2/14/2015
1. Shawn has finally been cleared to be a volunteer chaplain at the New Castle Correctional Facility. This is the first prison that has allowed him clearance to minister there.
2. There are some issues regarding a federal law that is causing some hiccups in Shawn being cleared to work in other prisons. God has given us an ear with some "well placed" people in the system. Please pray that those doors can swing open!
3. We were able to give Shawn an increase in his salary in January. Praise God with us for His provision! We still do not have his salary where "we" would like it to be, but are trusting God to continue to provide as He sees fit.
4. Lynn is starting the Bridges to Life Class at the Women's Prison. It will continue thru April. Please be in prayer for God's healing mercies in the lives of these women in the coming weeks.
1. Shawn has finally been cleared to be a volunteer chaplain at the New Castle Correctional Facility. This is the first prison that has allowed him clearance to minister there.
2. There are some issues regarding a federal law that is causing some hiccups in Shawn being cleared to work in other prisons. God has given us an ear with some "well placed" people in the system. Please pray that those doors can swing open!
3. We were able to give Shawn an increase in his salary in January. Praise God with us for His provision! We still do not have his salary where "we" would like it to be, but are trusting God to continue to provide as He sees fit.
4. Lynn is starting the Bridges to Life Class at the Women's Prison. It will continue thru April. Please be in prayer for God's healing mercies in the lives of these women in the coming weeks.
9/21/14
1. As a result of the meeting with Dave Liebel (see post 9/7th), Shawn has a great opportunity to become involved at the New Castle Correctional Facility in New Castle, Indiana. This is a men's maximum/medium security prison. He had a meeting with some folks there this past Friday and now he has to submit the paper work!! Praying for open doors!!
2. One issue to be prayerful about...seems like the open doors for Shawn always seem to involve a one way drive that is about an hour long! We are trying to stay open...but this could necessitate a move for us sometime down the line. Right now, we are not in a financial position to be able to sell our home and buy elsewhere. So please keep this situation in your prayers, as well. Thanks so much!
3. During the next couple of months, particularly Sept thru Nov, Lynn is involved in leading numerous Bible Studies at the same time...all separate places and separate subjects. Currently there are 4...Tues night at the Women's Prison, Thursday night at IREF, Friday morning with the juveniles at the jail, and Sunday morning at church. Plus she is putting together a 3 hour seminar on working with juveniles to be presented at the state "Sheriff's Chaplaincy Conference on Oct 13th. So please be in prayer for her mind clear on each class and for her preparation for the seminar. Thank you!!
1. As a result of the meeting with Dave Liebel (see post 9/7th), Shawn has a great opportunity to become involved at the New Castle Correctional Facility in New Castle, Indiana. This is a men's maximum/medium security prison. He had a meeting with some folks there this past Friday and now he has to submit the paper work!! Praying for open doors!!
2. One issue to be prayerful about...seems like the open doors for Shawn always seem to involve a one way drive that is about an hour long! We are trying to stay open...but this could necessitate a move for us sometime down the line. Right now, we are not in a financial position to be able to sell our home and buy elsewhere. So please keep this situation in your prayers, as well. Thanks so much!
3. During the next couple of months, particularly Sept thru Nov, Lynn is involved in leading numerous Bible Studies at the same time...all separate places and separate subjects. Currently there are 4...Tues night at the Women's Prison, Thursday night at IREF, Friday morning with the juveniles at the jail, and Sunday morning at church. Plus she is putting together a 3 hour seminar on working with juveniles to be presented at the state "Sheriff's Chaplaincy Conference on Oct 13th. So please be in prayer for her mind clear on each class and for her preparation for the seminar. Thank you!!
9/7/14
Shawn had a meeting this past week with Mr. Dave Liebel, Director of Religious Programs for the Indiana Dept of Corrections. All chaplains in all of the prisons report to Mr. Liebel. Shawn's heart and calling is to male long term offenders. His true desire is to be a staff chaplain at a prison. We are excited to see what opportunities are born out of this meeting. Please continue to pray for doors to open!!
Shawn had a meeting this past week with Mr. Dave Liebel, Director of Religious Programs for the Indiana Dept of Corrections. All chaplains in all of the prisons report to Mr. Liebel. Shawn's heart and calling is to male long term offenders. His true desire is to be a staff chaplain at a prison. We are excited to see what opportunities are born out of this meeting. Please continue to pray for doors to open!!
