This is a question asked by many who get involved with prison ministry at Chester County Prison (CCP). I’ll attempt to give the nutshell version…the elevator speech version.
In 1973, a young pastor, John Lawrence Crans (fondly known as “Jack”), was appointed chaplain at Chester County Prison. What he saw broke his heart. He learned many lessons such as “your eyes will affect your heart”; “the most powerful prison ministry is a local church in a high crime area” and “drop your ‘own’ net and work-the-net…HIS net” to mention a few.
Jack was stirred into action and founded County Corrections Gospel Mission. He was a founding member of City Gate Mission to care for those who leave prison “but have no where to go”. An old, abandoned camp site next to the Brandywine was purchased in faith to serve the children and loved ones of those incarcerated. Camp at Old Mill now is the head office of CCGM and annually hosts thousands of inner-city children from high-crime areas to offer them love and ultimately The Gospel.
At the same time, God was also working in the life of Doug Burnette, a young inmate from southern Chester county. He met the Lord and was eventually set free despite being incarcerated for a very serious crime. Once discharged he grew in his walk with the Lord Jesus and eventually approached Vernon Myers, his pastor with a strange request: “I want to go back to prison!” This time it was not a court-ordered sentence that would place him “behind bars” but the love-laden burden of a bondservant who wanted to return to the darkness where he was before.
Doug now wanted to share about the Light of Christ that shone in his darkness and set him free…free indeed. Vernon Myers and other godly men embraced Doug’s vision and established Onesimus Prison Ministries. The miracle story of how Onesimus, the once useless slave we read of in Philemon, became a useful instrument in God’s Hand, became the motivation for Onesimus to partner with CCGM to make ensure that there will always be a Gospel – presence at Chester County Prison.
Doug’s story (as told by Mabel Kreider on our website contains many more details) still inspires hope to many who got entangled in a life of crime and moral depravation. Doug was able to serve as chaplain and walk with keys in a prison where he previously was locked up. Doug, now deceased, in fact was succeeded by another former CCP inmate, Peter Roomet. Peter faithfully served as chaplain at Chester County Prison until he retired in March 2018 and was succeeded by Heinrich Botes. In a faith-venture, Onesimus Ministries fully finances the ministry of Rhonda Soland, chaplain for the female population, three days per week.
In a testimony of faithfulness, Jack Crans is still the Senior Chaplain at Chester County Prison and Vernon Myers is still the Chairman of the Onesimus Board of Directors. These two ministries were birthed by Jesus Christ right here in the heart of Chester County and still work together as strategic partners to ensure a healthy chaplaincy program at Chester County Prison.
ALL PRAISE BELONG TO HIM WHO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!