Letter From Gregory Castellane

Southern State Correctional Facility
Delmont, NJ 08314

Dear friends,

The summer of 2009 is upon us and as I write this letter I am thinking about the changes I will experience in the months to come. You see I have been “doing time” here at Southern State for about six years now and will be moving on to a new facility soon, as I progress through the system towards my eventual release. During my time here I have become well acquainted with Mrs. Farrow and “Wings of Eagles”, the prison ministry she started many years ago. As supporters of Wings of Eagles I thought you might be interested in my perspective of this ministry, and the impact Mrs. Farrow and Wings of Eagles has had on my life and the lives of others like me here at Southern State.

I realized early on that Mrs. Farrow is highly respected and admired by the staff and administration here in the prison. It is obvious that she answers to a higher calling by her attitude towards the obstacles she faces working in this environment. I often notice that her ministerial activity is not limited to inmates. Everyone in the prison including the guards get to see how a faithful servant of Christ uses their gifts to the glory of God. And of course Mrs. Farrow is loved and admired by the men that come out to her classes. We recognize her genuine sympathy and compassion for the daily struggles we face. She does not minimize our responsibility for the wrongdoings which have resulted in our incarceration, but because of her extensive involvement in the prison system she can identify with the hardships we face.

I have often asked myself, what drives this woman to dedicate herself to a cause that many believe is worthless? The answer is simple: Mrs. Farrow ministry is Christ centered. Her love for us is the result of her love for Christ. This explains her focus, dedication, and her approach to ministry. Her teaching is based on the biblical model of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ leading to sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit. All of the programs offered by the DOC attempt to change the mind in hope that the heart will follow. But as statistics have proven these methods have been a dismal failure. Mrs. Farrow knows that mere behavior modification will only provide temporary results. She understands that it is the heart that controls the mind, and that any true transformation of the mind can only result from a changed heart. That is why she has been resolute in her calling to help men address their heart issues before they go back to their families and communities. Her focus is on practical theology and the application of it to our everyday lives.

Sincerely,

Gregory Castellane