St. Thomas the Believer Project

The goal of the St. Thomas the Believer project is to develop a trans-denominational and planet-wide platform for sharing ideas, experiences, and mutual support for those called to participate in the Gospel work with people in prison.

Our roots are in prison ministry sponsored by the United Methodist Church (the California Nevada Annual Conference) and the Episcopal Church (Diocese of Nevada) going back over the last four decades, predominately in Kairos and St. Thomas the Believer – a 20-year-old parish wholly within the Lovelock Correctional Center.

We believe that there is great value in sharing our experiences, in working together, and in the self-care of being in community.  

Currently, in Reno, we rarely know what prison ministry is doing on The Yard just north of us in Boise, Idaho. We certainly do not know what is happening at Donaldson near Birmingham, Alabama nor at HMP Birmingham, England. We do not know of new ideas from Cape Brenton, Sydney, nor at Kasapa Central Prison, DR Congo, not at Marion (Illinois, Ohio, or Florida) nor Wormwood Scrubs near the home of Queens Park Rangers, White City, London. We are missing out on the benefit of the experiences and wisdom of others whom God has also called to this ministry.

We believe there is God given sustaining power in community. God has given us each other, and we need each other to sustain our spiritual health while ministering in the field God has given to us. We will be better when we have the encouragements and companionship of others also set apart by God to this work.

It is our desire for the answer to “Who Are We?” to change to include you. It is our desire that this platform will serve all those participating in the Gospel in the prisons of the world. We invite you to bless us with your presence as together we build a community of those called to minister to prisoners.

Subscribe to the blog, contact us and submit articles about what is going on in your own corner of the world, and let’s build a strong network to share encouragement and best practices!