Pastor Jailed Temporarily for Prison Retreat

Rod Kvamme will join 15 volunteers for a spiritual retreat at the State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Pastor Rod Kvamme will enter the State Prison at Deer Lodge this Friday to join a staff of 15 volunteers who will conduct a spiritual retreat for inmates called 'Kogudus', an Estonian word for fellowship. The retreat will accommodate both high and low security inmates, and last year 72 inmates attended. This will be Pastor Kvamme's fourth year as the Retreat Pastor.

Why it matters

The prison retreat provides a valuable opportunity for inmates to engage in spiritual reflection and fellowship, which can be an important part of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Pastor Kvamme's involvement demonstrates the commitment of the local community to supporting the incarcerated population.

The details

During the weekend-long retreat, the volunteer staff will sleep in the prison chapel and eat with the inmates in their dining hall. The retreat is held in cooperation with the prison Chaplain, Pastor William Wohlers. One meaningful moment is when inmates receive short, personal letters from people outside the walls who are remembering to pray for them during the retreat, which can be a great encouragement.

  • Pastor Kvamme will enter the State Prison at Deer Lodge this Friday, January 24, 1991.
  • Barring any complications, he should be released again by Sunday noon on January 26, 1991.

The players

Pastor Rod Kvamme

The Retreat Pastor who will be leading the spiritual retreat at the State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Pastor William Wohlers

The prison Chaplain who is cooperating with the retreat.

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What they’re saying

“One meaningful moment at the retreat is when inmates receive short, personal letters from people outside the walls who are remembering to pray for them during the weekend as they take part in the spiritual presentations and discussions based on the Apostles' Creed. The letters are a great encouragement and may be sent by anyone desiring to do so.”

— Pastor Rod Kvamme, Retreat Pastor (seeleylake.com)

What’s next

Pastor Kvamme needs any letters from the public to be placed in unaddressed envelopes by Thursday evening, January 23, 1991, so they can be distributed to the inmates during the retreat.

The takeaway

This prison retreat demonstrates the power of community engagement and spiritual support to aid in the rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated individuals, highlighting the important role that local faith leaders can play in serving vulnerable populations.