The Church of the Damascus Road

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About

The following information is available for The Church of the Damascus Road:

A congregation of inmates at the North Central Correctional Facility, Rockwell City, Iowa and the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, Fort Dodge, Iowa

How we got started In 1996 the city of Fort Dodge began the bidding process for the second time to have a prison located in the Fort Dodge community. Local clergy were invited to participate on this committee along with contractors, city personnel and officials from several businesses and utility companies. Each of these groups submitted a "component" offering a description of their services should the prison be located in Fort Dodge. The clergy submitted a "Spiritual Component" to bidding. In this component the clergy proposed the formation of a prison congregation headed by an experienced parish pastor (to see a copy of this document, click on the underlined text above). Fort Dodge was awarded the prison, so the clergy persons got to work and formed a steering committee. The work of Rev. Ed Nesselhuf of Prison Congregations of America was already known to some of the steering committee, so he was invited to act as consultant in the process of forming a prison congregation. The steering committee was intentionally composed of pastors and lay people from the ecumenical community of Fort Dodge and Rockwell City, hoping the Iowa Department of Corrections would allow a ministry at the North Central Correctional Facility as well. The steering committee met and decided to contact the Bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A meeting was held in the synod offices. Pastor Delwayne Hahn, liaison between the Western Iowa Synod and the ELCA Division for Outreach (the division responsible for mission starts) also joined us. Rev. Nesselhuf offered a possible scenario of how to begin the process. Pastor Hahn checked with the ELCA Division for Outreach, which was eager to start such congregations, the Bishop suggested other steps in the process. Committee members acted, proposals were drawn up and presented, approval of the Division for Outreach was received, and a call committee was formed. Several candidates were interviewed at the prison in Rockwell City during the spring of 1997. Pastor Carroll D. Lang was called as the Mission Developer Pastor. The congregation needed a name. Fourteen names were suggested for the congregation. The committee narrowed the list to three or four and a vote was taken. The name, The Church of the Damascus Road: a community of reconciliation" was selected, with the awareness that when the congregation actually got organized it may be called by an entirely different name. It was decided that worship services would be held on Thursdays at the facility in Rockwell City and on Fridays at the Fort Dodge facility. Pastor Lang officially began his ministry on August 1, 1997 at the facility in Rockwell City. On Thursday, August 28 the first worship service was held with 24 inmates a 12 guests attending. Later bible studies began on Tuesdays. In April of 1998 the Fort Dodge facility began receiving inmates from the Classification Center in Oakdale, near Iowa City. 19 inmates were brought in the first week and immediately began asking when services would be held. Plans were to start worship services at the end of May, so Pastor Lang began having bible studies on Wednesdays and Fridays in the interim. Of those 19 inmates in Fort Dodge, one was released, leaving 18 possible to attend the bible study. 12 attended (66%)!

Opening hours

Ready for a visit? Check the following opening hours for The Church of the Damascus Road:

Monday:	08:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday:	08:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday:	08:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday:	08:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday:	08:00 am - 12:00 pm

Note that opening hours may vary based on (public) holidays.

Address

The Church of the Damascus Road can be found at the following address:

239 N 11th St

50501

Map

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Category

The following categories describe(s) The Church of the Damascus Road:

Lutheran Church, Religious Organization

Click on the link(s) above to find similar churches in Fort Dodge.

Phone

Use the following telephone number to get in touch with The Church of the Damascus Road:

(515) 955-3579

Website

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The Church of the Damascus Road

Rating

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5.0/5.0 (10 vote(s))

News

What has happend at The Church of the Damascus Road lately? Here you can find relevant news:

02/07/2019

Here is our latest newsletter....follow the link!! https://s.amsu.ng/4Tp2aOIrjT8N

