Setting Prisoners Free

Transcription

1 Fall 2018 Setting Prisoners Free Volume 6 Issue III W h at is Goi n g on in O ur Nec k Of T he Woo ds Richard s Work 2018 Fall Schedule November 4 Golden Valley CC(Clinton) 11 Stockton CC 11 Life Church Potosi, MO 18- Boulevard CC in Muskogee,Ok 18 FCC East Prairie MO 18- Countryside CC(Kirksville)-Ben 25 Wentzville CC December 2 Capital West CC(Jeff City) 2 Winnona CC 9 Southview CC(Grandview) 9 Potosi Christian Fellowship Park St. CC(El Dorado Springs) 30 Mt. Auburn CC ACC(Jeff City)- Cherylynn & I just completed our nineteenth class of Inside Out Dads. Here are some of the inmates' comments: It made me realize the things I hadn't done as a dad! This is by far the best class I've taken while incarcerated! It helped me be a better father & husband! I learned better communication skills with my kids & their mother! BCC(Boonville) -I just completed my seventh class of Inside Out Dads class there. Here are some of the inmates comments: It opened my eyes to new ideas! I learned that my actions have consequences, not only on me,but those people who are in my life! Mr. Blake is very open-minded & is definitely the best teacher I've ever had! CCC(Chillicothe) I just completed my eighth class of Anger Management there. Here are some of the inmates comments: Mr. Blake's commitment to our class went above & beyond! I've noticed that my attitude is more positive about myself & others! I see Jesus in Mr. Blake! I'm already seeing the benefits in my life! DCCC(Hominy)- I just completed my third class of Inside Out Dads there. Here are some of the inmates comments: I strongly recommend this class to anyone who has problems in their relationships! It helped me deal with different situations (both good & bad) concerning my kids! Mr. Blake takes his teaching very seriously! If I could, I would retake this class in a heartbeat! Praye r Ne e ds Pray that God continues to open doors for CPMM in Kansas & Oklahoma and Illinois Pray for new churches to financially support CPMM, especially in Kansas & Oklahoma & Illinois Pray that Ben, Mark & I will be able fill all the Sunday dates with CPMM-A presentations in Pray for safety in travel for Ben, Mark, & I! Pray for God to send us more volunteers in the prison, especially in Oklahoma, Kansas, & Illinois

2 W h at is Goi n g on in O ur Nec k Of T he Woo ds P age 2 Richard s Work Continued FRDC (Fulton) Claudio, Don, and Tom continue to lead a study of "The Story". During the last quarter the men were able to view the video that was filmed at FRDC earlier this year, showing the work of the ministry at the facility (The video can be seen at the CPMM-A.org web-site). The men that were a part of the filming, who are still at FRDC, were very pleased with the outcome. Attendance during our Friday night services has been increasing the last few months, with a current weekly average of almost 40. The number of baptisms has also been on the rise, with 25 in the last three months! The men are appreciative of CPMM-A and encouraged by the opportunity to praise God in song, study the Word, partake of communion and for those that make a commitment to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to be baptized. One of the FRDC Correction Officers recently commented at the end of a service, "It is always great to see the smiles on the faces of the men when they are leaving the service. It really does make a difference." JBCC(McAlester)- I began my second class of Inside Out Dads class there. Here are some of the inmates' comments: I've learned to see other peoples' points of views on issues! I've learned how to communicate better with my wife! JDCC(Muskogee) I just completed our fourth class of Inside Out Dads. Here are some of the inmates' comments: This class had absolutely awesome information! This was a great parenting class! I recommend it to anyone with kids! It was the highlight of my week coming to the class! JHCC(Hodgen) I just completed my second class of Inside Out Dads. Here are some of the inmates' comments: This class was very informative & opened my eyes to new ideas! Mr. Blake is one of the most caring people I've met! This class was very important in showing me new ways of dealing with difficult situations & subjects! I learned how to be a better dad & person! JLCC(Boley) I just completed my fourth class of Inside Out Dads there. Here are some of the inmates comments: I thank Mr. Blake for his service to the Lord & to this class! I learn how to be a better dad & that setting goals with my kids is important! This class help me pin point my flaws as a dad, so I can correct them!

