Concert aids ministry

Notes of joy, love, and empathy rang through the halls of the Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday night, as parishioners and students gathered at a concert fundraiser for the Friends of the Prisoners ministry. \nPictures on the wall reflected the successes of the four-year-old program, showing joyous church members and prisoners laughing, learning and growing together. The ministry, that serves Wabash Valley Correctional Institute, the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute and State Correctional Facility in Putnamville is a program that reaches out to offenders and reaffirms their dignity and worth. \n"This program reflects a basic precept of the Unitarian faith," said Glenda Breeden, a congregation member. "When we visit the prisoners, we are visiting without an agenda. We're not trying to save their souls, we're just there to listen and give support. We visit as friends."\nReverend Bill Breeden, the founder of the program, feels the visits add something to the prisoners lives. He said he is sometimes the only person who visits the prisoner, so his visits are especially meaningful.\n"In my visits, I really try to reach them," he said. "I'm not worried about their soul, but their bodies. We preach nonviolence, and that is a big issue in prisons today."\nThe benefit concert was scheduled to raise more funds for the program. An $8,000 grant was awarded to the church by the Unitarian Universalist Association Funding program, with another $5,000 available for matching funds.\nThe benefit raised $2,562, with more collections being made in the church during services. Breeden said the $5000 goal will be met.\nTo raise the money, donations were accepted at the door and also at the creative cake contest, where the members of the church displayed their baking and creative skills. Cakes ranged from tropical lagoons and Get Out of Jail Free cards to the Sidney Opera House and top hats, with pies added for diversity. Coffee cups placed next to the cakes collected donations, and the cake that received the most money was voted the winner, with all the money going to the benefit. \n"We had a great turnout tonight," said Steve Krahnke, event chair. "This event is really the kickoff to an expansion of the program. Every penny helps us expand this program to more congregations and prisons."\nPerforming at the concert were the UU Choir, Beth and Dan Lodge-Rigal, Craig Brenner, Heartland String Band and the Breedens and the Lost Shoe Band. Musical styles were eclectic, ranging from blues and gospel to bluegrass.\n"Getting the acts together was not tough," Krahnke said. "This congregation is very musical. Gathe-ring this much musical talent was only a matter of making a few phone calls, and everyone was willing to help out. Lots of friends and internal support made this event a success."\nVolunteers can visit the prisoners on a one-to-one basis or participate in other prison functions. The Unitarian Universalist choir performs every January at the Wabash Valley Correctional Institute, where it was voted the Most Outstanding Religious Program of 2000. The church also offers ecumenical services and counseling at the prisons.