Death Row Support Project provides ministry to prisoners.

The following is taken from the "Peace Witness Action List" of On Earth Peace (e-mail mattguynn@earthlink.net or see www.brethren.org/oepa):

The Death Row Support Project (DRSP) was conceived by Church of the Brethren members Bob and Rachel Gross in 1978. The combination of Bob's prison experience and Rachel's enjoyment of letter-writing, along with their concern about the reinstatement of the death penalty, provided the necessary ingredients for beginning this ministry. Also critical was the support of the Washington office of the Church of the Brethren, and now the Brethren Witness Office.

In 1978, there were 400 people under sentence of death in the US. Now there are over 3,800. Needless to say, the little card file that was used at the beginning of the project has long since been outgrown. Initially, the project was publicized within the Church of the Brethren. But, as is the case with many Brethren efforts, DRSP has become an ecumenical effort, with the largest number of participants coming from the Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist Churches.

Rachel receives mail daily from prisoners who would like have a "pen pal." At about the same rate, requests from the "outside" world come from people interested in reaching out to those on death row. DRSP has provided an excellent way for those on death row to know that they are not forgotten, and for those outside to learn about the real people and stories behind the issue of the death penalty.

Writing to a person on death row is not something that should be entered into lightly. Currently, the average stay of someone on death row is ten years. Writing to that person is a longterm commitment. One of Rachel's disappointments as coordinator of DRSP is that many people write a letter or two to the person in prison, and then decide they're really not interested after all. She encourages those that are interested to prayerfully consider before requesting the name of a pen pal. Rachel can also put someone in touch with others who have been writing, in order to gain a better understanding of what is involved.

Within the Church of the Brethren, some individuals have chosen to be involved with DRSP as a Sunday school class, or as a youth group. This has worked very well, as the group members can provide support for each other in writing, and also are able to reach out to the person on death row in a fuller way. At one time, students from Manchester College traveled to the Indiana State Prison bi-monthly in order to visit several men on death row.

For more information contact Death Row Support Project, P.O. Box 600, Liberty Mills, IN 46946; 260-982-7480.

Source: 11/30/2005 Newsline
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