Word Tabernacle Church expands prison ministry to Central Prison, serving men in general population and death row

Word Tabernacle Church has expanded its outreach efforts to Central Prison in Raleigh, where a team ministers to incarcerated men on both general population and death row. On the fourth Sunday of each month, the church’s prison ministry provides worship, biblical teaching, prayer, and spiritual encouragement to those in custody. Recent efforts have seen 64 men served, with 26 making decisions for salvation or rededicating their lives to Jesus Christ.

The church’s vision of “Everyone Thriving” extends beyond its walls, focusing on places where hope, healing, and restoration are most needed. This ministry is not limited to monthly services but includes a broader commitment to walk alongside individuals and their families with dignity, compassion, and practical support. The ministry currently serves multiple correctional facilities, including Roanoke and Nash Correctional Institutions, with plans to expand its reach further in the region.

Pastor Trishonda Roberson, director of community transformation and outreach for Word Tabernacle, emphasizes the ministry’s mission. “Our heart is to remind every person we serve that their life still has value, purpose and possibility,” she said. “God is not limited by location, circumstance or sentence. Whether a person is in the community, in a correctional facility or preparing to return home, our message remains the same: Restoration is still possible through Jesus Christ.”

The Prison Ministry has grown significantly in 2026, with increased worship services, biblical teaching, volunteer development, and reentry-focused conversations. As the ministry expands, it is building a more intentional framework for prison and reentry work. This includes spiritual formation, leadership development, counseling, education, and practical support for individuals preparing to return to their families and communities.

Through this growing effort, the ministry seeks to strengthen the bridge between correctional facilities, families, churches, and community partners. The goal is to ensure that justice-involved individuals are not forgotten but are supported with faith, dignity, and hope. This aligns with the biblical call to care for the marginalized, as seen in Matthew 25:35, where Jesus says, “I was in prison and you came to me.”

Word Tabernacle Church, established in 2005, was founded with a purpose of becoming more than a building. It is a spiritual vehicle for socio-economic and system-level transformation, reflecting a commitment to neighbor-love and practical mercy. The church’s outreach efforts continue to embody the principles of Galatians 6:10, which encourages believers to do good to all people and especially to those in the faith.

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