Gwen, you’ve been volunteering with Prison Fellowship for over 21 years. Tell me, why is volunteering so important to you?
As a Christian, volunteering is in my DNA! I believe it fits the teaching of the Bible; anyone who claims to be a Christian must live as Jesus lived, meeting people’s needs and sharing God’s love with them.
What’s the best thing about being a prison chaplain?
So many prisoners are without hope, and it is very special to share the Good News with them, that there is hope in Jesus .
How did you first start volunteering as a prison chaplain?
In the mid-nineties, a relative of mine went to prison. God began to prompt me, and I wondered, ‘Does anyone care for these people and give them the Good News of Jesus? Does anyone care for their families?’ So, I asked the Lord, ‘What do you want me to do about it?’ He said, ‘Become a Prison Chaplain!’ But there was one problem with this… the closest prison to me was over 250 kilometres away! But in obedience to what God had said, I applied to Prison Fellowship and became a volunteer. About four years later, a new Correctional Centre opened just a few kilometres from where I live. I became a Chaplain, the first one on-site!
What was it that struck you about PFA? Why were you keen to volunteer?
Prison Fellowship was the only organisation that welcomed me as a female with a vision of becoming a chaplain. The staff were so helpful, friendly, and supportive.
What does chaplaincy involve?
As a chaplain, I visited the prison once a week to minister to prisoners and conducted church services at least once a month. I also ran Bible studies with any prisoners who wanted to attend. I’ve finished my chaplaincy duties now, but I still volunteer with Angel Tree and in a few other ways.
Can you tell me about a time that encouraged you?
I remember one prisoner in the early stages of my chaplaincy; let’s call him Rich*. He was so discouraged when I first talked to him, and I felt he was about to let go of his faith. I couldn’t stay any longer talking to him, so when I got home, I wrote him a long letter and posted it to him. The following week, I saw him, and he was so encouraged! His spiritual fervour had returned, and he had my letter pinned to the noticeboard in his cell! Some 18 years later, he is still in prison but walking with the Lord.
So, is supporting Christian inmates part of your role as a prison chaplain?
Yes, I try to support Christian inmates and share the gospel with those who don’t yet know Christ. Building Jesus’ church behind bars is such an important component of prison chaplaincy. The Lord laid on my heart to minister to and encourage the Christian prisoners because if they are strong and share their faith, God’s work in prisons thrives. I’m only there one day a week, but the Christian prisoners are always there and have many more opportunities to share the gospel. So, I visit them regularly and pray with them, trying to encourage them in their faith.
You mentioned that a family member went to prison a while ago. How did that impact your view of inmates?
Back in the ‘90s, a family member of mine was sent to prison, and I could see the impact it had on them – there was a lot of guilt and shame. It was awful, and the stigma remained with them for a long time. This person had a family to support him on the outside! I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who have no one on the outside. So, I try to love all the prisoners I meet as Jesus would love them.
A lot of these guys have had no love in their lives. They tell me their stories, and they’re heartbreaking – no one to love them and when they’re sent to prison, anyone they might know deserts them! I know what it’s like when someone is sent to prison. Some of the Indigenous prisoners call me “aunty”, and it’s such a privilege to see the way they let me in. If you show them the love of Jesus, that will stay with them forever. Most of them are just lost boys looking for an anchor to hold on to. I try to show a bit of Jesus’ love.
The guys really respect chaplains because they know that we’re not paid and that our conversations are confidential. Occasionally, we do need to report information to the officers, but only when someone is in danger or has told us about an unreported crime. One fellow I saw regularly once told me he felt like giving up. That sort of thing needs to be reported to the officers. So I told him that, but he understood that I was duty-bound to do so.
What happened when you reported it? Did he receive the care he needed?
Yes, he did. Because I reported it to the officers, he received the support he needed, and I was able to visit him for a while after that. We ran a Bible Study inside, and a few months later, he became a Christian!
Can you tell me about a time you could see God at work in prison?
I think God guides us as volunteers every time we enter a prison. He knows every person who needs support and a visit, so we pray before we head into the prison, and God then directs me to a particular part of the prison, where I generally find someone keen to talk with me and open to hearing from God.
