Monday, June 24, 2013

In the News ... "Offenders graduate from innovative seminary at Fort Stockton prison"

Rachael Gleason, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS - A first-of-its-kind prison seminary is making waves at Fort Stockton's Lynaugh Unit.

The seminary recently awarded Christian-faith degrees to offenders with sentences ranging from 18 months to 10 years. But unlike other programs, offenders also served as instructors.

"It's something that's not the norm. You don't put 30 offenders in a classroom with an offender teaching them," said Chaplain Gary Raines, who has served as a spiritual leader for the medium-security prison's 1,400 offenders for three years.

The seminary's 18 students and 8 instructors received accredited degrees through Shalom Ministry, Bible College & Seminary in Iowa, Raines said.

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