About Us

Prisoners in Christ Restorative Justice Team

Prisoners in Christ is the prison and restorative justice ministry at COS. As Nicholas Wolterstorff explains in “Beyond Imagining” (2022): “work with prisoners was embedded in the DNA of Church of the Servant from its very beginning.” (pg. 60). In the 1980s Ken Andree, Len Sweetman, and others from Classis Grand Rapids East churches were instrumental in the creation of Criminal Justice Chaplaincy, which merged with 70X7 Life Recovery in 2018.

Church of the Servant endorsed a partnership with Troy Rienstra in 2004, beginning a journey of forming meaningful and restorative relationships among people on both sides of prison walls. One of the goals was to plant and grow a prison church, led by incarcerated followers of Jesus, and supported by members of the “free” church, for the purposes of Biblical instruction and application, discipleship training, and Kingdom-minded living in the prison context.

In 2008, Troy’s father, Rich Rienstra, ordained in the Reformed Church in America, was called by Church of the Servant to be the founding pastor of a prison congregation, named “Celebration Fellowship” by the first inmate members. As many as 15 “outside” members of supporting congregations would travel to Ionia each week to fellowship, study, and worship with the men gathered at Bellamy Creek, and later Handlon, facilities. Some COS members were part of that original band: Hank Zwaanstra, Claire Elgersma, Maynard Flikkema, Carol Rienstra, Barb Leegwater, and several others. During the pandemic when outside visitors were banned from entering prison facilities, the Celebration Fellowship “Outside” group got its start.

Troy continued to be a bridge and resource throughout the years of his incarceration, sharing inside perspectives about the importance of life transformation and education with many visitors, including professors from Calvin Seminary. In 2015 the Calvin Prison Initiative began operations inside Handlon Correctional Facility. Dr. Todd Cioffi, the director of CPI, is a member of COS, as are many who teach in the program – Andrew Zwart, Jane Zwart, Dale Cooper, Claudia Beversluis, Nicholas Wolterstorff, and many others.

The Life-Change book group that Troy organized in 2011 at Handlon Correctional Facility continues to meet every week with a regular group of volunteers from Church of the Servant, including Arend Vander Pols, Nancy Knol, Jeanne Logan, and others, joining them whenever possible.

In 2016, Troy was released from prison, still envisioning a Network for Real Change. In spite of many challenges, while serving four years on parole, God has sustained Troy and led him into a place where he serves as a disciple-maker, coach, mentor, and friend to many who have been traumatized by crime and punishment.

To get involved, or for more information, contact Arend Vander Pols, Troy Rienstra, or Carol Rienstra by emailing info@prisonersinchrist.org