Helping at-risk youth,inmates and ex-offenders yoke themselves to Christ for salvation and changed lives. David Bowen, Executive Director

Transcription

1 YPM Annual Report Helping at-risk youth,inmates and ex-offenders yoke themselves to Christ for salvation and changed lives David Bowen, Executive Director YOKEFELLOWSHIP PRISON MINISTRY P O Box 413 Huntingdon PA

2 CONTENTS Contents... 1 Message from the Board Chair David Manos... 1 About YPM... 2 Board of Directors and Staff... 3 Executive Director s Report David Bowen... 4 Area Councils... 6 Ministry Presence... 7 Ministry Statistics... 9 Financial Report Statement of Faith... 12

3 2014 YPM INTRODUCTION Annual Report MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR DAVID MANOS Greetings fellow workers in the Kingdom, Isaiah 9:7 continues to ring in my spirit, Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. As I come to the end of my time as the chairperson for YPM I reflect upon where we have been and where we still need to go, both in this ministry and the other ministries in our lives. Note that in this scripture it says Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end The implication is that as long as there is breath in these jars of clay the work is never done. The work of building the Kingdom is the most important work in all of creation. Generations of lives and eternal destinies hang in the balance. Think about that one child who may or may not come to know Christ if we do not continue in the ministry to touch his or her parents with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no time for fatigue or discouragement, we must be motivated every day to do the work of an evangelist, to pastor inmates and their families, to bring people into the Kingdom and nurture them in their relationship with Christ. As the Holy Spirit has often prompted me to remind those we minister to, life is short. One hundred years on the timeline of eternity doesn t even show up. As the scripture says, our life is like a vapor in its brevity. The loser (the adversary of God whose name I choose not to even acknowledge) tells us to play now and pay later. He tells us to live it up, have a good time, grab for all the gusto! The problem is that his payment plan is forever, it is never over, the debt is never paid. Jesus, on the other hand, tells us to, pay now and play later. Pay now by pouring ourselves out in this life, live for Him and bring others into the Kingdom. Jesus payment plan is short and the play time in His holy presence is forever. Forever praising and worshiping Him, loving our families and friends who have given their lives to Christ, rejoicing over how wonderful, good, gracious, and merciful God is. To live in His holiness where there is no more temptation, no more tears, no more sorrow, but only His love, peace, presence and the brilliant light of His eternal glory. We must continue to build the Kingdom whatever the cost because the cost to not do so is so much greater. In closing, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has so graciously and lovingly supported this ministry and who have been so supportive of my role the last number of years. In particular, I would like to thank the executive directors with whom I have had the honor and pleasure to serve, John Rush, Larry Coleman, and David Bowen. I have learned from and been so impressed with these men of God who live sacrificial lives every single day in order to build the Kingdom. It will be a pleasure to be present in heaven to see the rewards that God bestows on them for their many years of hard work and very humble service. There have been many others around the table with whom it has been a pleasure to serve. Too many to name. I can honestly say that I have been humbled by you as well, your love for Christ and your sacrificial living and giving to accomplish the work. My heart is filled with joyful anticipation of the time when we will all be gathered around God s throne celebrating the many people who are there in the Kingdom due to God s hand on this ministry. What a glorious day that will be. God bless you all. Keep the faith, fulfill the work of an evangelist, fill the Kingdom with many more precious souls who will not be able to thank you enough for the hours, days, and many other sacrifices you have made to bring them into the glorious presence of our Great Redeemer. To Him be ALL the glory! Amen! 1

