Set Free volunteers help inmates find God

Staff

Published Monday, August 29, 2005

By Jennifer Rogers, Tribune staff writer

Every Wednesday, and just about every Sunday, Sam and Eva Telloyan go to the Freeborn County Detention Center.

They are volunteers with Set Free, a ministry through Faith Baptist Church, which is offered at the detention center.

Set Free is a bible-based recovery program enabling men and women to reach their fullest, God-given potential, according to Sam Telloyan.

The classes are divided up by gender and are an hour long every Wednesday. The Telloyan's teach the classes with Lonnie and Reatha Nelson and Jerry Miller.

"Coming here energizes me, when I can see what can happen in their lives," said Eva Telloyan, about working with the inmates.

Set Free is a 12-lesson program, created by Tim Sherman, a certified law enforcement and corrections chaplain. The lessons are divided into four parts: Life, God, People and Life Application.

"Every lesson has a homework assignment connected with it," said Sam Telloyan. "We talk about it, illustrate it, work our way through it, then they work separately on their homework."

While most inmates are not in the detention center long enough to complete the program, two have recently graduated from the program: Jeremy Soliday and Joseph Stahnke.

"I needed a new path to follow," said Soliday. "I found God earlier in my teenage years, but I walked away from him and found myself in some trouble. I needed a good path to follow. I heard about Set Free and what it was about and decided to go with it.

"The program was interesting. Sam has a lot of good knowledge, and I think the bible is a good place to look for answers," said Soliday. "The certificate means a lot and hopefully I have the strength to stay away from my sinning behaviors and everything that lead up to getting into a place like this. Hopefully from what I learned I'll become a better person in society."

Stahnke said completing the program marks the beginning of the person he is going to be.

"I originally heard about the program from Jean (Jaspersen, detention center program coordinator)," Stahnke said. "They came in when I was in general population and when Jean described it, I said I'm there."

"I was different before coming in there and starting the program. I had some pretty radical beliefs on religion and on God and it turned my whole outlook around," said Stahnke.

While the Telloyan's have dedicated their lives to God, they say it is most rewarding when they can see they are making a difference through the program.

"It is really a thrill when you see the light come on for them," said Eva Telloyan.

(Contact Jennifer Rogers at jennifer.rogers@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3439.)

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