May 12, 2010
EL DORADO, KAN -- It has been a long and sometimes arduous journey, but a new Spiritual Life Center at the El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) in Kansas finally held its dedication and open house May 4.
For years, inmates met in empty classrooms or the inmate visitor's room, but now they have a state-of-the-art worship and learning facility.
An overflow crowd was present to celebrate the accomplishment. The 11,500 square foot center, which took nearly six years to complete and cost more than $1 million, features a 300-seat auditorium, multipurpose room, seven classrooms and two chaplains' offices. The facility is the largest prison chapel ever built in the United States.
Roger Werholtz, who is head of the Department of Corrections, sees this center as one key to bring life-changing correction to inmates.
"What matters is that we find the key that can go out and touch that individual and give them a door to walk through to a different life, Werholtz said. "And that's what I think this place will do."
While the physical structure itself is impressive, what is even more significant is the building process. None of the construction was paid for with taxpayer dollars. All of it was funded by donations and fundraising events. At least 180 churches supported the campaign in one form or another.
A group of inmates actually gave the first $500 of seed money to start the Spiritual Life Center project, and most of the work was done by inmates. Construction took a little over three years after the work began in October 2005.
"This is truly an amazing facility," said prison warden Ray Roberts. "Central Kansas Prison Ministry has been tremendous to work with. They are salt-of-the-earth type of people."
Lynn Everett McBride, who has served as executive director of Central Kansas Prison Ministry since November 1991, said the day has been a long time in coming. He says that God first gave him the vision for the Spiritual Life Center seven years ago.
That vision carried him through multiple setbacks. Construction efforts stalled in October 2007 because of a prison break. Repair crews were needed to install additional security and new systems throughout the facility. A sluggish economy also added unforeseen challenges.
"Well, we finally made it," McBride told the crowd. "Due to God's faithfulness and to your many generous contributions we are here today."
Several speakers testified to how the center is already impacting the prison population.
"We christened this place back on March 21 and we had 218 inmates in here," said Chaplin Chauncey Biby with the El Dorado State Prison. "We prayed over every chair, the sound equipment and even the musical instruments."
Biby said that five inmates gave their lives to the Lord that day, demonstrating the significance of the new center.
Kansas Lieutenant Governor Troy Findley was among the speakers at the open house and dedication. He thanked those who donated money so that the men inside the center could have a second chance to be honest and godly men.
Wichita, Kan., architects Rachel Mondt and Tim Dudte designed the facility and were also present.
"A lot of seeds have been sown creating a foundation, but it is just the beginning," said Mondt. "Personal faith kept everyone involved. This has been a project of endurance as they usually don't take this long."
Jack Spears, 47, is one inmate who believes the facility will play a critical part in reduced recidivism and community restoration. Spears, who has been in prison for 22 years on first-degree murder charges, asked open house crowd a question that he would soon answer: "Do you think all this money was worth it?"
Spears then shared that he was lost when he first went to prison. For a long time, he believed he was in prison for murder, but Spears says it was actually for another reason.
