Prison Fellowship

Remember Those in Prison

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Overall
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Clinic
    • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree® Church Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • 2020 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

New Life in Supermax Prison

March 8, 2016 by Steve Rempe

The scene is one familiar to Christians. A pastor stands next to a man partially submerged in water.  With “Amazing Grace” playing in the background, the preacher intones, “As a confession [sic] of your faith that Jesus Christ is head of your life… I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The man is tilted back into the pool, and arises to new life and the applause of those gathered for the ceremony.

The setting for this baptism, however, is unique.

 
 
The baptisms in this case are taking place at the high security unit at the W. J. Estelle High Security Unit in Huntsville, Texas. The rendition of “Amazing Grace” is being played on harmonica, and the minister performing the rite is currently serving a 40-year sentence for attempted murder. Those awaiting to be baptized are shackled hand and foot, and are accompanied by several guards with pepper spray and body armor.

“This is my happiest day,” says Davey Enriquez, a former gang member who is serving a 99-year sentence for committing home invasion robberies. “I talked to my mom for the first time in six years a few days ago, but I didn’t tell her about this. She’s going to be real surprised.”

Journalist Mike Ward describes the scene of the baptisms of Enriquez and two other high-security prisoners for an article in the Houston Chronicle.  

The baptisms, as well as the in-prison seminary program that prepared “field minister” Michael Townsend to perform the actual baptisms, is a part of a five-year campaign to re-introduce religion into some of the toughest facilities in Texas.

“What I am witnessing here is amazing,” says state Sen. John Whitmire, who, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, helped to initiate the in-prison seminary program. “We are seeing the Lord at work, changing hearts and lives. This goes to show what can happen when you give people another chance.”

“The field ministers have made a big difference here in a very short period of time, not just in high-security but in the general population at Estelle,” concurs Rich Pritchard, a volunteer chaplain at the facility. “I never thought I’d see this in a Texas prison. But it’s all God, and miracles do happen, you know.”

Indeed, miracles do happen—even in high-security lockup.  Where the Spirit is present, there is always hope for transformation.

Prison Fellowship seeks to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of prison, offering men and women behind bars the opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation.  Through in-prison evangelistic events, Bible studies, and reentry classes, Prison Fellowship seeks to provide prisoners with a hope and peace that transcends prison—one that offers new life.

To learn more about the work Prison Fellowship is doing in prisons around the country, and how you can get involved, click here.

Filed Under: Prison & Prisoners, Prison Fellowship News & Updates Tagged With: Estelle Unit, houston, Huntsville, Prison Baptisms, Supermax, Texas

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Angel Tree® Stories
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • In-Prison Stories
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Stories
  • Stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

Free for Life

December 29, 2020

Congress Restores Access to Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students Seeking a Second Chance

December 17, 2020

A New Makeover for the New Year

December 16, 2020

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • For Wardens & Prison Officials

PF®

NEW ON OUR BLOG

  • Statement Regarding the Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Prison Fellowship and CrossWalk Center Offer Hope in Reentry
  • Sincere Surrender: An Agent of Change Serves Life in Prison
  • Response to the January 6 Events at the U.S. Capitol

FIND US ONLINE

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN

RECEIVE UPDATES

Sign up to receive news, stories, and information based on your needs and interests.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

PFM®

  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2021 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.