A Recipe for Love Made Real

One of my jobs at the CLF is both the most special and most difficult job I have ever done. You see, as the Director of Prison Ministry, it is my responsibility to match our pen pals. It has taken me a long time to get the hang of matching so when people asked me how I do it, I would just tell them it’s complicated. The truth is, I can get a little overwhelmed and excited when I realize it is time to start the matching process. I suppose the first ingredient in my recipe for making love real is all of you great UUs who support our ministry by volunteering to be on our letter writing team and/or donate money to support our Prison Ministry.

A Message from Jennifer, a CLF member in Prison

When people apply to become a CLF Pen Pal the very first thing they have to do is wait; no matter what side of prison wall they live on. This can be a very frustrating process. The good news is there is a reason! The more applications I have sitting in my inbox the better the chances the pool is large enough that there are two compatible people to match. More good news, we matched over forty new pairs of pen pals in December. Even more good news: of our now 840 members in the CLF Prison Ministry nearly 300 of them are matched with a freeworld UU pen pal. And the friendships that develop are the next ingredient in the Prison Ministry’s recipe for love made real.

Okay, I have a pile of eighty applications on my desk, now what! Well I read every single one and sort them according to compatibility. For example some people want a pen pal close by so they can visit and others prefer to keep a comfortable distance. Both are welcome. If you have ever filled out the pen pal application you know it asks a lot of questions. I use those answers to match people with similar interests if I can. Many of our members living in prisons are following another spiritual path along with Unitarian Universalism. Most have found out about Unitarian Universalism by hearing the about us from our members who are incarcerated in the same facility. Talk about an ingredient for love made real!

I would like to take credit for the matching but not only did I have a wonderful teacher, there is an element of grace in making the matches. Each match with its celebrations and sadness has a divine lesson to teach us. For some of us the recipe calls for us to set good boundaries and know when to say goodbye. But for most, friendships are formed and ministry flows both ways across prison walls. What an honor to be the one who decides who writes who. The pen pal program is the heartbeat of the CLF Prison Ministry. And there is no way we could do it without all of you out there supporting this ministry, all of you who are helping make love real. If you are a pen pal already or are interested in becoming one join us tonight (Tuesday December 19th!) at 8pm ET. More information can be found here.

In Faith,

Mandy Goheen

Director of Prison Ministry and the Worthy Now Network

P.S. Want to join the prison ministry letter writing ministry? You can do that here! Want to support this program with a gift of hope? You can do that here!