As Jesus told his followers in Matthew 25, “Where were you when I asked you to visit those in prison? What you did to the least of these, you do to me.” This is why we support the prison ministry out of St, Peter’s.
Collins Christian Ministries (CCM) is an ecumenical group serving incarcerated prisoners at Collins Correctional Facility in Collins, N.Y., near Gowanda. Deacon Tom Tripp has been a member since 2009.
Covid, along with prison staff reductions has caused CCM to alter the extent of their volunteer work. The group currently runs a 1-day, all day, “RETREAT” inside the prison twice a year. Our volunteers offer a positive experience of change for the inmates, attempting to provide hope for a better life both inside and outside the barbed wire.
The males-only “Inside Team” enters the prison, with a specific program modified from the Kairos Program. Prisoners are assigned in “family units” of 6 inmates and 2-3 CCM volunteers. We sing, we pray, and we educate them to the forgiveness and love fostered by Jesus Christ. EE model Christian living, do a lot of listening to the inmates, and have a safe, fun-filled experience.
An “Outside Team” made of up males and females, operates in support from a local church. They pray for the whole group inside. They make dinner for the inside team the evening before the retreat, breakfast the morning of, and transport inside two more meals during the day.
Once a retreat is completed, the volunteers from both teams hold “Grouping ” most Fridays inside the Collins Chapel, which serve as weekly sustaining and support sessions. We often maintain correspondence with prisoners who have been released.
The basic thread that runs through our work is LOVE-LOVE, LISTEN, LISTEN. We turn over to Jesus and the Holy Spirit to change the inmates in need. We win some, we lose some. The prison has welcomed our efforts through the years because we reduce the rate of recidivism and reduce tensions inside as well.
The people of St. Peter’s have supported the ministry by writing cards of encouragement, making placemats and wall hangings, prayers, and sending in cookies, and muffins for snacking.
If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Tom or Missy Lopat, or the church at (716) 832-9764. You may also contact at stpeterseggertsvilleny@gmail.com