30/06/2019

My Worship at CoDR Twenty years ago was my first step into a jail or prison. To go there for a Christian worship service was quite overwhelming and way out of my comfort zone. At first I was very apprehensive as I entered the razor-wired prison fence but has now become routine and I barely notice the click of the lock on the prison entrance gate. My husband, Dennis, and I usually attend the Church of the Damascus Road at Rockwell City on Thursday nights, often calling it our date night. After so many years, I can now attend without him and feel at ease with the respectful inmates. I have completed the required computer class, called PREA, and have a volunteer badge, so I no longer have to call the CoDR office for a reservation to attend worship. I enter the control room, show my badge, sign in and visit with other outside guests until the CO (Correctional Officer) opens the two gates for all of us to enter together. It is a short walk to a designated room that has been transformed into a “churchy” atmosphere, complete with creative artwork displayed from the inmates. The other outsiders and I are warmly welcomed by inmates. We circulate around the room to greet each other until Pastor Stone (presiding minister) calls for our attention to start worship. The service is normally a Lutheran service of liturgy, traditional hymns, prayers, scripture, a sermon, and communion. Inmates of any denomination or even unchurched are welcome to attend. I enjoy watching the inmates be bold as they read scripture, share amazing musical talents and openly verbalize prayers of thanks, praise and concerns. Usually, some inmate thanks God for the outsiders joining in worship which always makes me smile. There is time after the service for me to visit with a few of the guys individually while the others are clearing the room. No matter how my day has been, maybe boring, tiring, crazy busy or just uneventful, I always feel blessed and uplifted by worshipping our Lord and Savior with prisoners. We sing “Alabare’ a mi Senor” (I will praise my Lord). Try worshipping with us. You will feel the same blessing. —Candace Booth, Lytton, Iowa To worship with us, contact The Church of the Damascus Road office at 515-955-3579 or [email protected] and Jan our office manager will help arrange for your visit.

22/06/2019

Our Parent organization, Prison Congregations of America, works tirelessly to establish new prison congregations in prisons across the US. There are now more than 26 prisons. Each year PCoA has held an inmate art contest and the winner's art is sent framed to supporters of PCoA. The Church of the Damascus Road has a wall full of them. and here is another sample. On the 30th Anniversary of PCoA the framed art contained several examples of winners over the years.

01/06/2019

The Church of the Damascus Road has been one of the most generous supporters of Prison Congregations of America (PCA), and as a reward, PCA sends us a framed work of inmate art. We have displayed most of our collection in the office of CoDR.

08/05/2019

On May 3-5, 2019, six persons from The Church of the Damascus Road attend the Wester Iowa Synod (ELCA) Assembly in th Sioux City Convention Center. We were given a grant of $750 from the Synod Foundation for our ministry inside prisons. In one of the Forums, Pastor Stone, Pastor Lang and Judy Lang, along with three returned citizens, spoke about their experiences in one or both prisons. About 17 persons attend the forum to see what we were about. On Sunday, Pastor Carroll Lang, the original mission developer pastor of the congregation (1997-2009), was honored for his 50th year of ordination (June 22, 1969).

11/03/2019

These are some of the comments made by inmates at the prison in Rockwell City, IA. They spent a weekend at Brother's In Blue. At the end of the weekend, we ask the men to share what the weekend meant to them. Here is a sample of these remarks. “I have joy in my life, for the first time in a long time.” “I have been in prison 6 different times, and have been serving satan for over 18. But today, I don’t feel empty inside anymore and there is no more darkness. I feel great. Thank you God Amen” “Jesus gave me the strength to stand up here right now and share. Jesus has taken away my desire for drugs and alcohol.” “I feel the power of our Lord and I give my life to Him to take control.” “I would have died on the streets, but I am here and that is a blessing and a sign from God that he has plans for me.” “Being baptized this weekend was huge for me. Now I want to reach out to others and say follow me to Christ.” “I am being released tomorrow, and my friends wanted to know why I wasn’t spending my last weekend inside with them, but I am so grateful that I am here. God has perfect timing.” “I haven’t shed a tear in two years until now, I was able to to feel again and trust you guys enough to cry and be a real child of God, with you.”

01/03/2019

Cold outside? Come warm up by worshiping with us inside!! For more information contact 515-955-3579

24/02/2019

Help wanted!! People to serve on the outside council. For more information please call the CoDR office!

01/02/2019

Help Wanted! We are in need of people who are willing to serve on our outside council! If interested please call: 515-955-3579

21/11/2018

Have you considered worshiping with CoDR? Contact our office at [email protected] or call 515-95513579. Worship is Wednesdays at Fort Dodge and Thursdays at Rockwell City.

10/06/2018

I just accepted a check from Western Iowa Synod for $1,000 to apply to our foundation!! Please help me in thanking them for this generous grant.

04/03/2018

Loved the church service at NCCF Brothers in Blue! God was truly working there.

19/12/2016

Ron Hayden, president of Thrivent, presented a check to Paul Stone after a fundraiser for CoDR. Together with Thrivent we raised almost $2,500 in one night! The Lord was present. We had a soup supper after the children's Christmas program. It was held at St. Paul's Lutheran and Presbyterian Church in Rockwell city. It was such a success we have been asked to make this an annual event!

01/12/2016

We have a very worthwhile program in the Fort Dodge and Rockwell city prisons. It is called Storytellers. The inmates read a story to their children which is recorded. Then the offender sends the DVD and the book home. The children are then able to follow along in the book while their dads read. We could use a few more Christmas books for ages 3 to 10 years old. Please contact the office if you have any donations. Thank you for your kindness.