TDCJ News

28th Annual Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards

Fort Worth Pastor & Church Receive Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

TBCJ Chairman Patrick O'Daniel, Stephen Wilson and members of Gateway Church, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, and TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier.

(AUSTIN) –Pastor Stephen Wilson and Gateway Church in Fort Worth, Texas, were presented the Carol S. Vance Award as the Volunteer of the Year during the Governor’s 2023 Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards program today.

The award was presented by Texas Board of Criminal Justice Chairman Patrick O’Daniel and TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier at a ceremony in Austin.

“These award recipients, by volunteering countless hours, are helping to build a better Texas for themselves and everyone whose lives they touch,” said O’Daniel. “It is an honor to recognize them for their hard work and dedication.”

“It takes a very special kind of person to give of their time and expect no material reward,” said Collier. “These volunteers are invaluable to us and have made a lasting impact through their contributions to the public safety of all Texans.”

Stephen Wilson is the pastor for Gateway Prison Ministry which currently serves nine campuses statewide and one outside of Texas. Over the past few years, Pastor Wilson along with the men and women of Gateway Prison Ministry have helped in serving and meeting the needs of the units they go into and have even helped in areas they currently have no presence. Pastor Wilson and Gateway Church have been involved in several staff appreciations by catering meals for the units. During a critical situation within the agency this past year, they organized and sent supplies such as water, snacks, Gatorade and umbrellas to assist the staff’s needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they donated $5,000 to the families of each TDCJ employee who passed away from the virus. Pastor Wilson’s vision and dedication to the inmates can be seen in all that he does. He has been instrumental in establishing Gateway Prison Ministry satellite churches at several facilities where it brings a “free world church” feel to the incarcerated. Due to his dedication and desire to reach every inmate and staff, Pastor Wilson’s leadership has been instrumental in the Gateway Prison Ministry.

In 1999, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice named the Volunteer of the Year Award after Carol S. Vance, former TBCJ chairman and board member, former TBCJ Rehabilitation and Reentry Programs Committee Chair and current Chaplaincy volunteer (since 1996) at the Memorial and Jester Units. This award recognizes his many contributions in the development of rehabilitative programming offered to inmates to effect change.

Pastor Wilson and Gateway Church are one of 23 individuals and organizations from across the state recognized for their efforts to help inmates and those who are on parole or probation. They donate many hours of their personal time every year with the goal of changing the lives of convicted inmates while aiding and comforting their victims.

In FY2022, there were 23,376 volunteers who provided a total of 146,649 hours of service.

Note to media: For more information, contact Robert Hurst at (936) 437-6052 or by e-mail at robert_hurst@tdcj.texas.gov.