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G. GRIEGO: Set up “God Pod” at jail
Greg Griego was a longtime pastor, known for helping former and current inmates, as well as troubled youths.
Griego had converted his backyard barn into a halfway house for released prisoners, according to neighbors. He also held services at the county jail’s “God Pod,” where he gave inmates spiritual advice.
Griego was a former gang member, according to an article posted on the Prison Fellowship website.
He is also the brother of former Democratic state Sen. Eric Griego.
“Our family is grieving this terrible tragedy,” the family said in a statement, according to KOAT. “We appreciate the prayers and support we have received and request that the media honor our family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Griego held several jobs, but lost his position at Calvary church a few months ago and had struggled to find work, said a neighbor, who attends weekly Bible study at the home.
The lack of funds left the family living “paycheck to paycheck,” she said, and, “it’s been really rough on them.”
Griego spent 13 years as a volunteer pastor at the Metropolitan Detention Center, jail spokeswoman Nataura Powdrell said. He was instrumental in starting the jail’s “God Pod,” a unit of the massive lockup where inmates interested in the Bible and its teachings could be assigned.
Also, Griego served as a volunteer chaplain at the Albuquerque Fire Department. The department issued a statement lamenting the loss.
“Chaplain Griego was a dedicated professional that passionately served his fellow man and the firefighters of this community,” the statement reads. “His calming spirit and gentle nature will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg’s extended family.”
John Welch was a friend and co-worker of Griego’s at Calvary church. The two have been friends for 20 years, he said, and Griego has helped troubled kids get their lives back on track.
“I can’t believe that he’s gone,” he said Sunday outside the church.
He said Griego “would help a lot of folks, a lot of especially young kids,” and let them stay overnight, sometimes.
“He was one of the most courageous, one of the most kind and dear chaplain friends … that understood when I would tell him about having run into people that did cocaine or were involved in homicides, and I’m just praying for the teenager that’s in custody now,” Welch said.
The “God Pod” at MDC has since been scrapped because jail officials determined it constituted a violation of other inmates’ religious rights, Powdrell said, but Greg Griego continued to work at the MDC as a volunteer minister. He handed out free Bibles and worked as a spiritual counselor with inmates who wanted it.
She said he also helped set up the jail’s “Straight Streets” program, a Christian-based initiative to help inmates reintegrate into society. And Greg Griego was key in getting the jail to hire a full-time pastor; previously, it had been a volunteer position.
“I know he will be greatly missed by a great many inmates,” Powdrell said.
Journal photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis contributed to this story.
— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal
