"I was in prison and you visited me. ... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."   -Matthew 25:36, 40

On a cold day in Rhode Island in March 2004, Rev. Janice Thompson was filled with an inner fire that she used to ignite the imagination of other Christians. Together they planned and prayed. They planned to plant a church where ex-convicts could worship with their families, and without shame. They prayed for God's guidance, laying every roadblock at the foot of the cross.

Thompson visited churches as preacher, teacher or speaker in search of support. After several such visits, a host church committed to the vision. And on a communion Sunday in September 2004, River of Life conducted its first worship service for released prisoners at First Baptist Church in America, Providence, R.I.

By modeling the call to show kindness to "one of the least of these" (Matthew 25:35-40), River of Life began inspiring Christians in Providence to bring renewal and redemption to people living on the fringes of society.

Thompson's path to this ministry is also inspiring. When she was enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, studying to become a pharmacist, Thompson did not see herself as a future minister and church planter. But when she was less than 45 credits from her degree, God turned her in another direction during a prayer service. Thompson sensed God calling her to preach, and so began an unanticipated but unavoidable journey.

In 1996, at midlife, Thompson entered American Baptist-related Andover-Newton Theological Seminary. She graduated in May 2000. During seminary, Thompson discovered a ministry opportunity that matches her gifts.

"She has a vivacious spirit. There is fervor in her preaching. She knows the real world," says Rev. James Miller, former executive minister of Rhode Island State Council of Churches. Miller recognized the compatibility between a candidate and a job at hand and hired Thompson to be assistant chaplain at the Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston, R.I.

Starting with 30 inmates at Sunday services, the number soon quadrupled. Thompson met with stunning successes and then became chaplain at the facility. She baptized more than 100 inmates within five years, in a trough since there is no baptismal in prison. Yet, a chronic problem cast a shadow over all of Thompson's success: "saved" prisoners returned to criminal behavior following their release.

Inmates whom Thompson taught and mentored, who were subsequently released, ended up back in prison. Frustrated, disappointed, she asked, "Why?" Had their faith failed them? Had she failed them? A familiar answer kept coming back to Thompson: things that were going on inside were not going on outside. Churches on the outside were rejecting them. Thompson realized that she couldn't be satisfied with preaching, teaching and reaching inmates within prison walls. She determined to build a road from prison door to church door.

Thompson's road led initially to the church in Providence, where it widened into a clearing. For nearly two years, River of Life worshipped God from the same sanctuary as its host church. The two congregations shared not only the building but a mutual respect and love for each other. Miller, who was pastor of the host church, remembers his sadness when the churches separated: "When they moved, it was a tearful and lonely time. It was like one of your children growing up and needing to move on."

Sadness turns to joy as Miller considers that Thompson is helping to set captives free. He is all for her spiritual goal: "We want to build up men and women to really be men and women of faith. They won't go back to prison," Thompson says.

Thompson's road to an open church door is leading many to true freedom. Hers is the gospel of the kingdom and the king who says, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."

Kathryn Goree is a retired television producer-writer. She has done freelance work for American Baptist Churches USA, including production of a video, The Promise of Freedom.

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