Pastors to Prisoners
 
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Recognizing that there is only one Chapel per yard, the Yard Pastor fosters cooperation among people of different faiths, backgrounds and races and, while presenting a clear gospel, promotes the "Three R's of Religious Freedom" for those who choose not to believe:

We have the RIGHT to believe any faith or none.

We have the RESPONSIBILITY to guard this right for all people, even though they may disagree with us radically.

We have the duty to RESPECT others in the process of disagreeing with them.

   Source: Chuck Colson

Meet the Pastors

Rev. John D. "Jack" Oien,
President/CEO of Pastors to Prisoners

 

A native of San Diego, Pastor Jack is the son of missionaries to China. He attended BIOLA College and Long Beach State College part-time while working as a printer and supervisor for the Aerospace Corporation.

 

Called to the mission field, he ministered thirteen years in the Peruvian jungle as Print Shop Manager with Wycliffe Bible Translators. With his wife, Joyce, he also had a fruitful ministry as youth sponsor for the teenagers who attended the Wycliffe school. 

 

In 1980, Jack experienced a call to the U.S. pastorate. After completing seminary, he was ordained at Fellowship Bible Church of Park Cities, Dallas, TX. and served as pastor of the Chula Vista Missionary Church in California for eight years.

 

Jack and Joyce founded the Pastors to Prisoners Ministry.  Before her death in 2003, Joyce asked that Jack continue to grow the ministry as long as he were able.  At Donovan, with its 4,700 inmates, Jack has found the richest mission field of his life.

 

Clyde Huff Picture

 

Yard Pastor

Rev. Clyde Huff

 

Centinela State Prison

 

Imperial, California

 

Clyde, a native Californian, has lived in the Imperial Valley of California for almost 40 years. He moved there to operate the family farm after marrying his Bible college sweetheart, Joan. Together they have served without interruption as Sunday School teachers and church workers at Imperial Community Church.

 

The Lord works in mysterious ways and, guess what! Just down the road from his farm a new state prison was erected. What began as an annoyance to a landholder metamorphosed for Clyde into a consuming burden for the lost men behind the razor wire. When Chaplain Steve Francis asked him to visit the prison one night a week to help with a Bible class, he unwittingly agreed. He was unprepared, however for the incredible blessing he received from ministering to those felons. 

 

His wife has since joined him in ministering to the inmates two nights a week and they now feel called to turn the farm over to others and concentrate full-time on prison ministry. With this goal in mind, he pursued and received ordination and is now serving half-time at Centinela Prison while he seeks to raise financial support and turns the farm over to others. Once his support quota is reached, he will be able to work full-time helping inmates change their lives. Contact him at 760-352-1238 to hear more.

 

Elena Hernandez Picture

 

Spanish Ministry Coordinator

Rev. Elena Hernandez


R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility


San Diego, California

 

The first child born to Gregorio and Laura Hernandez, Elena comes from a small rural town in the south of Mexico. They were a very poor family and, in an effort to provide them with better material things, her mother became involved in drug trafficking, thus ending up in a Mexican prison for a year. Elena grew up and went to Southern California and by the age of 27 was twice widowed. 

 

"The Lord graciously opened doors for me later on to become a volunteer in the county jails and in Las Colinas Women's Prison. A few months later I was introduced to Chaplain Charles Brewer, who opened a door for me to work as a volunteer religious coordinator at Donovan. After approximately five years of working San Diego prisons and jails, I felt a need to improve my theological education and the Lord opened doors for me to go to New York Theological Seminary.

 

August Hunter Picture

 

Yard Pastor

August Hunter


R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility


San Diego, California

 

 

August is our newest Yard Pastor.  August is a member of "The Rock" church.  He is a dedicated Christian hoping to make the difference.  August is working as a Yard Pastor on Yard 1 Richard J. Donovan.

 

 

Yard Pastor

Dr. Roger Ziegler

 

R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility 

 

San Diego, California

Dr. Roger Ziegler is the newest 

member of Pastors to Prisoners!

 

After serving at R. J. Donovan as a volunteer in the Protestant Religious Program for over 7 years, Roger has felt God’s call to full time ministry with Pastors to Prisoners as a yard pastor.

 

Roger is uniquely qualified for prison ministry. He has served in the Kairos ministry; he has a Brown Card identification (which allows him to escort other volunteers); taught Bible studies on several yards; and participated in chapel programs at Centinella State Prison. He has also been a leader in ministries at his home church, and has shared his vision of ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to men who have lost all hope. 

 

Roger has seen the fruit of his ministry in men who are now out of prison, and have found in their faith, the resources to experience not only a new life in Christ, but the power to experience the changes that allow for a new life of freedom and lawful productivity in the community.

 

Roger is giving up his chiropractic practice to follow what he believes in his heart to be God’s call.  We eagerly seek your prayers and support as Roger enters the “devils playground” as a Missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Reserved for future yard pastors

Are you being called to serve?

 

Here I am, Lord.  Send me!

 © Pastors to Prisoners 2004-07

 

Pastors to Prisoners

 

More Yard Pastors Needed!

There are lots of prisons in California, and almost all of them could use yard pastors.  If you feel the Lord is calling you to this ministry, why don't you contact one of us for more details on how you can join our team.

 

We can use your help!

Pastor Jack started this ministry while serving as a yard pastor on Yard 1, Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.  Look how it has grown in just a few years!  The need is great, the workers few.  Thanks for your help and God Bless.

 

 

 

 

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