3 W h at is Goi n g on in O ur Nec k Of T he Woo ds P age 3 Richard s Work Continued NOCC(Vinita) - I just completed our seventh class of Inside Out Dads. Here are some of the inmates' comments: This class help me understand what it means to be a dad! This class brought to my recollection some great memories of my childhood! This class will help me become a better dad! This class was so great that I've already referred several inmates for the next class! OCC- Pete & Glenda just completed their twelfth class of Inside Out Dads class. Here are some of the inmates comments: The class help me see where I'm falling short as a dad! The class was very eyeopening! I wouldn't change anything you guys are doing! I really enjoyed the life stories they shared with us! They are very positive people! OCF(Oswego, Ks) We're currently going through The Story (for the second time) at both the minimum & medium prisons. Doug Miller does the teaching time (Half the time) & I do it the other half. Sydney is our new song leader(and she does a great job)! Bob Guarino is back helping us! We will probably have a new person join us after the first of the year(kevin Frentrup)! *Please read his article TCC (Tipton) Don and Tom continue to lead a bible study each Tuesday night at TCC. They recently had an interesting evening when the entire camp lost power during a storm. The men in attendance were well behaved and the group was able to finish their song service in the dark before having to return to the housing units for security reasons. The Tuesday night group averages approximately 12 per week and the study and fellowship is very edifying. In the near future the group will complete their study of "The Story". After that, the men have indicated an interest in transitioning to the "Gods at War", bible study series.

4 W h at is Goi n g on in O ur Nec k Of T he Woo ds P age 4 Ben s Work WRDCC- In September Ben was able to start a new session of Financial Peace University in St. Joseph. It has been our practice to give every student in each class their own books to read and study. For this class that meant six books so I was planning to limit the class to six offenders. However, the enthusiasm past students have for the class has encouraged two men to take the class even though I have not been able to provide them their own books. Despite this expected setback, every man has been engaged and involved. Would you lift up our interactions with these men, and that we would be able to lead these men to the wisdom of the One True God and His Son Jesus? CCC - We were able to facilitate one of the first re-instituted worship services since a disruption at Crossroads Correctional Center in May. We are proud to report that the group that met on the second Wednesday afternoon of October was full at about twenty men. After months of being locked in their cells these twenty men were ready to worship our shared Savior. JCCC Recently we have been able to lead three Friday morning worship services at Jefferson City Correctional Center in the month of October. There have been eight to ten men at every service and we are expecting growth very soon. Would you pray that God would encourage these men to continue to invite their friends to worship with us? WERDCC Ben will starting a anger management class very soon. NECC We will be starting a new worship service in Bowling Green very soon. KCRC Because of staffing changes that the release center there is has been a hold on program. Now that there is a full time RIAC (Religious Institutional Activities Coordinator) we will be able to schedule new programing with this facility. MCC (Moberly)- We are in a holding pattern MCC. With Matt leaving us a few months back we have had to change somethings around. We are hoping to be back in Moberly soon.

5 W h at is Goi n g on in O ur Nec k Of T he Woo ds P age 5 Mark s Work ERDCC (Bonne Terre)- The Story Link program is on hold for now. Mark has been approved for Illinois is trying to work out his schedule to continue this great ministry. Pray that a new volunteer would be willing to take over this ministry. PCC (Potosi, MO) Mark is now teaching Inside Out Dads weekly at Potosi Corrections and is seeing great success!!! MECC (Pacific, MO) VIC Bob Holmes, one of our board members, has taking over IODs at Pacific. He has completed three classes now. He as also recruit a VIC to help him. Richard Ruiz (Please read his article below) FCC (Farmington, MO) Mark continues his work as a full time Chaplain for the Farmington Correctional Center. FCC is one of the largest institutions in the state of Missouri. They house both the MO Sex Offenders Program and the Drug Treatment Program. They house 2700 offenders. Mark does a lot of one on one counseling and Ad-Seg (the hole) visits. SWCC (East St. Louis, IL) Mark has been approved to teach Inside Out Dads at Southwestern Correctional Center. He is hoping to start before the end of the year. Some training in the ILDOC will be required in November before he can begin. This is a huge answer to prayer!!!!