4 2014 YPM INTRODUCTION Annual Report ABOUT YPM YPM s mission is to help at-risk youth, inmates, and ex-offenders yoke themselves to Christ for salvation and changed lives. YPM is a 501c3 umbrella organization with local Area Council affiliates. A governing board of directors, elected by representatives from areas served, provides direction and oversight to the growing ministry. In 2014 there were 14 Area Councils that serve throughout PA. Each AC has its own governing body; recruits, trains, and assigns volunteers; has its own treasury and budget; and is asked to contribute 25% of its net income to the parent overarching ministry. Through these Area Councils, hundreds of volunteers are entering nearly half of the county, state, and federal adult correctional institutions in PA. YPM grew out of a fellowship movement started by Dr. Elton Trueblood, a renowned author, speaker, and theologian, in Trueblood believed being a Christian was synonymous to being yoked with Christ (MATTHEW 11:28-30) and that we need to heed the call of PHILIPPIANS 4:3 to help others, Yes, I ask you loyal yokefellows.. Regarding incarceration, Trueblood stated, Separation from the world for a while is justified if new life emerges. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 YPM focuses on small group discussions for spiritual and personal growth through learning and practicing Bible-based disciplines. The result is the changed lives of those we serve as well as our own. The following selected attributes of discipleship are highly valued and taught as marks of a Yokefellow: Commitment - Hearing Christ s call Come to me a Yokefellow knows this answer gives a center of stability in life as he or she also joins Christ in lifting the burdens of others. Discipline - A Yokefellow voluntarily accepts: Discipline of Prayer - pray daily. Discipline of Scripture - read reverently and thoughtfully a portion of Scripture daily, following a definite plan. The Discipline of Worship - to share, at least weekly, in the public worship of God. Discipline of Money - give a definite portion of my income to the promotion of Christ s cause and as an act of worship. Discipline of Time - use my time as a sacred gift, not to be wasted, striving to make my daily work, whatever it may be, a Christian vocation. Discipline of Service - daily lift some human burden. Discipline of Study - develop mental powers by careful reading and study. Witness - A Yokefellow is one who knows that faith in Christ is not a private affair; to be kept it must be shared. Ministry - A Yokefellow is one who participates in the universal ministry. The New Testament is clear; all are called and all are recruits in Christ s cause (Ephesians 4:1). Fellowship - It is impossible to be a Christian in isolation. A Yokefellow finds or produces a redemptive Christian fellowship. 2

5 2014 YPM INTRODUCTION Annual Report BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF YPM BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR (2015) David Manos NC PA AC VICE-CHAIR (2015) Rich Gallo Indiana County AC SECRETARY Sharon Burks Central PA AC TREASURER (2015) Wiseman, Sue Three Rivers AC YPM STAFF DIRECTOR AT LARGE (2016) Rev. Helen M.C. Jones Delaware Valley AC DIRECTOR AT LARGE (2015) Paul Ilyes Jr York White Rose AC DIRECTOR AT LARGE (2015) Wesley King Central PA AC DIRECTOR AT LARGE (2014) Chuck Goodge Lehigh Valley AC NE RAC CHAIR (2015) - Vacant SE RAC CHAIR (2015) Keith Groves Delaware Valley AC keithandcharlene@msn.com SC RAC CHAIR (2015) Mary Clouser Harrisburg Area AC maryclouser@aol.com NW & SW RAC CHAIR (2015), Wiseman, Sue Three Rivers AC swiseman@yokefellowship.org The YPM Board of Directors meets via phone conference call the first Monday of each month at 9PM. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bowen, David davidb@yokefellowship.org NE REGIONAL DIRECTOR Whaley, Nessie smileynessie@yahoo.com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Oldham, David pastordave@yokefellowship.org SE REGIONAL DIRECTOR Maldonado Colon, Alma colonalmacolon@aol.com SC REGIONAL DIRECTOR Geissinger, Carl luvgod@centurylink.net NW & SW REGIONAL DIRECTOR Calabro, Ron revcal@comcast.net 3

6 2014 YPM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Annual Report EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT DAVID BOWEN The Lord has done great things for us whereof we are glad! Psalm 126:3 The Year 2014 was a great year for Yokefellowship Prison Ministry. In February of 2014 we received a gift of $7, from the Duane & Charlotte Kellett Trust. Duane was a faithful Yokefellow Volunteer in prison in California. He remembered the ministry in his estate planning. But his family could not find the ministry in California after he died, so they went on the Internet and found YPM in Pennsylvania and decided to send the gift here. We are grateful to those who so faithfully maintain our website! Every aspect of the ministry is important. AREA COUNCIL FELLOWSHIP MEALS The YPM Board decided to use some of that Kellett gift to provide Fellowship Dinners for all fourteen of our Area Councils. It was my privilege as the new executive director to travel across Pennsylvania and meet all our council leaders and fellowship with them. Our theme in those meeting was Passing the Baton. The race we are called to run (Hebrews 12:1) is not a marathon. It is a relay. It is not how well I run, how long I run, how fast I run. It s not about me. It s about carrying the baton and passing it on. The baton is the ministry of the gospel. We must be constantly recruiting and training new volunteers to take our place when we have finished our race. Like the Apostle Paul, we must be faithful to the fight, faithful to the faith, faithful to the finish (2 Timothy 4:7) then pass it on - pass the baton. Every Paul needs to find and mentor his Timothys, Tituses, and other young people to whom he can pass the baton. The race to which we are called is not a marathon, but a relay. RESTRUCTURING REGIONS Early in the year the YPM Board decided to restructure our regions. We had three regions with three regional directors. They were the South East Region, North Central Region, and the South West Region. One region had eight Area Councils and one region had only three Area Councils. In the new configuration we now have five regions as follows: NE Region -3 ACs, Danesta Whaley, Regional Director SE Region 4 ACs, Alma Maldonado, Regional Director SC Region 4 ACs, Carl Geissinger, Regional Director SW Region 2 ACs, Ron Calabro, Regional Director NW Region 1 AC, Ron Calabro, Regional Director So each regional director has only three or four Area Councils to supervise. As the SW and NW Regions grow, the Board will appoint another regional director. We appreciate the faithful and effective ministry of our regional directors. 4

