Greetings to Our Beloved Supporters of New Beginnings:
It is with great joy that I write to you as the newly called Pastor of New Beginnings Worshipping Community (NBWC), a congregation that has gathered inside the walls of the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF) for over 24 years.
Many of you have been long-time supporters of the ministry and it is with heartfelt thanks for both your prayers and financial support that I write to you. Your ongoing support has allowed us to live into the mission of New Beginnings, to bring the love and grace of Christ to those who are incarcerated, for many years. I’m grateful to be called into this work and believe deeply that as a Church, we are all called to love, care, and advocate for our siblings who are incarcerated.
The gifts that this congregation has brought to the community of the facility for years continues to be one that is not only greatly appreciated, but deeply needed. As the only LGBTQIA+ open and affirming Christian congregation that meets inside, NBWC has remained deeply rooted in its identity of radical inclusivity. We continue to be the only congregation that provides an in-person Pastor for service, offers an ongoing chaplain presence, practices an open table during communion, and has a fully live resident-led band at each service. This has led our tagline on the inside to be “Real Band. Real Talk. Real Pastors. Real Good Gospel.” We are well known and respected by the residents and staff of DWCF.
A woman I speak with often, shared a story with me that I believe emphasizes the importance of this radical inclusivity and she has graciously allowed me to share this with you. She shared that when she is walking throughout the facility, she can feel others staring at her, making comments about her, and judging her constantly due to the nature of her criminal offense. Even within the confines of a prison, there remain insiders and outsiders within the community. However, she spends most Sundays not only attending NBWC service, but also serving in the role as a communion assistant. She noticed that people who won’t speak to her any other time, will not only make eye contact with her during service, but will take communion from her without hesitation. This is the radical hospitality that Jesus preached about and practiced at the Table. During the Eucharist each Sunday, this is what we mean by partaking in a meal “that tasted of freedom.” At NBWC, there is a freedom found in Christ, even when there is a number assigned to you by the state stamped on your chest.
Alongside practicing this radical hospitality, NBWC continues to empower leaders through the Gospel. The congregation continues to be led by the “Inside Council” made up entirely of incarcerated women. This group of women are the hands and feet of the ministry inside. They are not only involved in leading the congregation, but have become known as people who know how to “do time well.” They minister to this community in a number of ways. Their involvement with other resident led programs demonstrates some of the many ways they are leaders on the inside, such as their leadership in VOICES (Vigilant Offenders Initiating Creating and Enhancing Solutions), starting a hygiene closet for women without funding to purchase their own products, leading restorative justice programs, organizing Open Mic programming, and even competing globally through Crossfit. In addition to these many programs, the Inside Council also serves their community through their many jobs, as porters, employees for the E460 toll roads, roasters and baristas for Redemption Roasters, tutors for GED programming, and even as Mental Health Professionals through the facilities peer led programming. The Inside Council embodies our guiding scripture, Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The past several years of prison ministry has presented great challenges and we continue to see the effects of the isolation imposed by the pandemic on many of our residents. In addition to witnessing the impact of this isolation on the mental health of residents, it has also created greater challenges for those leaving prison. This has led NBWC to recognize our calling to further engage in re-entry work by providing spiritual care, mental health care, and basic needs support to those reintegrating into the outside world. Listening to this call, NBWC has planted itself within the “Love in Action Center” located on the Rocky Mountain Synod’s campus in North Denver. The vision for this space is to partner with local organizations to provide a hub for re-entry support. In 2024, the Center hopes to offer a re-entry support group for people as they transition home after their sentences.
Cultivating and growing the NBWC congregation and envisioning these hopes for the future of our ministry together would not be possible without our partner congregations, individual supporters, and volunteers. You continue to be vital to the life of the ministry by ensuring that we are able to continue to carry out our mission and vision.
For our partner congregations, as you consider your budgets for the upcoming year, close out this year’s budgets, and plan programming, we invite you to consider New Beginnings as part of your giving. We invite our individual donors to also continue your support and advocate for our ministry within your own congregations. We recognize that how you express this support might vary.
Of course, financial support and especially monthly giving plans of any size continue to be our greatest need. The reality of a congregation being held inside a state facility means that we are entirely supported by individual donors, congregational giving, and grants. Even a small commitment by a congregation to give .25-1% of their overall budget or an individual giving just $1/day can have a noticeable impact. We are excited to share that congregations and individuals can now give more easily and smoothly through our new giving platform, tithe.ly. The purple QR code and link below will take you directly to our giving page, where a one-time or ongoing gift can be set-up.
In addition to your financial gifts, congregations and individuals may continue to support us through another great need of ours: prayer. Loving and caring for the community of NBWC also means committing to praying for our community members. We continue to pray that the residents of DWCF know that they are loved, cared for, and seen by those of us who live life on the outside.
Along with prayer, supporters might choose to take on a justice project or advocate for changes to legislation through our local Faith in Action chapter, Together Colorado, who most recently advocated and won free phone calls for all people who are incarcerated. This legislation also supports a key vision of NBWC, which strives to support and advocate for healthy and ongoing relationships with loved ones while people are incarcerated. We continue to meet this calling by providing greeting cards to all residents of the facility through our robust greeting card ministry, of which many of you have been supporting for decades.
And finally, supporters might choose to volunteer with NBWC, to attend services on Sunday afternoons alongside our congregation. In the past, NBWC has welcomed congregational groups to experience service together, however due to recent changes in policy through the Colorado Department of Corrections, we are now only able to welcome two visitors per Sunday. However, we are able to welcome an unlimited number of trained volunteers to service. If you are interested in visiting or becoming a volunteer, this service to the community is always appreciated. The process to visit or volunteer can be started by reaching out to myself.
Further, I remain available to preach on Sundays at your congregations, lead Sunday School, host Bible studies, or simply visit to share more about our ministry. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me via phone or email to arrange a time for me to visit, or for us to simply grab a cup of coffee together.
Throughout the Gospels, we are called time and time again to “continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3).” Supporting the ministry of New Beginnings is simply one way in which we live into that calling as a Church Together.
As we prepare our own budgets and programming for the new year, it is especially helpful to our leadership if we are aware of any contributions you plan to make in 2024. For this reason, you’re invited to complete the information form below and mail it back to us at 7375 Samuel Dr., Denver, CO 80221. If submitting a digital version is easier for you, you may submit a confidential google form via the green QR code below. This form not only helps us be aware of your planned contributions, but also allows us to learn of the many congregations and people supporting New Beginnings across the country.
Thank you for your thoughtful support of New Beginnings and for your continuous belief in the value of this ministry to God’s people.
With deep thanksgiving and love,
Pr. Samm Melton-Hill
pastormeltonhill@gmail.com
314-479-4122 (text or call)
