04 Oct Thursday Night Church at the County Jail

Jim Woodward of First UB church (Findlay, Ohio) received the “Outstanding Service Award” in 2010.

Ryan Dunn, reporter for The Courier newspaper (Findlay, Ohio)

Before Jim Woodward asked the dozen jail inmates to join him for an opening prayer, he acknowledged change will not be easy for the prisoners.

“I think we all need patience,” Woodward told them. “I know I do.”

Each Thursday night, a Hancock County jail recreation room becomes a makeshift church, complete with pastors preaching growth through Scripture. The congregation is detained men and women. Some have been convicted of crimes, others are waiting while their cases inch forward in court.

Inmates can attend one of three 45-minute sessions, two for men and one for women, often discussing responsibility and opportunity after making poor decisions.

Woodward, who organizes the program and owns The Razor’s Edge barbershop in Findlay, said the meetings grew from a monthly guest speaker to weekly Bible study. “We felt if we did it once a month, they’d fall back through the cracks before we got back there,” Woodward said.

Despite strict searches by corrections officers, inmates consistently visit the service. “Would you go to church if you were patted down before and strip-searched after?” Woodward said.

They meet in a large room that makes tackling heavy topics difficult. Voices echo loudly off the cinder block walls and several air vents hum, but few inmates break eye contact.

The Revs. Darwin Dunten (right) and Teddy Fairchild, of Findlay’s First United Brethren and The Rock churches, respectively, routinely cite Bible passages that speak of strength through God. Both pastors said they deliver the same sermon, with additional explanation, as they do during regular church service. “What I preach on Sunday morning is what I bring here, literally,” Fairchild said.

After a year and a half of chaplain work, guiding both inmates and corrections officers, the jail has become a “second church” for Fairchild (right).

There are remarkable moments when inmates connect deeply to a reading, but Fairchild said his group aims more for long-term growth.

“I don’t think there’s ever really a success mark,” he said. “Our goal is to plant the seed for change.”

The jail church can guide that change, he said, through rehabilitation programs and job searches. If inmates prove to be committed to improving their lives after incarceration, Fairchild vouches for that progress.

Dunten said they try to encourage inmates, and hope they will later join a church. “When they come in, we’re not condemning them,” Dunten said. “A lot of these people have never been encouraged.”

Though some argue against jail programs working to inspire inmates, Dunten said Scripture clearly states the importance of doing so. “I understand the frustration, but it does not take away the responsibility the church has,” he said.

The personal approach is what draws inmates, such as James Waller, each week. He said he always wanted to attend church, but struggled to find the right fit. The program highlights relevant Bible messages that are applicable to everyday life, he said. “Every time I go to these, when somebody talks, it relates to me,” he said. Waller said he plans to visit Fairchild’s church after leaving jail.

A recent session hosted incoming County Commissioner Brian Robertson. He asked the inmates to share the burdens that continue haunting them. Some spoke of their past, ongoing temptations, and pressures to provide for a family. “It’s very, very easy to be a wayward son, but it’s hard to find a path to the straight and narrow,” Robertson told them.

More than 30 people attended Bible study that night, about a third of the jail’s inmates.

Word has spread quickly because the problems discussed, such as curbing drug use and maintaining relationships, are ones that matter, said Lt. Ryan Kidwell, jail administrator. “What I think makes (Woodward’s) program different is he tries to address real-life problems for the incarcerated,” Kidwell said. “He doesn’t put on any type of front.”

The team of volunteers improves jail life, he said, as inmates act with more respect toward corrections officers thanks to the program. After leaving jail, many inmates visit Woodward’s barbershop. He “sees them for who they are and not what they’ve done,” Kidwell said.

During sermons, Woodward passes a spiral notebook to the inmates. He asks them to detail any topic for him to pray over. Woodward holds on to those books, which are filled with personal messages. Most ask to stay dedicated to change, or be more accountable toward loved ones, he said.

“There’s always some who come to get out of their cells, no question,” Woodward said. “But they trust us.”

01 Oct October 1 Update on Dan Paternoster

Dan Paternoster

Dan Paternoster, who was struck by a car on August 28 while riding his bike, continues to make progress, albeit slowly. Here are recent excerpts posted to CarePages.com by Dan’s wife, Nancy, during the past week. Dan, a veterinarian from the UB church in Fowlerville, Mich., is a member of denominational the Executive Leadership Team.

Wednesday, September 26. Walking up and down the stairs was Dan’s job for today, along with standing and kicking a ball. He did both things with help. Balance is something we take for granted until we have to learn to balance all over again.

Dan is progressing with his speech therapist, too but not as fast as in the physical areas. This area is frustrating to both of us. There are so many words in Dan’s head that it takes him a long time to recall the word that he wants. Sometimes he just uses other words in his sentences that don’t make any sense to us, but seem fine to him since he knows what he’s trying to say. Please pray specifically that his language recall and communication would improve tremendously this coming week.

Thursday, September 27. Still working on balance with sidestepping while playing catch. He’s gettng better with this. Since Dan is getting steadier on his feet, we requested his physical therapist to give us pointers on helping Dan transfer from the wheelchair to his bed and in the bathroom. It will be easier for Dan not having to wait for nursing staff to come each time he wants to transfer. There were several sentences that Dan said today that made total sense. Keep praying for this area. Dan will be having a swallow study done soon and if okay, then will be able to move on to food on a regular basis.

Friday, September 28. Today was a tiring day. Dan practiced swallowing by eating oatmeal and drinking cranberry juice. He’ll have a swallow study done on Monday and will be given more food if that study goes well. Dan also matched cards by suits and identified which item didn’t belong in each picture. He finished physical therapy by walking up and down a small hill. Dan’s sentences made more sense at times today, but please keep praying for complete healing in this area.

Sunday, October 1. Dan’s memory of names of objects and how to do simple tasks is returning slowly.

30 Sep Seeking Physical Health at Anchor

Anchor participants in the 2012 Fort4Fitness (click to enlarge).

Pastor Tim Hallman, preparing to run the 13-mile half-marathon, with his wife Tara, who ran the 10K (which started about a half hour later).

Tin Caps Stadium, where all of the Fort4Fitness events ended, is right across the street from the Grand Wayne Center, which will host the 2013 US National Conference.

As in 2011, a number of people from Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) participated in the annual Fort4Fitness races September 28-29, 2012. The kids in front participated in the children’s marathon on September 28; they log miles during the summer, and then complete the last 1.2 miles at the Tin Caps Stadium. Most of the adults participated in the 4-Mile walk. Pastor Tim Hallman ran the 13-mile half-marathon, and his wife, Tara, ran the 10K. Two others walked the 10K.

It’s an exciting event for the city. In just five years, the event has grown from 3000 people 10,000 people.

A group photo of most of the participants from Anchor was taken after the morning service on September 30.