Sunday, October 22, 2000
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Sunday, October 22, 2000 |
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Hopewell Methodist ministering behind bars
By CAROLYN CARY
When the original founders of the Hopewell United Methodist Church in Tyrone built a 60' by 40' wooden structure in the 1850s, ministering to incarcerated prisoners was probably not on their list of things to do. Its 1948 brick structure was sold in 1994 and is now the Tyrone Town Hall. The congregation entered a new facility across from the Sandy Creek High School in 1995. Through the years it has expanded its role in ministering to others by participating in building homes for Habitat for Humanity, sending teams to South America and, on a local level, supporting the Fayette Samaritans and the Southwest Christian Hospice. It comes as no surprise then that an associated pastor has been added to its staff, the Rev. Don Bowen. His full title is Associate Pastor for Prison Ministries. A retired corporate executive, he began working with prisoners who were needing a place to live and a job. Realizing that Jesus was sending these people, he decided that he was being called into helping prisoners, both those incarcerated and those leaving prison. He also realized the importance of maintaining a relationship with their families as well as assisting the prisoner back into a regular life. Along with its new prison ministries, Hopewell United Methodist Church has added a special Sunday School class for parents of young children and a "Pioneer Club" for its third, fourth and fifth graders. It is a beginning Christian education series. Its preschool is also in full swing and currently has openings for four-year-olds. Dr. Rick Long has served the church for the past 13 years. He recently married the former Bonnie Ingram Epps and they are the parents of Olivia, a four-year-old adopted in China. Also in the family is David Epps. The Sunday morning schedule begins at 9:45 a.m. with Sunday School, followed by the worship service at 10:55. The church is located at 351 Jenkins Road, Tyrone, and can be reached at 770-306-7537.
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