Story of the Week: A Hope In The Darkness

Attending seminary isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for most people in prison.

Attending seminary isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for most people in prison. Despite that, nine men from the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility have experienced the privilege of pursuing an in-person seminary degree.

The nine students are men who met Jesus in prison and have fallen in love with Him. They’re committed to following Him and serving Him for the rest of their lives, no matter the cost.

Each of these students have been part of our Ark Valley Campus. While the campus looks a little different, more than 100 men are part of Woodmen Ark Valley, faithfully worshiping, serving and growing in the way of Jesus. God is breaking down barriers and doing amazing work in the midst of this community of men living for him on the inside.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Four years ago, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (MABTS) established a unique seminary program at the Limon, Colorado Correctional Facility. In May, 2026, MABTS graduated its first cohort of nineteen inmate seminary students with an average GPA of 3.8. Each man received a bachelor’s degree, with a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Christian Counseling.

Currently, the men in this first graduating class are in the process of being deployed by the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) to various Colorado state prisons to function as “Field Ministers.” The aim is for these seminary graduates to serve Jesus and benefit their communities in four ways:

• Profoundly impact the prison culture in Colorado for the better and for His Kingdom.
• Strategically evangelize and disciple other inmates.
• Reduce recidivism in Colorado’s prisons (thus creating safer communities).
• Heal fractured families impacted by incarcerated family members.

The President of MABTS, Dr. Michael Spradlin, sees these students as Missionaries in Training. He shares, “Our graduates will be evangelizing, discipling and counseling other inmates under the supervision of the CDOC, and under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Jones, Dean of the Limon Seminary, for many years to come.”

A LONG ROAD

To attend the seminary, each student must make the difficult decision to leave their friends and church family, to move to the Limon prison. The students are expected to spend four years in the seminary program, followed by six years as field ministers inside whatever prison the DOC assigns them. Some of those assignments are at violent facilities, but to a man, they’re willing to walk this difficult road.

The men are following the example of the apostle Paul who wrote, “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.” 2 Cor. 1:5,6

The seminary’s second cohort of nineteen inmates started this fall. Five of these students came from Woodmen’s Ark Valley community. Limon Corrections Officer Christopher Wiley says, “It’s a pleasure to see these guys doing what they’re doing, not just studying but spreading the word of Jesus within our facility. Respect has increased. It’s been amazing how the violence in the housing unit has completely gone down.”

A KINGDOM PURPOSE

Ron DeLorenzo, longtime Woodmen attender and Executive Director of Prison Seminaries Foundation Colorado (PSFCO), shares: “Since we have brought the seminary to Limon, we’ve seen a major shift in the facility's culture. Positive change is already occurring, and there’s a positive impact on residents, staff and administration. We’re training and equipping missionaries for Jesus, for His Kingdom purposes inside the walls of some of the darkest settings in Colorado.”

The cost for the seminary is $7,800 per student, per year. All finances needed to provide the educational component come from the private sector. No federal or state funds are included. PSFCO invites individual donors, churches, businesses and foundations to come along side this powerful ministry, by providing the needed funding.

A TRUE BLESSING

Josiah S moved from Woodmen’s Ark Valley campus to attend the seminary. He was part of the May 2026 graduating class.

Josiah passionately explains the reason this program exists: “There’s a desperate need for Jesus Christ within the incarcerated community. Typically, the men inside are plagued by the scars of life, trauma, a lack of direction, loneliness and missing fathers. Christ heals and fills these voids. Only Christ can completely change and rehabilitate the incarcerated population.”

Josiah adds, “The seminary has provided me the opportunity to expose large numbers of men to Christ. The men in the seminary program desire to serve, have a heart for Christ, and understand that evangelism and discipleship are the answer to changing lives inside and out. It’s been a true blessing to watch the growth in my brothers and fellow students, as each one plays a pivotal role in the ministry opportunities available, introducing countless men to the restorative power of Christ.”

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