Alumnus Receives Prestigious Texas Department of Criminal Justice Award

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice bestowed upon SAGU alumnus Paul Ransberger the 2010 Divisional Award. He is the first chaplain in the history of the state to receive the award.

As part of Ransberger’s retirement luncheon, an entourage including Bill Pierce, Director of Chaplains for Texas Department Of Criminal Justice, and other regional officials representing the Rehabilitation and Reentry Division presented the award.

“I am humbled by this award,” Ransberger remarked. “It was not given by my chaplaincy peers, who know the value of ministry, but by the secular department who can only gauge the value by results.”

“The Correctional Officers do not pay attention to who or how the inmates attend chaplaincy programs,” said Ransberger. “They pay attention to their behavior and testimony in the cell blocks, recreation yards and work stations. That was the part of our ministry that got noticed. I do not feel that I deserved anything, because it was God that made the change in the prisoners. I only made my vessel available.”

Chaplain Ransberger has served as the senior chaplain at Johnston Unit in Winnsboro, Texas, for the last three years. He also served at the Coffield Unit near Palestine for four years and the Daniel Unit in Snyder before moving to Lindale.

Paul and Susan Ransberger have been the senior pastors of Lindale Assembly of God for over seven years. They will now focus on their pastorate while continuing prison ministry on a volunteer basis and through Calvary Commission.

The Ransbergers founded 24/7 Correspondence Bible School, which has had over 12000 students take its discipleship courses. They have two sons and seven grandchildren.