by The Rev'd Wesley Owens, Curate
As the Canon for Missions & Evangelism, I have been so greatly encouraged by the number of great leaders that the Lord has raised up for work beyond the walls of our Cathedral. Deacon Wesley has shown both great passion and unwavering dedication to bring Christ to men and women that are re-entering society after incarceration. After appointing him to lead a new partnership with Good News Outreach, I could not be more excited to offer the following update on God’s work through him and his team below. –Father Bill
It is far too common for us as typical American churchgoers to remain nearsighted in our understanding of God’s grace, and this is particularly apparent in our attitudes toward the incarcerated. We settle for retribution when Christ calls us to be agents of his restoration. Hebrews 13:3 instructs us to “remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them…” This command is the application of a principle at the very heart of our Lord’s incarnation. Jesus Christ did not keep the fallen world at arm’s length; he entered into the brokenness of humanity to redeem us. He did not ignore the demands of God’s justice; indeed, he gave his life to fulfill it. But, his primary mission was one of mercy, forgiveness, and healing.
Much can be said about the harsh realities of an American prison, but too often we overlook the trauma experienced by former inmates in the weeks, months, and years after prison. The road to stability after prison is arduous and uncertain. Former inmates must ‘swim upstream’ before they can find a foothold in a society that is reluctant to receive them. They struggle to regain access to basic privileges that you and I take for granted: good employment, a driver’s license, safe housing, a reliable social network. In the absence of support, it is no wonder that roughly one of every four inmates released from a Florida prison will return to prison within three years. The desperation brought about by PTSD, lingering addiction, unstable surroundings, and a lack of secure relationships can make prospects appear hopeless.
Since November 2020, St. Peter’s has been actively exploring new opportunities to share the Gospel with former inmates and work to reduce recidivism in Tallahassee. Our Re-entry Leadership Team, which includes Dave Mica, Frances Prevatt, and Jason White, has been engaging actively in relationship building and strategic planning with the goal of engaging in mission through Christian mentoring, tutoring, trauma and addiction recovery, and vocational help. In partnership with Good News Outreach, we are coming alongside the ministry of Mercy House, a local transitional house for men, while assisting with the development of a parallel re-entry program for women.
Please pray for us and consider joining us in this important work. I am grateful to the team of Godly lay leaders for their diverse contributions: Frances Prevatt, who is serving as our liaison for women’s re-entry; Scott Marshall, who has agreed to offer math tutoring to a resident of Mercy House; Sara Clausen, who has consulted with us about volunteer training standards in the department of corrections; and others who are prayerfully discerning the call to serve as after-prison mentors. There are many ways to serve and be the hands and feet of Jesus in the lives of men and women who desperately need hope.