7 2014 YPM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Annual Report UPDATED PUBLICATIONS In 2014 our Volunteer Handbook and YPM Brochure were both revised and updated to include recent changes in our regions, staff, and other changes in our organization and ministry. These basic materials have been distributed to all our Area Councils and are available now on our website. ANNUAL CONFERENCE The highlight of our year was our 2014 Annual Conference held at the Best Western Inn and Country Cupboard in Lewisburg on October 3rd and 4th. Last year we had 101 in attendance and this year 123 our largest increase in participation in several years. The keynote speaker for the Friday Night Banquet, Terri Roberts, was not able to attend. Nathan Reidy, the new President of Justice & Mercy, filled in on short notice and did an excellent job. Two of our five other presenters cancelled on very short notice, but we were able to find effective replacements and the conference proved to be a great blessing, encouragement, and challenge for all who attended. The conference concluded with a worship celebration that was well-attended and inspirational. VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT MANUAL In one of the workshops at our Annual Conference we presented our new Volunteer Management Manual. This helpful tool has been in development for more than two years. It brings together YPM Board policies, practices, and forms that have been developed over the years and incorporated them into in a well-organized document for the use by our staff and Area Councils. We are now in the process of implementing this manual in 2015 and are asking all of our Area Councils to be in full compliance with the manual by the end of Like all of our documents and materials, it is a work in progress and is open to revision and improvement. MINISTRY STATISTICS The statistics for this year s report are included in attached pages. Our Area Councils have done much better this year in submitting Quarterly Reports in a timely manner. These reports are the basis for an accurate accounting of our ministry. Accuracy in reporting is essential to integrity in ministry. I appreciate the time and effort our Area Council Directors and their assistants commit to providing this information. I thank God for the more than 250 faithful Yokefellow volunteers who give of their lives to serve in this ministry in 45 jails and prisons all across Pennsylvania. YOKEFELLOWSHIP PRISON MINISTRY STATISTICS A pool of 400 YPM Volunteers ministering in 43 Correctional Facilities Ministering to 900-1,400 incarcerated individuals weekly 94 Scheduled Ministries 58 weekly, 26 bi-weekly, 5 every 3 wks, 5 monthly WHAT A PRIVILEGE It is a great joy and privilege for me to travel from SCI-Chester in the East to SCI-Fayette in the West and many other facilities in between and hear the testimonies of men and women whose lives are being transformed by the grace of God through the ministry of Yokefellowship. It s great to hear from men and women who are now out of prison and living new lives because of the love of Jesus and His people who came to them in prison. Thank you to all who go and give and pray to make it happen. 5

8 2014 YPM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Annual Report AREA COUNCILS BERKS COUNTY AC c/o Mark Menley 110 Anderson Ave Reading, PA Chair - Pat Antosy Council Director - Mark Menley CENTRAL PA AC c/o Wes King 30 Juliasam Drive Belleville, PA Chair - David Kurtz Council Director - Wesley King DELAWARE VALLEY AC c/o Keith Groves 836 George St Norristown, PA Chair - Keith Groves Council Director - Keith Groves FRANKLIN COUNTY AC c/o Calvary UMC 150 Norlo Dr Fayetteville, PA Chair - John Rauch Council Director - John Rauch HARRISBURG AREA AC c/otonia Stanley PO Box 206 Middletown, PA Chair - Tonia Stanley Council Director - Tonia Stanley INDIANA COUNTY AREA AC c/o Rich Gallo 300 Queen Lane Indiana, PA Chair - Rich Gallo Council Director Rich Gallo LEHIGH VALLEY AC PO Box 3114 Wescosville, PA Council Director - Chuck Goodge NC PA AC PO Box 1081 Clearfield PA Chair - David Manos Council Director David Manos NE PA AC c/o George Moyer 639 Highland Dr Walnutport, PA Chair Clyde Heisler Council Director Loretta Oswald SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AC PO Box 141 Pottsville, PA Chair Stephanie Parker Reager Council Director Denim McDemis SUN AC c/o John Travers 380 Moslock Rd Dornsife, PA Chair - Stanley Bullard Council Director John Travor THREE RIVERS AC c/o New Stanton Assembly of God 117 Assembly of God Lane New Stanton, PA Chair - Sue Wiseman Council Director Sue Wiseman UPPER SUSQUEHANNA AC 1200 Almond St Williamsport PA Chair - Jack Schrader, III Council Director - Danesta Whaley YORK WHITE ROSE AC c/o Paul Ilyes Jr. 65 Kendal Rd Red Lion, PA Council Director - Paul Ilyes Jr. 6

