr. John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW). The prisoners have decided to name the prison congregation "Celebration Fellowship,” a name suggested by a Michigan Department of Corrections Correctional Officer.

"We are now ready to explore various degrees of partnership with more churches," says Rienstra. "We will be adding up to 12 churches or clusters of church members, each composed of 12 volunteers, as interest, experience in prison ministry, and capacity allow."

The prison congregation will be supported by the gifts of the CRC in partnership with the Reformed Church in America.

Please contact Rev. Richard Rienstra at 616-464-6065 or at [email protected] for further information about ways for your church to become even more involved.

Bible/book studies and worship are held at the prison from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Monday.