Spiritual Life Center

El Dorado, Kan. –
In 2003, the Spiritual Life Center was in its youngest form and now construction is close to completion.

Since 2003 the facility has been in fund-raising mode and in 2004 the governor attended the center’s groundbreaking ceremony.

Construction began in 2005 and continued for two years, then in October of 2007 it came to a halt with the prison break.

Work was started again in 2008, making construction a three-year process to date.

On Friday senators, Chamber of Commerce representatives and members from the Central Kansas Prison Ministry convened at the El Dorado Correctional Facility to tour the Spiritual Life Center’s progress.
Lynn McBride, with Central Kansas Prison Ministries, summarized the sanctuaries inception.
“We’ve been raising funds for six years,” he remarked.

He explained that the facility has been able to save mass amounts of money through inmate labor.
Cement and tile throughout the facility, he explained, has no paint and won’t in the future.

The brown and ecru tones will help with maintenance costs, requiring no repainting or touch ups.
McBride also pointed out the main auditorium’s lights.

“We just finished the lights yesterday,” he said.

It was the first time he had seen them on.

McBride said the capacity for the auditorium would be 300 and cameras would be on site.

“This is a way we literally touch the world,” he remarked.

McBride led the tour group into a room he described as multipurpose.

This room would facilitate small gatherings and concerts.

In two to three weeks the facility will be able to showcase its front with double doors.

He explained when men walk into the Spiritual Life Center they won’t feel like it’s an incarceration facility but a sanctuary and place of worship.

Classrooms will also be a feature of the facility, but inmates will not have Internet access.

Rep. John Grange was present and asked McBride who was in charge of regulating construction quality.

McBride introduced Mark Biby. Biby oversees inmate construction for the center.

The tour gathering met back in the main auditorium for additional information and introductions.

“A lot of chaplains would love to have a place like this,” Grange commented.

Several inmates were present and commented on the center’s importance.

The men said when returning to society, faith is an important component to provide a new start.
McBride said he is hoping the center will be complete for Christmas; others have forecasted a completion date in January or February.

The center has raised more than $930,000 of the $980,000 necessary funds, and they are referring to the project as the “million dollar building.”

By Robin Nixon
El Dorado Times
Mon Aug 10, 2009, 09:45 AM CDT