Prison Ministry Team at Vinje

“I was in prison and you visited me .” Matthew 25:36

Prisoners of Hope Lutheran Church-ELCA at Prairie Correctional Facility,

Appleton , Minnesota

Prisoners of Hope is an ELCA congregation within the prison, and is supported by congregations of the Southwestern Minnesota synod. Pastor Roger Semmler leads this congregation. Worship services are on Tuesday evenings from 6:40-8:30pm. This time includes some fellowship with the prisoners. After the service, all visitors are invited to Zion Lutheran Church for a time of sharing and fellowship.

2009 Prisoners of Hope Visitation Schedule:

Tuesdays, March 17, May 19, August 18, and October 20

Visitor groups are limited to no more than 15 people.
All adults are invited! Visitors must be 21 years or older.
Prison visitors must register 2 weeks before the visit.
(Registration Form )
If you are currently listed as an approved visitor for a particular prisoner held in any MN facility, you may not be allowed to be a volunteer with the church group.

2009 Volunteer Training sessions: Saturday Morning 8AM - Noon

June 6, August 15 or October 10. Contact the church office for registration forms. Completed paper work must be turned in 6 weeks before the training.

Contact the church office 235-1441 or via email, or contact
Coordinator Kris Swanson to register.

HISTORY of PRISON MINISTRY at VINJE

Vinje’s ministry for visiting and worshiping with people in prison was first organized in 1992. Val Gieseke was the first coordinator of Vinje’s Prison Ministry. She would set up the visitation schedule at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility, recruit teams of visitors and help them prepare the worship service for each visit.

Over the years, members of other local congregations joined with Vinje’s team, including members from Paz Y Esperanza, Calvary, Faith Lutheran in Spicer, Redeemer Lutheran, Evangelical Free, St. Mary’s Catholic, and First Baptist. Since the Prison Ministry began, over 90 people have been involved.

After 15 years of leading worship at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility, Vinje has entered another phase of prison ministry. We are now worshipping with the prisoners at the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota.

What do Prison Ministry participants do at the prison?

Four or five Tuesdays each year, a team of up to 15 men and women meet at 5:00pm Vinje and carpool to the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Mn. Upon arrival at the prison, Pastor Roger Semmler meets and welcomes the group. Worship begins at 6:40pm. The team proceeds to the prison chapel, prays together, and greets the prison inmates with a friendly smile and a handshake as they come to worship. Frequent visitors may sing in the choir and participate in leading worship. Following worship, team members are invited to Zion Lutheran in Appleton for refreshments and a time to share observations, questions and reflections on the visit. The team leaves Appleton at 9:00pm to return to Willmar.

Vinje Prison Ministry Volunteers may visit the prison once a year without attending a training session. However, several times a year, there is a four-hour training session conducted at the prison for those who choose to be a trained volunteer. Once trained, a volunteer may visit as often as they wish.

Why do team members keep going back to the prison to worship with the inmates? The following thoughts were expressed by members of the Prison Ministry Team:

• I always leave with the feeling that I have made a difference in their lives.
• Many of these imprisoned young men demonstrate their faith so sincerely, and they have inspired me and encouraged me in my own faith.
• We share with the inmates the grace, love, and power of Jesus Christ.
• The prisoners have much to offer us. Their warm greetings & desire to be at worship, their heartfelt prayers & messages help us to grow in our faith.
• Prisoners need to know they can be forgiven. The Holy Spirit is quite evident.
• It is a privilege to meet and worship God with our brothers in Christ.
• Worshipping with the inmates is much like a Bible camp experience – great singing with a feeling of being totally and spiritually involved.