For Tongariro/Rangipo Assistant Chaplain Liz Webster, the road to prison volunteering was a particularly long one – involving a family move from South Africa to New Zealand. After a few false starts, Liz became involved in prison ministry and has never looked back. Liz shares her story with CORRvolunteer.

My involvement with the prison started by taking church services in two units at Tongariro/Rangipo once a month. Before long, Prison Chaplain Maku Potae invited me to start weekday bible studies. I recall driving home to Taupo from Turangi feeling a little shell-shocked. Surely it was a crazy idea to have a woman teaching bible studies in a male prison?

However, a number of subsequent events brought it home to me that God had called other women to do the same thing, and I should have peace about it.

Before long, I had made myself available as an Assistant Chaplain. My church helps me with fuel costs and I have received a number of donations along the way to keep me ‘on the road’.

People ask me if I am afraid to go into a male prison to teach. All I can say is, the moment I walk through those security gates, I feel peace and joy flood my heart.

I count it as a real privilege to minister to the men on a weekly basis. They are like thirsty sponges, soaking up everything I can teach them, and clearly so taken with the message that they don’t notice the messenger.

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