I understand your church, Maryborough Baptist Church, is now a Prison Fellowship Restoration Hub. Can you tell me more about that?
Many inmates don’t have family or friends on the outside, and they have no way of trying to build a life after prison. When I first went to the prison, I used to run Bible Studies alongside my chaplaincy duties. Rory* came to one of the first groups I ran. He was so eager – he kept copious notes and always asked lots of questions. He’s being released soon after many, many years in prison, but he doesn’t have many friends or family to support him. That’s why I’m so excited to start a Restoration Hub in my local church!
We’re starting very small with this Restoration Hub. We’re not a big church; there are only about 50 people, but they’re very active members, and our pastor is very proactive! When someone is released from prison, we offer to pick them up at the gate and drive them to where they are staying. We also offer to pick them up to come along to church or run errands, and we can help them get what they need to build a life – whether that’s furniture for an apartment or accompanying them to their parole meetings. I’m looking forward to inviting Rory to my Bible study group, and we’re looking forward to supporting him however we can.
My church also participates in Angel Tree, so when we deliver gifts to the families at Christmas, we can invite them along to our church. In the future, we plan to run Day Camps for the children of inmates.
Why is Angel Tree important to the families of prisoners?
Angel Tree keeps them in touch with their loved one in prison. The children know that their parent is thinking of them, and the parent in prison knows their children are thinking of them. If you can keep families together, the prisoner is more likely to successfully rehabilitate when they get out, and Angel Tree is an important part of that process. It’s not the only thing, but it’s an important part of the whole.
What about Restoration Hubs? Why do you think they are important?
I am pedantic about keeping families together because it really helps with rehabilitation if they have a family to rely on. That’s a difficult thing about prison ministry—we have no control. These guys have free will and will make their own decisions, for better or worse. But now I know how God feels because He doesn’t control us and has given us free will! He must get so disappointed with some of the things we choose to do.
What’s the hardest thing about being a prison chaplain?
I have never found being a chaplain hard, but I do get disappointed when prisoners reject the hope that is in Jesus and often continue coming back to prison time and time again. You can offer them Jesus, but sometimes they’re just not interested, which is hard! It can be very frustrating at times when they make mistakes or fall back to their old ways. But I never feel shame about this because I believe that God helps me to the very best that I can through Him, and these people have a choice. I can’t change their choices. I have a regular prayer that I pray, which goes something like this, “God, you’ve called me to do this – you’ll give me the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to do this ministry. And you will help me through the hard times.”
I always remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine who is a psychiatrist. Her advice was, ‘Don’t try to rescue people; resource them. If you keep rescuing them, you will burn out.’ I have never forgotten that. If you keep rescuing people, they never learn how to look after themselves. We can provide the tools and resources they need, but we can’t force them to use them. God’s a good God and he is all-knowing, so I don’t have to worry. God will follow along every person’s journey.
You never know where someone is at with faith, so I can only do what God puts in front of me, and trust that God will put someone else in their path in the future who can continue the work. Paul says to the Corinthian church, “One plants, one waters, but God gives the increase.” I’m more of a planter and waterer, and I’m happy to let someone else reap the harvest.
What does your family think about you spending time with prisoners?
My family is very supportive – the things my husband has had to put up with! One time, a prisoner who was on parole called me up from Hervey Bay. He had to get back to Brisbane for his parole meeting the next day but didn’t have any means of getting there. So, I drove down to Hervey Bay to pick him up and drove him to a nearby hostel where he could stay for the night. Then, I picked him up first thing in the morning and drove him down to Brisbane. Some might be a bit wary of that sort of thing, but I knew this man well and was happy to help him out. And, of course, there’s always God’s protection – nothing can get past God’s protection. I’m a big believer in Psalm 91.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
What was it like when you finished up as a chaplain?
It was very lovely – they threw me a bit of a party, with a mudcake and all!
Why do you think volunteering in prisons is important?
Because when I do what I do for the least and the lost, I do it for my Lord and to please Him. If you live close to a prison, volunteer! We always need more volunteers!
