Her Story: Lynn Cole Springer
I grew up in rural Indiana, just east of Indianapolis. Even though I grew up in the church, when I was in High School, I met a man whom God would use to change my life. He was a student from Kentucky Christian College who had come to the church for a youth revival. There was something different about him. It took awhile, but I finally figured out it was Jesus. I saw Jesus living through this man's life in a way I had never seen before. I wanted more of whatever it was that he had... later I realized that what I really wanted was simply more of Jesus.
As my High School career drew to a close in 1979, I struggled with God for a time, regarding what direction my future would take. But finally I relented and enrolled at Kentucky Christian College in the Fall of 1980. I didn't know what I could do. I just knew I wanted to serve God. I only knew that if God could use me to impact one person the way that God had used another person to impact my life, then I could die happy.
I attended Kentucky Christian University, graduating with a B.A. in Bible and Christian Education in 1984. My first area of ministry was on Long Island, New York, serving as Youth Pastor at the Port Jefferson Church of Christ for 3 years. It was a fruitful ministry. Nine kids from the youth group went to Bible College. However, during these years, I developed a desire to help hurting kids. I decided to go back to school, but could not afford to live on Long Island and go to graduate school at the same time. As I sought God's leading, an opportunity arose to work with a prison ministry back home in Indiana. In 1987, I returned, but not to the rural areas that had once been home. Living on the west side of Indianapolis, my life's calling was about to unfold and Shepherd's Heart Ministries, Inc. was born a couple of years later.
Marion County Detention Center (formerly Marion County Jail):
I have been involved in several correctional institutions in a variety of ways. My primary place of service has been the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. My main focus has always been, but not limited to, Juvenile Offenders. Indiana has a juvenile system that is separate from the adult system. But, at times, there are cases where juveniles are waived into the adult system due to the severity of the crimes. These are the kids who have captured my heart. There is an average of 30 juveniles boys at the jail at any given time, and once in awhile, we get a girl. These are the stories you hear on the news: murder, rape, robberies, gangs, drugs, etc. They will be tried in adult courts and, if convicted, sent to adult prisons to serve their time.
My responsibilities at the jail are to co-ordinate a Bible Study for the juveniles, as well as provide them with pastoral care. I also have participated on the Disciplinary Hearing Board, helped supervise other volunteer programs, helped train other volunteers and assist the Staff Chaplains in whatever way is necessary.
Throughout the years, there have been various inmates that have come thru the Marion County Jail, with which I have maintained contact as they serve their sentences. I do this through written correspondence and periodic visits to the prisons.
Out of Jail:
There are others who were released from the jail, and with whom I have maintained relationships, continually trying to be a godly influence. I have developed a level of credibility with many of these people that allow me access to many areas of the ghetto, to which many (especially white) people are simply not welcome. There are countless "thugs" and "gang bangers" who affectionately refer to me as "Mama Lynn" and to my husband, Shawn, as "Pops".
Indiana Girls School:
Until 2008, I was a Volunteer Chaplain at, what was formerly called, The Indiana Girls School. This was a short term correctional facility for girls who were incarcerated in the state's juvenile system. The length of stay for these girls was typically 3-12 months. I was the designated chaplain for one housing unit, which held approximately 45 girls.
During the years that I was a Volunteer Chaplain at IGS, I had a high degree of clearance there along with a variety of responsibilities. Over the years, I provided Pastoral Care, coordinated a group of volunteers for a bi-weekly Bible Study, and participated on the administrative team of Cottage 6, my designated unit. I participated on an Advisory Board for the Community Involvement Coordinator, assisted in writing a Volunteer Handbook, led a grief support group, planned and led Worship Services and, again, assisted the Staff Chaplain in whatever ways were necessary. I was a Volunteer Chaplain at IGS for 21 years.
In 2008, the Indiana Department of Corrections moved some of the prison populations around. The juvenile females were removed from their long-time facility on Indianapolis' Westside and moved two hours south, to a new facility in Madison, Indiana. The Indiana Women's Prison was then transferred to their old facility. It is now an Adult Women's Medium and Maximum Security Prison.
Indiana Women's Prison:
After the moves, it was a slow process becoming involved in the new prison. However, those doors finally opened. I served as a Volunteer Chaplain there from 2009-2017. I led a Tuesday night Bible Study and provided pastoral care to the women two days a week, along with other ways I was able to assist the Chaplain with other needs from time to time.
Other Areas of Ministry:
In the past, I was a Religious Volunteer at the Indiana Reformatory for 13 years. This is a men's maximum-security prison. At this prison, I simply participated in Worship Services, a Monday Night Bible Study, visitation, and I sponsored Christmas Dinners for the men who participated in these programs, along with their families.
I was an active member of Chapel Rock Christian Church since moving to Indianapolis for 32 years. I was involved with the youth program as the Director of Youth Missions for four years. This, then innovative, program involved leading and coordinating mission trips for teens, both domestic and foreign.
Further Education and Training:
In 1999, I received my Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Christian Theological Seminary, in Indianapolis. I have also received chaplaincy training from the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and the American Chaplaincy Training School.
My heart and passion has always been for people, especially teenagers, who are lost, alone, and without hope. I love and value these people deeply and want them to know, beyond all doubt, that they are not forgotten. I want them to know that they are loved and valued deeply by the One who died to redeem them, as He alone, can give their lives meaning in the midst of the mess in which they live.
