Retired police officer Carl Wooten lives down the road from Lexington Assessment and Reception Center (LARC), a prison near Oklahoma City. He used to see it every time he left the house for work. Back then, he never saw himself stepping inside as a prison ministry volunteer.
His wife Karen suggested they try volunteering in prison after she befriended a woman who had been incarcerated. The former prisoner shared how church volunteers had made an impact in her own life. Around that time, Prison Fellowship® connected with the Wootens’ church about volunteer opportunities. Karen said yes to the chance right away. Carl said he would look into it.
“Honestly, I didn’t really want to go into prison at first. I’d been on the other side of the law as a police officer,” says Carl, who left the police force after 25 years.
He was about to see a side of prison he’d never imagined.
