GOULD, Ark. – Seventeen inmates at the Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, a high security prison in Lincoln County, donned caps and gowns on Friday, May 9, as they were awarded their bachelor’s degrees in Christian Studies from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (MABTS).
The graduation ceremony was held inside the prison’s chapel, where several family members, friends, and more gathered for the celebration. Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary President Dr. Michael Spradlin said the day was a celebration and an opportunity to recognize the hard work of the students.
“They have put in the work, and they have done a fantastic job,” Spradlin said.
The Arkansas Prison Initiative, directed by Professor of Church History, Missions and Theology at Mid-America Seminary Dr. Mark Thompson, provides a unique opportunity to reach an oft-forgotten segment of the population with the Gospel. The program is the first in the state that has prepared graduates to assist prison chaplains as they counsel inmates inside prison walls.
With degrees in hand, the inmates, who are all serving life or long-term sentences for their crimes, can apply to the Division of Corrections’ Field Ministry Program, allowing them to minister to other inmates across the state.
“What makes it so special is not only have you all chosen to better yourselves, but you’re also choosing to benefit others. You are choosing to help the culture of the prison, of the facilities that you live in. You are choosing to help your fellow inmates,” Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace told the graduates on Friday. “Being a source of light, comfort and support to those struggling around you is really one of the highest forms of selflessness that we can achieve in life. … What God is doing through this seminary and our field ministry program is something we can all be proud of and you guys should be the most proud.”
Wallace went on to say, “Amongst the chaos that we have in life, no matter what your circumstances are, we have to celebrate the wins, and this is a monumental win for you guys, and I am really proud to be here to celebrate with y’all today.”
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams told the students, “You’ll have opportunities no one else will have inside the walls of the Department of Corrections. Each of you have demonstrated you can be trusted, and I am convinced you can and will be successful.”
Wallace and Williams were two of the dignitaries present at the graduation to give remarks. Field Minister Eddie Kinney led worship. Charlie Bryant, a member of the graduating class, provided special music, singing a powerful rendition of “The Old Man is Dead.”
During the ceremony, they honored Robert A. Neal, a member of the 2023 class, who passed away before he could complete the program. They presented an academic achievement award named in his honor to Christopher Gordon.
To wrap up the graduation, the faculty of MABTS blessed and prayed over each of the graduates. This marked the second graduating class of the Prison Seminary Program.
The prison seminary is made possible through the partnership of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Dixie Jackson State Missions Offering, Arkansas Department of Corrections, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Colossians 4:18 Prison Ministries.
This year’s graduating class included: Adam Casey Brown; Charles Richard Bryant Jr.; Bryan Cook; Christopher Gordon; Gordon Gwathney; Codie James Hogan; Keeyon Ledell James; Herbert Harris Lee; Tabludin Marrable; Jason McGehee; Randy Wayne Miranda; Victor Scharrer; Grant Oneal Suthrlen; Eugene Thomas III; James Edward Tillis Jr.; Anthony Michael Waller; and Ricky Earl White.
