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When inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman rise in the mornings and retire at night, they will soon have a view of a new chapel not far from their beds as a symbol of hope and faith leading to improved conditions and rehabilitation during their incarceration with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Unit 30 where construction is set to begin on the first church to be built inside prison walls in the prison’s 120-year history. A nondenominational 6,400 square foot sanctuary will be established with the assistance of inmate labor and a targeted completion date in 70 days to hopefully coincide with Easter morning.
David McNair, president of the Mississippi Prison Chapel Foundation, Inc., which is providing funding, said the new chapel will make a positive difference in the inmates’ lives. The 250-person capacity building, adorned with stain glass windows, will also include a 20-foot tower with a 30-inch iron bell that will sound with a half mile range when services are being held. McNair said the inmates will be in a more church-like environment as opposed to cell doors and prison walls.
“The greatest thing in the world for the inmates will be right here. It will be a beacon of faith that they can see when they go to bed and when they wake up. They will see a steeple that is a reminder of their relationship with God and a place where they can come and feel closer to God,” McNair said, adding that inmates will still have the current church at Parchman, but the new chapel will be closer to where they live.
Inmate Henry Stephens, who is a 2018 graduate of the Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary started at the prison more than 10 years ago, said the new chapel is a sign that conditions are improving. “God is bringing change and He is changing our environment for the better. It is comforting to see that people care about us,” Stephens said. “I am looking forward to working with the chaplain staff and spreading God’s word among the inmates through this chapel.”
Inmate Eric Thomas said the announcement of the new chapel is already improving the outlook of inmates in the unit. “This is an amazing opportunity and what is happening here is already having an effect. The commissioner is bringing change and a lot has improved. We just have to give him time,” Thomas said.
Commissioner Burl Cain commended the work of the foundation and everyone participating in the project, giving particular recognition to one of the foundation’s board members, Dr. Tom Dulin of Winona. Cain noted that Dulin was among his early contacts from Mississippians looking to build chapels within the prison.
“He was telling me about how many years he had trying to have a church here and how much money he had in the bank in Winona. I said we are going to build a church here and he didn’t believe me. The good Lord caused us to come to this time and because of his thoughtfulness, I want to dedicate this ceremony to Dr. Dulin. He has been here for so long and has done so much work at the prison and he has faithful in good times and in bad times. It is icons like you who cause things like this to happen,” Commissioner Cain said.
Dulin, 91, who has been familiar with Cain through his work in Louisiana, commended the commissioner on his goals for Mississippi’s prison system. “I am very happy that he came to us and a lot of prayer went into Commissioner Cain’s arrival. He is straight, honest, and he cares about us and he will work with the prisoners,” Dulin said. “He has a plan for Mississippi prisons and it heavily involves God, and it heavily includes involvement with the prisoners.”
McNair said plans include building eight more chapels for the MDOC among its institutions that also include Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County and South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Greene County.
With inmates watching the groundbreaking ceremony, Commissioner Cain said “This is tantamount, very important to real, true rehabilitation with skills and trades and equipped to get a job. With morality in your heart, you’ll be a successful citizen.”
MageeNews.com is an online newspaper covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the state of Mississippi.
