The visiting choir at the Unity Church of Jesus Christ yesterday morning arrived dressed in black robes, carrying hymn books and accompanied by security guards.

Twenty-six members of the gospel choir from the State Correctional Institution at Rockview entertained the congregation at the church's 11 a.m. worship service.

"These brothers read the word, even more than we . . . who are free to read and watch TV," Unity Church Elder Haroon Kharem said in his sermon. Choir members have had their share of suffering, and "they too can cry," Kharem said.

Sunday's service marked the choir's first visit to Unity Church, an interdenominational, multiracial church located at 140 N. Gill St. The choir came to yesterday's service at the request of the church, said Elder Steve Hayes, an administrative assistant.

In his sermon, Rockview Chaplain Harry Covert stressed that "there may be some who don't forgive (prisoners), but God does . . . God works for the good of those who love him, even in the experience of imprisonment."

Covert said the prison choir has existed for a long time and is "a very powerful part of our ministry (at the prison)."

"Is there any doubt that the Protestant Church is alive and well at Rockview?" he said to the congregation after the choir had sung five gospel songs.

Covert said he believes that being in the choir results not only in spiritual growth for the members, but gives them the opportunity to minister to other people and to share their talents.

Men who typically join the choir have a desire to sing, are musically gifted and are Christian, he said.

Choir Director Gary Snowberger said the choir practices twice a week and has extra practices to prepare for special performances like yesterday's service. To be members, "the men have to be steady comers to the Protestant services at the prison," he said.

Snowberger said men who join the choir usually have some choral or musical background. Inmates from all walks of life are in the choir, which contains almost 60 members, he said.

Many Protestants as well as a number of Catholics have joined the choir.

"It's definitely an ecumenical kind of idea," Snowberger said.

The church community at Rockview is interdenominational, and is based upon the Christian religion, which encompasses many different denominations, Covert said.

The prison's ministry is called the Yokefellow ministry. Religious functions held at the prison include Bible studies and special communion services.

Volunteers from the Unity Church travel to Rockview every week to hold Sunday School lessons, Hayes said. In the past, the Unity Church's choir has also gone to the prison to give concerts.