I grew up in rural Indiana, just east of Indianapolis. Even though I grew up in the church, when I was in High School, I met a man whom God would use to change my life. He was a student from Kentucky Christian College who had come to the church for a youth revival. There was something different about him. It took awhile, but I finally figured out it was Jesus. I saw Jesus living through this man's life in a way I had never seen before. I wanted more of whatever it was that he had... later I realized that what I really wanted was simply more of Jesus.
As my High School career drew to a close in 1979, I struggled with God for a time, regarding what direction my future would take. But finally I relented and enrolled at Kentucky Christian College in the Fall of 1980. I didn't know what I could do. I just knew I wanted to serve God. I only knew that if God could use me to impact one person the way that God had used another person to impact my life, then I could die happy.
I attended Kentucky Christian University, graduating with a B.A. in Bible and Christian Education in 1984. My first area of ministry was on Long Island, New York, serving as Youth Pastor at the Port Jefferson Church of Christ for 3 years. It was a fruitful ministry. Nine kids from the youth group went to Bible College. However, during these years, I developed a desire to help hurting kids. I decided to go back to school, but could not afford to live on Long Island and go to graduate school at the same time. As I sought God's leading, an opportunity arose to work with a prison ministry back home in Indiana. In 1987, I returned, but not to the rural areas that had once been home. Living on the west side of Indianapolis, my life's calling was about to unfold and Shepherd's Heart Ministries, Inc. was born a couple of years later.
Marion County Detention Center (formerly Marion County Jail):
I have been involved in several correctional institutions in a variety of ways. My primary place of service has been the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. My main focus has always been, but not limited to, Juvenile Offenders. Indiana has a juvenile system that is separate from the adult system. But, at times, there are cases where juveniles are waived into the adult system due to the severity of the crimes. These are the kids who have captured my heart. There is an average of 30 juveniles boys at the jail at any given time, and once in awhile, we get a girl. These are the stories you hear on the news: murder, rape, robberies, gangs, drugs, etc. They will be tried in adult courts and, if convicted, sent to adult prisons to serve their time.
My responsibilities at the jail are to co-ordinate a Bible Study for the juveniles, as well as provide them with pastoral care. I also have participated on the Disciplinary Hearing Board, helped supervise other volunteer programs, helped train other volunteers and assist the Staff Chaplains in whatever way is necessary.
Throughout the years, there have been various inmates that have come thru the Marion County Jail, with which I have maintained contact as they serve their sentences. I do this through written correspondence and periodic visits to the prisons.
Out of Jail:
There are others who were released from the jail, and with whom I have maintained relationships, continually trying to be a godly influence. I have developed a level of credibility with many of these people that allow me access to many areas of the ghetto, to which many (especially white) people are simply not welcome. There are countless "thugs" and "gang bangers" who affectionately refer to me as "Mama Lynn" and to my husband, Shawn, as "Pops".
Indiana Girls School:
Until 2008, I was a Volunteer Chaplain at, what was formerly called, The Indiana Girls School. This was a short term correctional facility for girls who were incarcerated in the state's juvenile system. The length of stay for these girls was typically 3-12 months. I was the designated chaplain for one housing unit, which held approximately 45 girls.
During the years that I was a Volunteer Chaplain at IGS, I had a high degree of clearance there along with a variety of responsibilities. Over the years, I provided Pastoral Care, coordinated a group of volunteers for a bi-weekly Bible Study, and participated on the administrative team of Cottage 6, my designated unit. I participated on an Advisory Board for the Community Involvement Coordinator, assisted in writing a Volunteer Handbook, led a grief support group, planned and led Worship Services and, again, assisted the Staff Chaplain in whatever ways were necessary. I was a Volunteer Chaplain at IGS for 21 years.
In 2008, the Indiana Department of Corrections moved some of the prison populations around. The juvenile females were removed from their long-time facility on Indianapolis' Westside and moved two hours south, to a new facility in Madison, Indiana. The Indiana Women's Prison was then transferred to their old facility. It is now an Adult Women's Medium and Maximum Security Prison.
Indiana Women's Prison:
After the moves, it was a slow process becoming involved in the new prison. However, those doors finally opened. I served as a Volunteer Chaplain there from 2009-2017. I led a Tuesday night Bible Study and provided pastoral care to the women two days a week, along with other ways I was able to assist the Chaplain with other needs from time to time.
Other Areas of Ministry:
In the past, I was a Religious Volunteer at the Indiana Reformatory for 13 years. This is a men's maximum-security prison. At this prison, I simply participated in Worship Services, a Monday Night Bible Study, visitation, and I sponsored Christmas Dinners for the men who participated in these programs, along with their families.
I was an active member of Chapel Rock Christian Church since moving to Indianapolis for 32 years. I was involved with the youth program as the Director of Youth Missions for four years. This, then innovative, program involved leading and coordinating mission trips for teens, both domestic and foreign.
Further Education and Training:
In 1999, I received my Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Christian Theological Seminary, in Indianapolis. I have also received chaplaincy training from the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and the American Chaplaincy Training School.
My heart and passion has always been for people, especially teenagers, who are lost, alone, and without hope. I love and value these people deeply and want them to know, beyond all doubt, that they are not forgotten. I want them to know that they are loved and valued deeply by the One who died to redeem them, as He alone, can give their lives meaning in the midst of the mess in which they live.