MADISON – Several local churches supported Madison Interfaith Council’s outreach on July 18 to Limestone Correctional Facility.

The local congregations donated essential items for personal hygiene to indigent inmates at the facility.

“Ministry in prisons has been a God-given passion that’s near and dear to my heart since 2003”, Rev. Eugene Folks said. Folks is pastor for Grace Covenant Worship and Outreach Center.

“Before COVID, I had the opportunity to go into the Limestone Correctional Facility monthly to worship with the prison’s church. Meeting Chaplain Williams and witnessing his passion for inmates, I was inspired to do more,” Folks said.

When Pastor Folks joined the Madison Interfaith Council in 2022, he brought that passion for the inmates along with him. Congregations affiliated with the Interfaith Council collected hygiene items to donate during the week of July 15.

Contacts from local churches with Madison Interfaith Council delivered donations to prisoners: Folks; James Williams, Chaplain, Limestone Correctional Facility; Kevin Rodriguez, Pastoral Council Chairman, Most Merciful Jesus Christ Catholic Church; and Charity Stratton, Executive Secretary, Madison Interfaith Council and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

At the recent delivery, Williams with Limestone Correctional Facility shared that many inmates do not have friends or family outside of the prison system to provide support. Currently, he serves 2,400 men housed at this facility.

“All these things are necessary here. A lot of these guys are forgotten about,” Chaplain Williams said. “A man feels better about himself when he is clean.”

When counseling together at a meeting of Madison Interfaith Council, Folks suggested that council members join his efforts with the prisoners. Since its creation, Madison Interfaith Council has organized and completed one other donation drive for inmates.

“By joining together, we have been able to magnify the good that Pastor Folks was already doing,” Williams said. “It’s a great ministry to be a part of especially when we have volunteers like you all to come and work with us, help us and do what God has chosen us to do.”

Madison Interfaith Council meets monthly to discuss the needs of the Madison community and plan ways to bless the community. For more information, email charitystratton@bellsouth.net.