InnerChange group
NEWTON, Iowa--Several WCG members participated in the Iowa InnerChange Freedom Initiative dedication Saturday, Dec. 4.
Guest speaker Chuck Colson said: "You can't scare people out of crime. Something has to happen in the human heart."
Several members from Chariton and Des Moines are learning the meaning of pure religion (James 1:27) as volunteers and counselors at a state correction center, in Newton, 35 miles east of Des Moines.
Iowa is the second state to participate in InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI), a part of Prison Fellowship Ministries founded by Mr. Colson. This program began in Texas two years ago.
The goal of InnerChange is to change the hearts of offenders, thus their values and lives, through Jesus Christ. The 135 voluntary participants (soon to be 180) are housed in a separate building. Their days are spent immersed in Christian living as they worship, study the Bible, go to school, receive counseling, interact with one another and work.
"It's obvious that God is working in these men's hearts," said Carla Reinagel, wife of pastor Karl Reinagel. "Their building is a place of hope in a system where our world tries to lock up and forget the evil that is in man's heart. Jesus has pardoned these men and his peace shines about them."
The WCG initially became involved with IFI through the prayers and persistence of member Mickey Pope, who says, "I am a witness to God's saving grace as a transformed ex-felon."
Mickey served two years in the women's penitentiary in Virginia in the early '90s after being convicted of check fraud. She met Mr. Colson there in Virginia on a seminar and was empowered by God to join him in his vision.
"By God's grace and glory I have been clean of drugs and alcohol for eight years!"
Mickey is now employed at the Newton facility as spiritual counselor to one third of the men in the IFI program. Ten other WCG members have been cleared by the Department of Corrections to volunteer in Newton.
Several times a week, members are at the prison helping in some way. Carol and Cindy Gillaspie and Terry Pope (Mickey's husband) are volunteers helping with tutoring, computer skills, Bible studies and family counseling and visitations.
Keith and Lindy Gardner teach a Bible-based substance abuse class Wednesday evenings. Mickey is the program's substance abuse certifier.
Cal and Nona DeVries and Tom Langman assist with transporting families to the prison to visit husbands or fathers. Manfred Scheiding is training to serve as a mentor when that phase of IFI begins in May.
The first Sunday of each month WCG volunteers conduct a worship service with IFI members, "which is a real encouragement to the volunteers as well as the IFI participants," Mrs. Reinagel said. Lindy Gardner leads worship, often with the assistance of the IFI choir.
The sermon is usually given by pastor Karl Reinagel, though Cal DeVries and Keith Gardner preach on occasion. The other WCG volunteers attend to support, encourage and pray with the prisoners.
Members pray for the participants and their families. They don't know where God will ultimately lead in their involvement in IFI, but they feel privileged to have a part in what he is doing in prisons today, Mrs. Reinagel said.
InnerChange group
Chuck Colson
Karl and Carla Reinagel
Chuck Colson (right) signs book for Jim Wagner. [Photos by Terry Pope]
Senator Chuck Grassley (left) with Mickey Pope.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000