9 2014 YPM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Annual Report MINISTRY PRESENCE YPM IS PRESENT IN 43 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES PA STATE INSTITUTIONS (16/26) Benner Township Cambridge Springs Camp Hill Coal Township Fayette Forest Frackville Graterford Houtzdale Huntingdon Mahanoy Muncy Pine Grove Pittsburgh Rockview Smithfield PA COUNTY INSTITUTIONS (24/64) Berks County Jail System Carbon County Correctional Facility Centre County Correctional Facility Clearfield County Prison Clinton County Correctional Facility Dauphin County Prison Elk County Prison Franklin County Jail Indiana County Prison Lancaster County Prison Lehigh County Dept of Corrections Lycoming County Prison Mifflin County Correctional Facility Monroe County Correctional Facility Montgomery County Correctional Facility Northampton County Jail Perry County Prison Pike County Correctional Facility Schuylkill County Prison Snyder County Prison Tioga County Prison Union County Prison Westmoreland County Prison York County Prison Lancaster County Prison YOUTH DETENTION INSTITUTIONS Westmoreland County YOUTH SHELTER Westmoreland County COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS Lehigh 7

10 2014 YPM AREA COUNCIL MINISTRY ACTIVITIES Annual Report MINISTRY STATISTICS FRANKLIN COUNTY AC Franklin County Jail* Wed 6: Franklin County Jail* Wed 6: Franklin County Jail* Sat 2: * bi-weekly HARRISBURG AREA AC Dauphin County Bk L* Mon 8-8: Dauphin County Bk G&H* Mon 8-8: Dauphin County Prison* Mon 7:30-8: Dauphin County Prison* Fri 6-7: Dauphin County Prison* Mon7-7: Dauphin County Work Rel Sun Dauphin County Work Rel Sun Perry County Prison Tues 1:2: SCI Camp Hill Th 6-7: * Every 3 rd week All ministries weekly unless otherwise noted. - Men - Women BERKS COUNTY AC Berks County Jail Th Berks County Jail Th Berks County Jail Pre-rel Th Lancaster County Jail Wed 25 4 CENTRAL PA AC Centre County Prison Mon 7: Centre County Prison Fri 2: Mifflin County Prison Tues 6: SCI Huntingdon Th 6: SCI Rockview Mon 2: SCI Smithfield Tues 6: SCI Benner Township* Sun 1: st & 3 rd Sundays DELAWARE VALLEY AC SCI Graterford Tues 10 1 Montgomery Cnty Prison* Tues 6:30-9: Montgomery Cnty Prison* Sun 6: Montgomery Cnty Prison* Sun 2: * Monthly INDIANA COUNTY AC Indiana County Prison Th 6:00-9: SCI Pine Grove Th 6:15-8: LAKE ERIE (IN-PROCESS OF BECOMING AC) Lehigh County Prison Sun 6:30-8: st & 3 rd Sundays LEHIGH VALLEY AC Lehigh County CCC Th 8-9: Lehigh County Prison Sun 7:30-9: Lehigh County Prison Mon 7-9: Lehigh County Prison Wed 6:30-8: Lehigh County Prison Th 7: Lehigh County Prison Fri 7-9: Lehigh County Prison Fri 7-9: Lehigh County Prison Fri 8: Timothy Program Tues 1 1 NC PA AC Clearfield County Prison Ths 7-9PM 35 6 Clearfield County Prison Suns 7-9PM 35 6 SCI Houtzdale Tues 6-8PM 80 5 Elk County Prison Thurs 6:30-9PM 18 3 Elk County Prison Sun 8:30-11AM 18 3 SCI Forest Tues 6:30-7:35PM

