Leadership

Director - Mary Mortenson

My first taste of prison ministry was about 15 years ago when my husband, Jack, and I began worshipping with the St. Dysmas congregation in the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Little did I know that I was experiencing the PCA model. What I did know was that I was experiencing worship that was liberating and holy. Over the years we conducted services at the Sioux Falls trustee unit, and I served on the Associate Council for St. Dysmas. Along the way, my path crossed professionally with Pr. Ed Nesselhuf and PCA, and I began doing fund raising and promotion work for PCA.

By the time Pr. Ed announced his intention to retire, I had fallen in love with PCA, its promises and its possibilities. In May 2008, I accepted the call to become the second director of this fine organization. Simply put, the PCA model works and potential churches on the inside and those established ones on the outside deserve to experience all that the model offers. The church on the inside is reminded every day of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and the church on the outside is renewed. It doesn't get much better than that.

I invite you to join the PCA Board of Directors, the staff and volunteers, the pastors of PCA congregations all over the country, and myself in this amazing adventure. We are always grateful for your donations, for that is the primary support of the ministry. Do you think this might work in your area? Contact me and together, we'll see what we can do. My job is to work with you and other key players to plant a successful denominationally organized congregation in a prison near you. Together, with God's grace and guidance, we can do it!

Staff

Pamela Dircksen, Administrative Assistant, Sioux Falls, SD

PCA Board of Directors

Prison Congregations of America is served by a national board, which works hard to promote and support the ministry. Board members may be elected to two three-year terms.

Neil Bullock - Oak Park, IL
ELCA, Chicago, IL

Rev. Emily Cardin - Broomfield, CO
Pastor, New Beginnings Church, Denver Women’s Correctional Facility

Gloria Gurwell, Board Secretary - Sun CIty, AZ
Retired

Rev. Altonnette D. Hawkins - Louisville, KY
Pastor of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Louisville, KY

Rev. Gregory B Karlsgodt - Missoula, MT
Executive Director, Kogudus Renewal Ministry

Carol Porter - Olympia, WA
Former Warden, and national consultant to correctional facilities

Rev. Richard B. Rienstra - Grand Rapids, MI
Pastor/Developer of Celebration Fellowship, Ionia Bellamy Creek Correction Facility, MI

Eric Sponheim -Apple Valley. MN
Attorney/Editor

Jim Tuinstra, Board President - Kentwood, MI
Interim CEO of the Kent Health Plan, Grand Rapids, MI

PCA Advisory Board

Duane Anderson, Sioux Falls, SD

Douglas Arey, Jessup, MD

Dave Brunkow, Sioux Falls, SD

Pr. Bud Christenson, Ashland, NE

Caitlyn Collier, Vermillion, SD

Joel Cook, SIoux Falls, SD

Bawn Froning, Omaha, NE

Rev. Chuck Hazlett, Custer, SD

Dean Hinders, Williamsburg, VA

Loretta Horton, Forest Park, IL