We applaud R. Joe Wilson of Enid and World Vision Builders, who are joining with the state to construct a chapel at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft.
The chapel is needed in order to conduct personal management and growth classes at the minimum-security prison. The facility doesn’t have enough space, and inmates are on a long waiting list to participate in such things as sexual abuse recovery and dealing with co-dependency offered by local churches and other faith-based organizations.
Wilson, a domestic project coordinator for World Vision, said the group hopes to start on the chapel in September and finish early next year. The group solicits volunteer teams to come and help with the construction, thereby reducing costs. The chapel will belong to the state.
Wilson said he hopes the chapel at Eddie Warrior will be followed by chapels at other state prisons.
Faith-based groups provide very important support for prisons in providing counseling and education for inmates. Often faith-based groups have greater success than secular programs in changing lives and reducing recidivism.
Of course, inmates still could use more trade and education programs, too, but the state certainly should accept the assistance of World Vision and allow faith-based groups to provide the spiritual conviction people need to bring about change in their lives.
