About me
A resident of Virginia since 1998, Angela Holstege has lived in the greater Charlottesville area with her husband Chris and 6 (now grown) children since 2000. Angela is a nurse and started her career in Detroit, Michigan where she earned her master’s in nursing care of parenting families from Wayne State University. After moving to Virginia, she became a stay-at-home caregiver and active community volunteer. Shortly after starting seminary in 2018, Angela volunteered under religious services at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail. She graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2023. Ordained to the priesthood in 2025 she is now the pastor for mission and mercy at Church of the Good Shepherd in Charlottesville. In 2025 she joined Kairos Prison Ministry and began volunteering at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. She believes that communities of faith should play a significant role during incarceration and on re-entry providing community and connection. Faith programs have been shown to be effective in providing community to people while incarcerated and to reduce infractions. The same research shows that on release, participation in religious programming while incarcerated only delays recidivism after re-entry. Every formerly incarcerated person interviewed stated that they were unable to integrate into a faith community successfully on re-entry. As Angela works toward a Doctorate in Missional Ministry with a focus on discipleship and justice, she is working with Diana Boeke to facilitate discussions among Christians on the nature of biblical justice and how churches can become safe and supportive communities for re-entering citizens.