6 Christian Prison Ministry Of Mid-America Mailing address: CPMM P.O. Box 1111 Jefferson City, Mo Phone numbers: Business cell: Mark s Cell SETTING PRISONERS FREE Staff: Richard Blake Ben Suchman Mark Wilkinson Steve Vander Veen Executive Director Prison Evangelist Regional Development Director Accountant Board Members: Bob Osburn President Jefferson City, MO Tom Hodges Vice-President Sedalia, MO Jerry Lane Secretary Jefferson City, MO Bert Ott Carthage, MO Bob Holmes Wentzville, MO Dan Woodell Jefferson City, MO Ted Myers St. Joseph, MO Claudio Cobin Jefferson, City MO Richard's Ramblings As we go into the last part of the year, I'm so thankful that we've grown so much this year! We now have have over 600 people praying for us! We've gotten five new volunteers this year! We're now in five states (Illinois -being the latest)! We're now in 29 state prisons & 2 county jails! We've had over 400 baptisms in the last six years!! Having said all that, for us to continue to go forward, we need your help! If you're currently supporting us, we thank you!! If you're not,maybe you would consider taking us on in 2019! May God richly bless you during this holiday time! CPMM, A Current Perspective of Connecting to Offenders. By Richard Ruiz New VIC at MECC As a VIC that is new to ministering to men in prison I wanted to share some things about my recent visits to MECC and what the impact of programs like Inside Out Dads is having on offenders who are seeking to be a better dad or parent. One of the most interesting things I have witnessed from the offenders that are part of the program Inside Out Dads, is they all (for the most part) share a few common characteristics when it comes to their significant other, wife, ex-wife, girlfriend or parent of the child. It is my observation that there are 2 common denominators, 1 Poor communication or lack thereof and no real understanding of what good communication looks like or sounds like. 2 Verbal demeaning and disrespectful language about the significant other. I do believe however that they all share a common love for their children either in a mixed family i.e. different mothers or just one mother of the children or child. Inside Out Dad s has the potential to be a game changer for these offenders.

7 In my review of the new facilitators guide there is no doubt this Third Edition will have a meaningful impact on the offenders who genuinely participate and truly apply what is being communicated to them. In wrapping up the Second Addition last month we were able to team up as two leaders conducting the lesson. This changed the dynamic a bit in the classroom. It created an atmosphere that s was more engaging and challenging to the offender. It made them think a little harder dig a little deeper and in some cases play out what good communication actually looks like. As I continue to prepare for the new Third Edition class, I have a few takeaways or future do s I will be applying. As mentioned previously, communication will have a new emphasis going forward, along with some focused attention on what good conversation looks and sounds like. Above all, continued prayer, a servant s heart and glory to God. Updates from Tom Hodges TCC (Tipton) Don and Tom continue to lead a bible study each Tuesday night at TCC. They recently had an interesting evening when the entire camp lost power during a storm. The men in attendance were well behaved and the group was able to finish their song service in the dark before having to return to the housing units for security reasons. The Tuesday night group averages approximately 12 per week and the study and fellowship is very edifying. In the near future the group will complete their study of "The Story". After that, the men have indicated an interest in transitioning to the "Gods at War", bible study series. A Visitor s Perspective By Kevin Frentrup I had the pleasure of joining Richard and Bob Guarino at Oswego correctional facility on September 10 th. My experience in jail ministry has always been to minister in the county jail. So I did not know what to expect at a large facility like Oswego. In the county jail you see men coming and going rather quickly. You hope in your brief time with them that some how your labor in sharing the gospel will bare some fruit. Often it depends on their level of desperation and sincerity before God. You can only plant the seed and trust God for the harvest. After meeting Richard and sharing with him my background, he challenged me to consider establishing relationships with inmates that can be accomplished at facilities like Oswego. These men will be there awhile and truly desire to grow in the knowledge of Christ. After meeting and worshipping with them, I truly sensed a greater level of spiritual maturity and love for Gods word. My brief words of encouragement to them as a visitor were gladly received and they encouraged me to come back. Have you ever noticed how some churches have a warm welcoming feeling? This church did. It truly was a church of nine hungry inmates. Men that God does not see as prisoners but part of his bride, the church. May God bless the church at Oswego. I hope to be a part of it.