Convicted killer Robert Hyde was granted parole from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in March 2022, and his miracle of salvation while there continues as he now makes disciples for Christ among inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.
In his role as program supervisor at Parchman, Hyde oversees more than 300 men who are taking vocational classes, adult basic education, courses from Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, career services, book clubs via Zoom from the Mississippi Library Commission and Jackson State University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Center studies.
He also is an adjunct professor at the New Orleans Seminary Extension Center.
Jon Martin, men’s ministries director at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, said, “Many years ago Mississippi Baptists, in partnership with New Orleans Seminary, began a seminary extension center with the purpose of educating inmates so that they could, in turn, have a gospel impact on those in our prison system.
“This partnership is funded through the generosity of Mississippi Baptists as they give to the Margaret Lackey Offering,” he said.
“Over the years, we have had a few different directors of that extension center and now we welcome Robert Hyde as the new director,” Martin said. “Robert brings a unique skill set to this position as he has personal experience and understands the value of the program.”
‘Where I’m supposed to be’
Hyde, who began working at Parchman in July 2022, said his new role is a way for him to give back to those who helped turn his life around while as an inmate.
“It feels right to be here doing this,” Hyde said. “This is exactly where I am supposed to be, which is helping guys. I finally get to be for these guys what other men were for me at Angola. It’s the ultimate way to give back.”
To read more of Hyde’s story, click here and here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brian Blackwell and Tony Martin and originally published by the Baptist Record.
