03/04/2026
Seguin Gazette
KWED Radio AM 1580/Seguin Daily News
Ash Wednesday took on a deeper dimension this year at Faith, Seguin. While the congregation gathered in the sanctuary as it normally would for the imposition of ashes, Pastor Jeremy Pedersen and two church members carried the ancient rite beyond the church walls into the Guadalupe County Jail.
The visit came together through a series of God-ordained connections, opening a door that felt, in Pastor Pedersen’s words, like “a holy nudge.” Faith Lutheran has a history of jail ministry, though much of that work was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Ash Wednesday invitation became a renewed beginning.
“Of the roughly 500 individuals housed at the jail, about 350 chose to receive ashes—a moving reminder of how deeply people long to hear God’s promise of grace.” - Pastor Jeremy Pedersen
Moving cell block to cell block, the team offered the timeless words: “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” The response was striking. Approximately 350 of the 500 inmates chose to receive ashes!
The ministry extended to the detention officers as well. Several members of the jail’s staff received ashes, and their openness and gratitude added yet another layer of blessing. It is a reminder that those who serve behind the walls carry their own burdens and are equally in need of the Gospel’s comfort.
For everyone who participated, the experience was marked by humility, hope, and a palpable sense of the Spirit’s presence. What began as a simple invitation for a pastoral visit to one inmate has now rekindled a vision for ongoing outreach at the Guadalupe County Jail—one that Pastor Pedersen hopes to continue building in the future.
This is a picture of the church in action: going where the need is, carrying nothing but a smudge of ash and the promise of resurrection.