Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2013 Issue | Page 27

Discovering God in the Darkest Places

The second in a two-part series on prison ministry in the Diocese
Ashley Cameron
While many prison ministries involve
a physical presence – actually visiting
with and ministering to the prisoners
directly – some support this outreach
in other ways. Rochelle Felsburg, music
director at Church of the Messiah,
Fredericksburg, started sending
messages from Scripture, notes and
prayers to a friend who recently entered
the Federal Prison Program. In his
room of 12 men, he began reading the
notes out loud. Felsburg began sending
Christmas cards, Easter cards and
notes to about 15 other men – and then
realized that mail was opening a door to
God’s light in a dark place.

“It blows their mind that a complete
stranger would reach out to them when
they feel they have been forgotten,”
said Felsburg. Now, she sends a monthly
newsletter, “Day by Day,” which includes
Scripture, Christian puzzles, testimonies,
histories behind Anglican worship days
and a Bible study. Her mailing list has
grown from one to 20 recipients. “We
may never meet face-to-face on this
side of Heaven,” said Felsburg, “but the
joy I receive in connecting with these
precious people is a blessing I never
thought would come my way.”

Spreading God’s love is an integral

part of the work of Laurel Patterson,
a parishioner at St. James’, Leesburg.
As part of Kairos Prison ministry, an
ecumenical team of volunteers from all
over Virginia, she helps lead monthly
reunions at the Fluvanna Correctional
Center for Women. Kairos’ mission
is not to proselytize, but to bring the
knowledge of God’s love to those who
have experienced very little evidence of
love in their lives. “Not only am I blessed
by doing the ministry, I am blessed by
the women I do the ministry with,” said
Laurel. “It is a blessing for me to go
there and share the love of the Lord with
residents of the prison. My heart is full
and my eyes brim with tears because of
the love we share.”

Nancy Burch, member of St.
Patrick’s, Falls Church, has been a longtime member of Kairos. “Kairos is geared
towards how God has had an impact
on their lives,” she explained. “Talks
become very powerful and they get in
touch with their pain. It gives them the
ability to bring it to the foot of the cross
and leave it there.”

Prison ministry doesn’t end when
someone is released. Br. Les Roberts, a
member of St. Matthew’s, Sterling, is a
mentor at the Loudoun Aftercare, which

helps provide former prisoners with the
tools and resources they need. Their
Partner for Success program partners
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