Inside the Walls
St. Dysmas is a community of faith worshiping inside the South Dakota state prisons made up of men and women who are incarcerated, joined by volunteers and visitors from outside the walls. Together we proclaim God’s love, forgiveness, and redemption through Jesus Christ.
We do not receive funding from the South Dakota Synod’s Mission Budget or the Department of Corrections. St. Dysmas is 100% funded by you. We exist only because people believe in us enough to show up, give, and pray.
Our Mission
St. Dysmas Lutheran Church extends God’s message of love and grace through worship, proclamation, and community. We live the message that no one is forgotten or beyond God’s forgiveness. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we walk with individuals both during and after incarceration, offering hope, mentorship, and fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ.
Our Vision
St. Dysmas Lutheran Church extends God’s message of love and grace through worship, proclamation, and community. We live the message that no one is forgotten or beyond God’s forgiveness. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we walk with individuals both during and after incarceration, offering hope, mentorship, and fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ.
Why It Matters
Prison can be one of the loneliest places in the world. Many who worship with us have been abandoned by the people they once trusted. Some have never stepped into a church before. Some will never step outside of these walls. Others believed God could never love someone like them.
Inside a prison chapel, something sacred happens. When volunteers and visitors join us, hope becomes visible. But St. Dysmas is more than worship;p — it’s fellowship, guidance, and practical support for life inside and beyond the walls.
Presence says: You matter. You are not forgotten. God has not given up on you, and neither have we.
“When people from outside the walls come in, it reminds us that we’re still human. Your presence means more than you know.”
Member of St. Dysmas
There are many ways to be part of what God is doing here:
Visit and Worship With Us
Support the Ministry
St. Dysmas relies entirely on people who believe in this work. Financial support provides Bibles, worship materials, pastoral care, mentorship, and reentry support for men returning to the community. Your generosity changes lives.
Be Part of the Story
St. Dysmas exists because people say yes. Yes to worship. Yes to compassion. Yes to second chances. Together we witness God’s grace transforming lives, inside and out.
“Worshiping at St. Dysmas changed my faith and my heart. I came to bring encouragement, but I was the one transformed.”
Volunteer Visitor