11 2014 YPM AREA COUNCIL MINISTRY ACTIVITIES Annual Report S.U.N. AC Snyder County Prison Th PM Snyder County Prison Mon PM Union County Prison Mon AM Union County Prison Mon AM NE PA AC Carbon County Prison* Fri Carbon County Prison* Fri Carbon County Prison* Sat 1:30-2: Monroe County Prison On Call 1 on 1 Northampton County Jail** Sun Northampton County Jail Mon Northampton County Jail^ Mon 5-6PM 19 1 Northampton County Jail Wed 8: on 1 Northampton County Jail* Wed Northampton County Jail* Wed Northampton County Jail* Fri 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Fri 1-3:30 1 on 1 Northampton County Jail Sat 2:30-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Northampton County Jail* Sat 1-3: Pike County Prison* ^^ Tues 4:30-5: Pike County Prison* Wed Pike County Prison* Th 1-? 2 Pike County Prison* ^ Fri * bi-weekly **monthly ^Anger Mgmt ^^Spanish SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AC Schuylkill County Prison Wed 6: Schuylkill County Prison Sat 8 AM 12 3 SCI Frackville Tues 9: SCI Mahanoy Tues 1: THREE RIVERS AC SCI Fayette Sat 1-2: SCI Fayette Tues 8-11AM 12 1 SCI Pittsburgh** Wed 6-8PM 30 1 Westmoreland Cnty Prison* Wed Westmoreland Youth** Sat 2-3: Westmoreland Juvenile** Sat 2-3: * Monthly **Twice month UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AC Clinton County Prison Wed Clinton County Prison Wed Lycoming County Prison Th Lycoming County Prison Th Lycoming County Pre-Rel Fri Lycoming County Pre-Rel Fri Lycoming County Pre-Rel* Sun 3: Lycoming County Pre-Rel* Sun 3: SCI Coal Township being re-established SCI Muncy Th 7PM Tioga County Prison Sun 7PM * First two Sundays only YORK AC York County Prison Fri PM 15 1 York County Prison Various Days 10 1 SCI Smithfield 10

12 2014 YPM TREASURER S REPORT Annual Report FINANCIAL REPORT YPM Financial Report January - December 2014 INCOME Affiliate Support Berks County $0 Central PA $3,000 Delaware Valley $0 Franklin County $1,600 Harrisburg Area $1,400 Indiana County $1,765 Lehigh Valley $2,334 North Central PA $2,000 North Eastern PA $814 Schuylkill County $200 SUN Area $1,047 Three Rivers $700 Upper Susquehanna $1,305 York White Rose $0 Donations - Other $2,890 Grants $8,062 Interest/Investment Income $248 Misc Income $964 Program Income- Annual Conference $12,809 TOTAL INCOME $41,138 EXPENSES Miscellaneous Expenses $6 Operations Postage, Mailing Service $159 Printing and Copying $961 Rent & Utilities $960 Supplies $94 Total Operations $2,174 Payroll Expenses $9,316 Program Expenses Honorarium Scholarships $200 Fellowship Meals $3,877 Travel and Meetings $1,619 YPM Annual Conference $11,870 Total Program Expenses $17,965 TOTAL EXPENSES $29,460 NET INCOME $11,677 11

13 2014 YPM YPM STATEMENT OF FAITH Annual Report STATEMENT OF FAITH We in Yokefellowship Prison Ministry believe: God - There is one eternal, almighty, and perfect God, in essence revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are faithful to the biblical revelation that in one sense God is one and in a different sense He is three. Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ is true God and true Man, born of a virgin, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and will return in glory and power. The Holy Spirit - When a person becomes born again, by believing and receiving Jesus Christ, God resides in that person through the Holy Spirit. All the divine attributes ascribed to the Father and the Son are equally ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Word The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God given through the Holy Spirit for the purpose of teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. The Fall - God created mankind in his own image, but through the fall in the Garden of Eden man was removed from the Garden and separated from God. Thus, we are all sinners and cannot earn God s favor on our own. The Plan God s original plan to give mankind eternal life was rejected by Adam and Eve. In God s redemptive plan, man is rescued from death by the priceless shed blood of Jesus Christ. His atoning death on the cross ended the separation for all those who come to Him. The Call Everyone who is reconciled to God through Christ Jesus is called to be a minister of reconciliation an ambassador of Christ. As Yokefellows, we are called to provide a ministry of reconciliation to those who are or were incarcerated. The Body of Christ All believers are members of the body of Christ. With Christ as the head, every member is called to have a personal relationship with Him, to be His disciple, to love one another, and to use our gifts for the body. The Reward - For taking the message of God s transforming love and forgiveness to captives and sharing the grace that has been given to us, great will be our reward in heaven. Adopted by unanimous consent at YPM State Board Meeting September 15, 2007 All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV, COPYRIGHT 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 12

14 2014 David Bowen, Executive Director YOKEFELLOWSHIP PRISON MINISTRY P O Box 413 Huntingdon, PA Here I am! Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him,