Breaking the Chains Church is a ministry of the Greater Milwaukee Synod founded in 2016 by Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger, renowned in Milwaukee and beyond for their grassroots efforts and achievements in civil rights, prison ministry, and criminal justice reform.
The ministry began with worship in Felmers Chaney Correctional Center in Milwaukee, and in 2022 planted a second church inside the Kenosha Correctional Center.
Beyond worship, Breaking the Chains works with incarcerated persons to help them thrive upon their release. Our pastor, David Rebey, members of our steering committee and our volunteers help our congregants secure housing, work and other basic needs.
Our ministry is a collaboration between the ELCA, the Wisconsin DOC and Prison Congregations of America. We're grateful for our many volunteers, who join us in worship both online and in person at the prisons.
2012 - Rev. Joseph Ellwanger receives permission from the Department of Corrections to transport incarcerated individuals every Sunday from Felmers Chaney Correctional Center to Hepatha Lutheran Church. The men identify that there was no ongoing spiritual presence inside FCCC.
2013 - Representatives from Lutheran congregations in the city (Hepatha, Cross and Reformation), along with representatives from the community, as well as Galilee Lutheran in Pewaukee and Our Saviors Lutheran in West Bend, gather to organize a spiritual presence inside FCCC.
2014 - Individuals from various congregations attend the Wisconsin DOC volunteer training, in order to begin and attend weekly Bible Studies on Wednesday nights inside FCCC.
2015 - The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA partners with the DOC, facilitated by Prison Congregations in America, to develop a congregation inside FCCC. Some of the early attendees name the spiritual community Breaking the Chains Church.
2016 - A Steering Committee is formed as the governing body for BTCC. Rev. Mark Thompson is called to be the pastor in October. Weekly Saturday Eucharist services begin with the Advent season. The first annual candlelight vigil held outside FCCC takes place Dec. 24,2016.
2018 - BTCC organizes and helps launch a Greater Milwaukee Synod Task Force on Prison Ministry (STOP).
2019 - Some of the returning citizens who were active with BTCC while incarcerated begin to gather to support one another, as well as newly released men. An Alumni Group is formed, meeting quarterly for meals. The Alumni Group has representation on the Steering Committee. Members of the Steering Committee begin bringing men from FCCC into the community to do volunteer work at churches and nonprofits.
2020 - With the pandemic's onset, BTCC begins recording services and burns them to DVD to be played each Saturday. In-person services and visits are prohibited by a lockdown order. Eventually, BTCC members are allowed to use Zoom to worship live online.
Pastor Thompson resigns, and Pastor David Rebey, a member of the steering committee and regular volunteer, is contracted to take his place.
Christmas gift bags are assembled at Hepatha for all at FCCC, including the staff. Willie Cotton, formerly from FTCC, becomes a member of the Steering Committee. A BTCC Facebook page is launched.
2021 - Worship continues online. Members of Breaking the Chains are allowed back in (three at a time) as lockdown rules are lifted. Pastor David restarts weekly Wednesday Bible study, alternating weeks with pastoral care.
2022 - In February, Zoom services start at the Kenosha Correctional Center, and in March, In March, Pastor David is cleared to lead in-person worship, with volunteers attending via Zoom.
The Steering Committee finalizes a constitution, and new offers are selected: Pamela Gustafson as president, Carol Hegland as vice president, Kahla Perez as secretary, and Greg Wajerski as treasurer.
Two volunteer trainings for DOC authorization are completed in June, with some volunteers being re-certified and Matt Chromy and Nate Shubat undergoing their first training.
BTCC receives a $10,000 grant from Mt. Olive Church in Mukwanago. BTCC also participates in the Save the Chaney Center, in response to the state's decision to raze the building and build a new youth prison. Responding to BTCC's suggested alternative sites, the youth correctional center is instead being built at 79th and Clinton.
2023 - Pastor Rebey becomes BTCC's newly called pastor three days per week once his first call at Redemption comes to an end. Community service opportunities taking men into the community to do volunteer work increases significantly as more sites are identified, and with increased cooperation and support from FCCC staff. New ministry partnerships are established with St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s in Kenosha.