February 25, 2002
Wayland prof also helps prisoners
___By Teresa Young
___Wayland Baptist University
___PLAINVIEW--Patricia Herman teaches in two different worlds.
___The professor of education at Wayland Baptist University also volunteers through Prison Fellowship, a para-church ministry to prisoners.
___The Lubbock resident taught at Wayland for eight years before leaving to take a full-time position with Prison Fellowship in 1998. Last year, she returned to full-time teaching at Wayland. But she hasn't left the prison ministry behind.
___There are 36 federal, state and private prisons in the West Texas region she previously served as area director. And Herman has a special concern for their education.
___"The Lord got me involved with this," she explained. "I became a believer as an adult, and I had been involved in some messes. When you're so in love with God and appreciate what he's done for you, you just say, 'What can I do?'
___"I attended a meeting that explained various ministry opportunities, and I feel like God just laid this in front of me. I've always had a love and gift of teaching, and I used that in volunteer training. I also trained in-prison instructors."
___Her current involvement, while not as extensive as before, is to train leaders for in-prison seminars which are held Friday nights and all day on Saturdays. The seminars focus on particular topics of discipleship and spiritual growth for inmates.
___"When I first became a believer, the peace of the Lord came over me," she said. "I tell the men at the units: 'Your life is different with God. If it doesn't feel different, you need to think again.'"
___Her ministry recently was recognized by two of the units she's worked with in Pampa. After presenting the keynote address for the units' volunteer appreciation banquet, the volunteers presented her with a distinguished service award, "in recognition of your commitment to those incarcerated."
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