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Wolverton Today
By the People, for the People
Pastor Juggles Easter Worship and Prisoner Pen Pal Call
A Minnesota pastor's Easter service is interrupted by an urgent call from his incarcerated pen pal, leading to a heartwarming exchange.
Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:57pm
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A pastor's Easter service is interrupted by a heartwarming call from his incarcerated pen pal, reminding him of the profound bonds that can form through faith and community.Wolverton TodayDuring an Easter service at his church in Wolverton, Minnesota, a pastor receives an urgent call from his incarcerated pen pal, Paul, who only has 15 minutes to talk. The pastor juggles greeting his parishioners as they exit the service while also catching up with Paul, who shares details about his own Easter celebration behind bars. Despite the interruption, the pastor finds the moment deeply meaningful, reflecting on his unique pastoral relationship with Paul, whom he has never met in person but has corresponded with for years.
Why it matters
This story highlights the powerful bonds that can form between a pastor and their parishioners, even those who are incarcerated and physically separated from the congregation. It demonstrates how faith and community can transcend physical barriers and bring people together in unexpected ways, especially during important religious holidays like Easter.
The details
As the pastor was greeting his parishioners after the Easter service, an usher urgently handed him a cordless phone, explaining that it was his pen pal Paul, who only had 15 minutes to talk. The pastor had to juggle his in-person conversations with parishioners while also catching up with Paul, who shared details about his own Easter celebration in prison, including a special Easter dinner. Despite the interruption, the pastor found the moment deeply meaningful, reflecting on his unique pastoral relationship with Paul, whom he had never met in person but had been corresponding with for nearly four years after one of Paul's former bunkmates started reading the pastor's newspaper column.
- The Easter service just ended.
- Paul only had 15 minutes to talk on the phone.
The players
Pastor
The pastor of the church in Wolverton, Minnesota, who has developed a pen pal relationship with an incarcerated man named Paul over the past four years.
Paul
An incarcerated man who has been corresponding with the pastor for nearly four years after one of his former bunkmates started reading the pastor's newspaper column.
Mark
An usher at the church who handed the pastor the cordless phone to take Paul's call.
What they’re saying
“Happy Easter, Paul! He is risen!”
— Pastor
“Happy Easter, indeed! The bishop was just here, and we had a beautiful service. And we're getting an Easter dinner; ham and potatoes -- the whole works -- later.”
— Paul
“Pastor, I know that you're busy, and it's OK if you are behind in your writing. It's also OK if you need to say goodbye to your church too!”
— Paul
The takeaway
This story demonstrates the profound impact a pastor can have on the lives of their parishioners, even those who are physically separated from the congregation. The pastor's unique relationship with his incarcerated pen pal, Paul, highlights the power of faith and community to transcend barriers and bring people together in meaningful ways, especially during important religious holidays.