Dave and I have been working hard towards the goal of starting a Celebrate Recovery group in our area. There is a HUGE need for this faith-based 12-step program here and we are excited to serve as God heals us and others through this program.
After many months of traveling almost 2 hours away to attend meetings ourselves each week, we finally targeted a start date for our group. Our first meeting was this past Thursday night. We were excited to see who would join us. It was a small group - but we didn't have to worry. It's God's thing and not ours. All we have to do is walk in obedience.
Thanks to all for thinking of us from time to time... we are hoping that one day, God will make a way for us to use this program here in our local jail and possibly use us in a prison unit in Beaumont.
Prison ministry news: We are signed up for the Bill Glass Champions for Life event in Beaumont. We are doing our best to recruit others to go. Hundreds of volunteers are still needed!
Letter writing: I (Rachel) am still writing about 32 inmates every month. A couple of them have been released. I've revised the layout of my monthly newsletter and the inmates seem to like it much better. I try my best to include 'fun' stuff, too.
Thanks to all who are interested in our ministry!
Love always,
Dave and Rachel
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Prison Funny...
I recieved this in an email today... it made me smile. It also made me think about how difficult it is to live behind the walls with loved ones missing you on the outside. Lastly, it made me think about how sometimes, the walls cannot stop blessings. ;o) (Yes, I realize this story is not true!)
~*~
An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.
The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.
That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
~*~
An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.
The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love, Papa
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.
Love,Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.
That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie
Monday, May 4, 2009
New Adventures...
God continues to give Dave and I new adventures!
We were asked to visit the home of one of the women in church. Her son was visiting. He had spent some time in prison and now was out. He struggled to make good decisions and his desire for drugs captured his attention again. When we met him, he had been clean for 16 days.
He was ready to make a change. I was blessed to help guide him in a prayer to rededicate his life… I asked him to repeat the prayer after me. I said, “Heavenly Father, if I didn’t mean this prayer before, I mean it now…”
He said, “God! I really mean it today!!!” It was wonderful to witness a heart crying out to our Heavenly Father…
The man is back on track and has been doing well in his relationship with Jesus. He got baptized last Sunday. It was a precious sight to see.
…
Last week, I got a phone call from my prison ministry mentor at lunch time. The call was unexpected and I knew the news would not be good. One of the ladies I worked in prison ministry with back in Indiana had gone to be with the LORD.
This woman was a fireball for Jesus. She loved prison ministry with all her heart. She and her husband continually challenged their comfort zone in order to work for Jesus.
Sometimes we wonder why God calls his children home seemingly ‘too early’. In all things, we must trust His timing.
…
Dave and I were invited to the Teen Challenge facility last week. We participated in their church service. We are looking forward to developing a relationship with them. They are looking forward to us getting the Celebrate Recovery group started and running smoothly.
They asked Dave to speak tomorrow night…
God makes my heart smile!
Love always,
Rachel
We were asked to visit the home of one of the women in church. Her son was visiting. He had spent some time in prison and now was out. He struggled to make good decisions and his desire for drugs captured his attention again. When we met him, he had been clean for 16 days.
He was ready to make a change. I was blessed to help guide him in a prayer to rededicate his life… I asked him to repeat the prayer after me. I said, “Heavenly Father, if I didn’t mean this prayer before, I mean it now…”
He said, “God! I really mean it today!!!” It was wonderful to witness a heart crying out to our Heavenly Father…
The man is back on track and has been doing well in his relationship with Jesus. He got baptized last Sunday. It was a precious sight to see.
…
Last week, I got a phone call from my prison ministry mentor at lunch time. The call was unexpected and I knew the news would not be good. One of the ladies I worked in prison ministry with back in Indiana had gone to be with the LORD.
This woman was a fireball for Jesus. She loved prison ministry with all her heart. She and her husband continually challenged their comfort zone in order to work for Jesus.
Sometimes we wonder why God calls his children home seemingly ‘too early’. In all things, we must trust His timing.
…
Dave and I were invited to the Teen Challenge facility last week. We participated in their church service. We are looking forward to developing a relationship with them. They are looking forward to us getting the Celebrate Recovery group started and running smoothly.
They asked Dave to speak tomorrow night…
God makes my heart smile!
Love always,
Rachel
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