Tulsa World: Building chapel an inspirational act

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | WIRELESS

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Building chapel an inspirational act
Material and labor donated for women's facility.

Inmates in the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, a women's prison near Taft, and volunteer workers from outside the prison pose in front of the chapel they are building on prison grounds. Courtesy

By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Published: 10/24/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 10/24/2009 4:13 AM

With help from dozens of female inmates, volunteers and a lot of donated materials, the new chapel at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center near Taft is nearing completion.

In just one month, the 4,800-square-foot, privately built chapel has gone from a slab to a fully enclosed structure. Plumbing, electrical, Sheetrock and painting are completed.

"This has been the most inspirational, exciting project we've ever done," said Joe Wilson of Enid, who is leading the project.

"We're ahead of schedule and below budget."

Wilson is the volunteer domestic project coordinator for World Mission Builders, which has built 200 churches around the world, largely with donated labor and materials.

The Eddie Warrior project is the first of what Wilson hopes will be 15 chapels the organization will build in Oklahoma prisons. The projects have the support of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Plans are under way to build chapels at state prisons in Hominy and Stringtown.

When completed in December, the Eddie Warrior chapel will belong to the state.

Nearly half of the $290,000 budget has been donated labor and materials, Wilson said. Churches and individuals have donated more than $100,000 in cash. Another $75,000 is needed to complete the chapel, he said.

He also is looking for bricklayers who will donate their time to install the exterior brick, all of which was donated and is sitting on the property.

Wilson said the chapel will make room for a steady stream of volunteer ministers and programs, previously unable to come into the prison because there was no space for them.

"It'll be used seven days a week and evenings, reaching 783 residents," he said. "In three years, there will be a complete turnover."

"I like to involve myself in things that will last longer than I will live," he said. "This will still be helping people 50, 100 years after I'm gone."

To help:

Prison Chapel Inc. 431 N. Oakwood Road, Enid OK, 73703 or wiljoeok@yahoo.com

Bill Sherman 581-8398
bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer

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	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (10/24/2009 5:22:52 AM) That's good, teach them some skills and keep them busy. It sounds like a good program that should be expanded to Habitat for Humanity homes being built by both male and female non-violent inmates with trainers and guards.
	Report Comment DBJohn, Tulsa (10/24/2009 11:21:57 AM) Put the inmates to work! I like the Habitat idea and I'm sure there are more.

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