McCORMICK, S.C. --- Most everything is provided at McCormick Correctional Institution, says one inmate of the maximum security prison.
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"We have food. We have water. We have clothes," he said. "But we have no place to pray."
The 58-year-old Buford, S.C., native is six years into a life sentence.
"I need something to keep me going," said the man, who can't be identified by name by policy of the S.C. Department of Corrections.
Before year's end, he'll be able to find refuge in a new chapel.
Hundreds gathered Thursday afternoon to break ground on the chapel site. It will seat up to 300 people, and hold worship services most nights of the week, in addition to Bible studies.
The groundbreaking comes after the opening of a new faith-based dormitory in January. It is reserved for 100 residents committed to rehabilitation. A record free from disciplinary problems for six months is required to join.
The Rev. Nedenia Barber, the senior chaplain, said she's seen that the prison's atmosphere improves when the spiritual needs of inmates are met.
"The motivation level is up. There are fewer incidents," she said. "Others are putting in applications. They know that the faith-based dorm is a safe place to live."
Barber said she hopes the new chapel will continue to spur change.
"We've been praying for this a long time," she said.
Fundraising for the chapel began 16 years ago, but the project got a boost in 2006 when the South Carolina legislature approved $600,000 for four prison chapels.
Of that, $150,000 went to McCormick, and a nonprofit, the McCormick Chapel Corp., was formed to raise an additional $150,000. Members of the community contributed, as did inmates.
"It's been a very long trip but the trip is about to come to a conclusion and we thank God for that," said Polly Prather, the chairwoman of the chapel corporation.
Jon Ozmint, the director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, spoke to community supporters and prison volunteers at the groundbreaking.
"In the end," he said, "it's just a building. Concrete and steel. It'll be used for other purposes other than worship, I'm sure. What's more important is what it represents."
The presence of a chapel, and the programs provided there, offer hope, the inmate with a life sentence said.
"I'm not getting out, but for these young men in here, it'll help them out in life. If you don't get help, you'll get out and fall back right where you were," he said.
One 31-year-old inmate said he's looking forward to living a changed life once his sentence ends next year.
"They gave us this program and said they want to help people, elevate them, help them better themselves," the McCormick native said. "Clearly that's something I need, otherwise I wouldn't be in here."
Though the new chapel and dorm foster peace among the inmates, the prison, and even the faith dorm, aren't without problems, said John Brinkley, the dorm lieutenant.
In January, an inmate stabbed and killed another prisoner.
"I'm never going to tell you we don't have our problems, but it's better," Brinkley said. "It's just about a total turnaround with them. The work ethic has changed. They've changed."
The McCormick Chapel Corp. is beginning the second phase of the project, equipping and furnishing the chapel.
"We're going to need chairs, projectors, tables, sound equipment. We're going to need a lot," said the Rev. Nedenia Barber, the senior chaplain.
Find more information at mccormickchapel.org
"(70 % people of color)" should probably stop committing crimes.
Justus4, You really need to apply for the preaching job in this new chapel. I think your wisdom will be highly accepted. Try and beat Rev. Wright to this honorable position.
I do not care what color a person is. If they commit the crime they should do the time. But, at the same time, I do not care what color a person is because we all need God in our lives. They claim things have gotten better if not perfect since opening the faith based dorm and allowing God into the prison. But, we see what has happened to the schools since we took God out of the schools. Things have gotten progressively worse. Something to think about. God has a calming effect and it shows.
So long as the ACLU doesn't find out about this.
What an utter waste of taxpayer money. These people can pray from their prison cells. It is very telling that so many prisoners who commit awful crimes are professed Christians.
ok, justus4, i'll bite. let's google "scott sisters." hmmm... ok. here's the first thing i found.
"How do you wind up in prison serving two life terms for a robbery that netted 11 dollars? That question has haunted first time offenders Gladys and Jamie Scott for the past 15 years.
On December 24, 1993, Scott County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi arrested the sisters for an armed robbery they vehemently deny participation in. In 1994 they were convicted after being implicated in the crime by three young Black men who confessed to the robbery in exchange of a plea bargain that gave them 10 months. The sisters were not offered a plea and went to trial.
Time has passed slowly for these sisters as they watched from behind bars their five children grow into adults and mourned the lost of their father. They have felt the pain of exhausting all their legal remedies while being denied relief at every level."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-papa/the-scott-sisters-two-lif_b_1...
but what if we put a chapel in there? that would probably be nice for them!
Justus, how was it that those 2 fine, upstanding black women, pillars of the community, were convicted in Mississippi by a jury consisting of 5 blacks and 7 whites (40% black, 60% white) in a county that is 74% white and 12% black? Were the black jurors corrupt? Do U Know Who is responsible for their conviction?
Justus4..Take a good look at the weekly jail report. At least 70% of the offenders are 'people of color'. I will admit though that the repeat offender is more often a 'people without color'.
I ran across this article because I was trying to look up McCormick's phone number online; I am a faith-based volunteer who travels to McCormick twice per month to work with inmates.
From my perspective, this chapel is a great thing. The inmates who come to classes like mine are the inmates who are looking to change. They are ready to turn themselves around, and they are searching for the resources to do it. If they didn't want to change, they wouldn't show up to my class. They'd hang out in their dorm and watch TV or do whatever.
One thing most folks forget is that the vast majority of prisoners are not in prison forever. After they serve their time, they go back into society with the rest of us.
So... is a chapel a waste of money? I don't think so. If volunteers like me can help these guys develop the moral compass they need to change and stay out of prison, then in the long-run, that's a GREAT investment for taxpayers. The whole "lock em up and throw away the key" attitude doesn't really help anybody.
Anyway... back to my search for the prison phone number!! :-)
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