TDCJ Rogelio Sanchez Unit
Let's Build a Chapel Together
Let's Build a Chapel Together
Matthew 25:34-36
“Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom.
It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.
And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
Worship and Services
Imagine a large and modern space built for inmates to gather and worship in community with ministry leaders, lifting up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gatherings like this are already taking place in the unit’s HVAC training room, led by various local ministries, and are often filled to capacity. Because of the limited seating capacity some inmates are prevented from the worship experience. We are fundraising to design and construct a larger chapel to enable ongoing ministries to safely bring together more individuals.
Classes and Training
The larger chapel will also serve as a hub for bible studies and discipleship training, “day with Dad” events, Jubilee events, Colby retreats, couples retreats, and peer counseling. With a range of programs, ministry leaders can empower inmates with knowledge and tools to lead fulfilling lives and positively impact our community.
Transformation and Prayer
Through transformation and prayer, the larger chapel will be a place of healing and renewal. By providing a space for reflection and meditation, we can help individuals overcome personal struggles and find inner peace. Prayer services and support groups will foster a sense of unity and compassion, encouraging inmates to support and uplift one another.
Help support our Community
TDCJ stated in a recent statistic that 95% of all 144,000 offenders will eventually be released. Local ministries can't impact them all. A larger chapel will enable ministry leaders to impact more individuals. Funds are needed for the planning, design, and construction of a larger chapel building that will be incorporated within the Sanchez campus.
Rogelio Sanchez is a TDCJ State Jail Facility
Rogelio Sanchez State Jail
3901 State Jail Road
El Paso, TX 79938-8456
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WELCOME to the Sanchez Chapel Project!
Rogelio Sanchez State Jail
Date Unit Established or On Line: February 1996
Total Employees: 287
Security Employees: 207
Non-Security Employees: 52
Windham Education Employees: 13
Inmate Gender: Male
Capacity: 1,100
Custody Levels Housed: J1-J2, G1, G2, Transient
Educational Programs:
Literacy (Adult Basic Education/GED), Reading, CHANGES/Pre-Release, English as a Second Language, Cognitive Intervention; Career and Technology Programs: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Construction Carpentry; Culinary Arts
Additional Programs/Services:
Faith-Based Dormitory, Adult Education Program (upon availability), Life Decisions Program, U.S. Border Patrol Community Education Program, Reentry Planning, Chaplaincy Services, Community Tours, Crime Stoppers, GO KIDS Initiative
Community Work Projects:
Services provided to city, county and state agencies, area school districts, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation, and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Volunteer Initiatives:
Substance Abuse Education, Life Skills, Support Groups, Religious/Faith-Based Studies and Activities
Senior Warden: Daniel Muñoz
Regional Director: Angela Chevalier, Region IV
Deputy Division Director: Miguel Martinez
Greg Swann, Pastor
Chair of the Sanchez Unit Chapel Project
"Your generous donation to this project will contribute to a worthy cause that aims to build God’s kingdom, facilitate spiritual growth, rehabilitate offenders, and make our communities safer. A larger chapel will increase the impact of local ministries. By partnering with us, we can make a lasting impact and build a stronger, more compassionate community. (Sanchez Unit Chapel is a qualified 501c3 organization, for details click here)"
The Project
Let's Build a Chapel Together
Our board’s mission, which we believe is God’s call, is to provide a dedicated chapel facility so more men can receive spiritual nourishment, cognitive training and reentry skills. At present there is not a large meeting area where the men can gather for a worship service. Currently there are two services on Saturday and two on Sunday which are being held in the education building with space for 75 inmates. Only 15% of the men in the facility can participate in a worship service each week.
Many volunteers from various denominations come to teach classes Monday through Friday. These classes are being held in the educational building in the evenings. A few classes are now being conducted in the dorm rooms because that is the only space available. 75% of the men are doing nothing during the day and would be available to take classes that would help them spiritually, as well as preparing them for reentry.
The Chaplaincy department would like to see classes being offered during the day and more classes in the evenings to offer hope, direction, and encouragement to the men as they desire to grow in their faith. The Chaplain receives many requests from the men for the various classes, but there is no room to accommodate the requests that come into the office. As the Education department expands, it limits the classrooms available to the Chaplaincy Dept. At present, four classes are being offer five times a week for a total of twenty classes. A dedicated chapel building at the Sanchez Unit will offer hope and an opportunity for the men to grow in their faith and become productive citizens when they are released.
The proposed chapel will be a steel building, approximately 12,000 sf, located within the secure perimeter and within easy walking distance of existing facilities. Space inside the chapel will be dedicated to:
–
Worship Center with Stage
& Stage Storage
–
Restrooms
–
Volunteer Office(s)
also to be used for small groups
–
Classroom(s)
–
Kitchen
–
Storage
Sample images from other chapel projects shown below.
(source: SLA Architects,
for illustration only)
Links:
Project Location in El Paso, TX Rogelio Sanchez State Jail – Google Maps
Similar chapel projects have been initiated at the Litchner Unit in Humble, TX and the Allred Unit in Wichita Falls, TX
Our board is seeking donations to reach a first milestone, developing architectural and engineering drawings, and also monitoring our progress toward the full amount for construction.
A letter of intent between our board and TDCJ – >>>View our PDF here<<<