BREAKOUT PRISON OUTREACH May 2015 Volume 2, Issue 2 In This Issue Avenal State Prison I was in Prison C Yard First Chapel Service F Yard HHH Fellowship I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME He s finally back! God opened the door for Pastor Tony AGAIN to minister to the inmates at Avenal State Prison! He and his wife, Liz went in April 2015 to participate in the Criminal & Gangs Anonymous (CGA) Program! He was right at the brink of going in when a devastating stroke almost crippled him. But God is good and He made it possible for Pastor Tony to fulfill the mission that God had for him! Second Chapel Service - B Yard Word from Pastor Santa Rosa Re-entry Conference New Location for South County Fifty men attended the Chapel in C Yard and we were blessed! A short 20-minute film was broadcasted throughout the prison to show other interested inmates that they have the CGA Program. Pastor Tony shared how they have an adversary who plans to steal, kill, and to destroy them through drugs, gangs, and their criminal activity, but God also has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you...plans for good and not for evil for you to prosper and have good success. And that s his message at the prisons. So please keep this Prison Ministry in prayer & Pastor Tony s health. He is recovering slowly with the Lord s help. Other doors are opening for him to go into other yards, as well. Volunteers & Mentors Upcoming Events Donations Needed Prison Ministry Needs
PRISON MINISTRY AVENAL STATE PRISON C Yard - About 50 inmates gathered in the evening at C Yard. These were individuals that lived the same lifestyle that Pastor Tony can relate to. They had a sincere desire to change their lives and we went to let them know that Jesus works! Congratulations were in order for an inmate who served 32 years in prison! He was surprised when they came and notified him that he was being released. Praise the Lord! He had developed close relationships with some of the men, especially those that impacted his life. Another inmate was also leaving the following week and the Group Leader stated he was going to Board soon. Praise God for favor! Certificates of Completion were passed out to approximately 6 inmates for the length of time they participated in the CGA program. They also announced that they were going to hold their Annual Group Banquet the following week and were collecting money to buy pizza and soda. First Chapel Service - F Yard Pastor Tony and Liz, along with Chaplain Enrique Castro, held a Saturday morning Chapel Service with 40 men in F Yard. We had a great time in the Lord! The worship was anointed and touched our hearts. Again, Pastor Tony shared his testimony and how the Lord rescued him out of a life of drugs and gangs before, during, and after he was married; how his wife struggled, how she came to know Christ first, and how God supernaturally 2
AVENAL STATE PRISON (Cont d) ***************************** HOPE, HELP, & HEALING (HHH) FELLOWSHIP Every Tuesday, Second Chapel Service - B Yard 5:00 6:30 p.m. (Located in the Reaching Out Lobby) The GOOD SA- MARITAN PRO- JECT is a faithbased program of BREAKOUT PRISON OUT- REACH, that provides re-entry services for individuals that are recently released As we walked towards the Chapel, we could hear the men singing. It was so inspiring! Fifty men lifted their voices and hands to the Lord as they praised God! They reminded us of when we first got saved. Pastor Tony told the inmates at the second service that he lost his sight. They were stunned! He shared what had happened to him and explained that he can see more clearly now than he did before! The Bible says, Comfort one another with the same comfort you were comforted with 2 Cor. 1:4. Pastor Tony shared how the Lord has comforted him and kept 3
A WORD FROM PASTOR The Bible says,...i was in prison and you visited me Matthew 25:36. Prison is a cold and lonely place to be. In a recent meeting, 25 inmates from a segregated unit lined up to go to A Yard at Avenal to attend the CGA Program at the Chapel. They d heard that a guest speaker was coming but didn t want to get their hopes up and be disappointed. When they actually saw my wife and I, they were surprised! I shared with them how God has transformed my life and that He isn t a respecter of persons. What He did for me, He will do for them. The inmates said they needed to here that; they were very attentive. They were edified and blessed! Most were Christians but some were still searching for answers. After the meeting, an inmate came up to my wife and said that in 11 years since he s 4
SANTA ROSA RE-ENTRY CONFERENCE - A collaborative effort between the City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma took place on April 9th at the Hyatt Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa to advocate services for re-entry and discuss the importance of how faith works in assisting individuals coming out of incarceration and integrating back into the community. Pastor Tony was invited as a guest speaker to discuss this topic. NEW LOCATION IN SOUTH COUNTY FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN PROJECT - Santa Clara County Probation has invited The Good Samaritan Project to partner with them to offer re-entry services out of the South County Re-entry Center at the Sig Sanchez County Government Center, located at 80 Hyland Avenue, in San Martin, CA. Individuals recently released from incarceration and living in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Martin will be eligible for services out of this office. Now, men and women are able to choose faith -based services to support them in their return to their community. The Good Samaritan Project will pray with them, connect them to churches and bible studies and link them to services offered by other people of faith. Office hours are from 8am-4pm, every Tuesday. Appointments are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Please call 408-979-3043 to schedule an appointment. 5
UPCOMING EVENTS May 2015 - Avenal State Prison June 2015 - Avenal State Prison June 9, 2015 - End of the Year BBQ DONATIONS NEEDED Contact Us Good Samaritan Project Re-entry Center 2315 Canoas Garden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125 Contributions to this ministry are appreciated & taxdeductible. Funds will be used to continue weekly visits to Avenal State Prison and other institutions. Make your MINISTRY NEEDS Your prayers and support are very important to us. Please join us in prayer that God will not only continue to open the doors of prisons all over California, but He will send us the volunteers to reach all the inmates waiting to hear (408)979-3043 Visit us on the web at: www.cyoutreach.org ************************** 6