8/19/14
Our Fall schedule is amping up!! Beginning tonight, I will be leading and coordinating our Fall Session for Bible Study at the Indiana Women's Prison. We will be meeting from 6:30-8:30 each Tues evening until Thanksgiving.
Beginning next week, on 8/28th, Lynn will be a facilitator in a program that is new for SHM. "Bridges to Life" is a faith based program that facilitates healing and forgiveness among offenders and victims of crime. (Not their own victims, but other victims of other crimes will be involved to share their stories, including rape, families of murder victims, robbery, etc) This program originated in Texas and we are among the first programs in their new regional expansion to Indiana. It is a healing experience for the victims sharing their stories, but the real meat of this program is in helping the offenders come to terms with how their actions impacted the victims of their own crimes. It will be a very emotional experience I am sure. We are very excited about what God is about to do. The first session will be held at the Indianapolis Re-Entry Educational Facility here in Indianapolis. It is a place where male long term offenders may be transferred during the last 18 months of their sentence to begin the process of transitioning back into society. Please be in prayer for this program...that God's healing grace would transform us all! Lynn will be co-facilitators for a group of 13 offenders.
Our Fall schedule is amping up!! Beginning tonight, I will be leading and coordinating our Fall Session for Bible Study at the Indiana Women's Prison. We will be meeting from 6:30-8:30 each Tues evening until Thanksgiving.
Beginning next week, on 8/28th, Lynn will be a facilitator in a program that is new for SHM. "Bridges to Life" is a faith based program that facilitates healing and forgiveness among offenders and victims of crime. (Not their own victims, but other victims of other crimes will be involved to share their stories, including rape, families of murder victims, robbery, etc) This program originated in Texas and we are among the first programs in their new regional expansion to Indiana. It is a healing experience for the victims sharing their stories, but the real meat of this program is in helping the offenders come to terms with how their actions impacted the victims of their own crimes. It will be a very emotional experience I am sure. We are very excited about what God is about to do. The first session will be held at the Indianapolis Re-Entry Educational Facility here in Indianapolis. It is a place where male long term offenders may be transferred during the last 18 months of their sentence to begin the process of transitioning back into society. Please be in prayer for this program...that God's healing grace would transform us all! Lynn will be co-facilitators for a group of 13 offenders.
8/17/14
Shawn & I have been attending a church called Beyond Prison Gates on Sunday evenings. They have a specific focus on reaching people coming out of jail and prison. Tonight I met a man to whom I had ministered at the Marion County Jail in 1997. (No, I don't remember him). He said he was suicidal when I came to the unit to see him. He was later baptized at the jail. He said he weighed 480 lbs at the time and (the late) Ch Merriweather brought in a horse trough of some sort to baptize him in. He is praising God that he came thru 12 yrs of prison and has been out since 2008, living for Christ throughout.
I am also praising God that He has shown me some fruit 17 yrs down the road!! Jail ministry is most often a seed planting ministry...once they get out or go on to prison, I most often never know what happened to them. I can't tell you what a sweet thing it was to meet this man again!
Shawn & I have been attending a church called Beyond Prison Gates on Sunday evenings. They have a specific focus on reaching people coming out of jail and prison. Tonight I met a man to whom I had ministered at the Marion County Jail in 1997. (No, I don't remember him). He said he was suicidal when I came to the unit to see him. He was later baptized at the jail. He said he weighed 480 lbs at the time and (the late) Ch Merriweather brought in a horse trough of some sort to baptize him in. He is praising God that he came thru 12 yrs of prison and has been out since 2008, living for Christ throughout.
I am also praising God that He has shown me some fruit 17 yrs down the road!! Jail ministry is most often a seed planting ministry...once they get out or go on to prison, I most often never know what happened to them. I can't tell you what a sweet thing it was to meet this man again!
8/7/14
Shawn and I are hoping to get approved to begin working with a program called "Bridges to Life". Bridges to Life is a program that promotes healing for both victims and offenders. There has been some issue in some facilities for Shawn to gain approval to come inside due to his criminal history. Please pray that God will open these doors. We are excited to be a part of ministry such as this.
Shawn and I are hoping to get approved to begin working with a program called "Bridges to Life". Bridges to Life is a program that promotes healing for both victims and offenders. There has been some issue in some facilities for Shawn to gain approval to come inside due to his criminal history. Please pray that God will open these doors. We are excited to be a part of ministry such as this.
7/26/14
Pray for a young man named Chris who has just left the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis and will be serving the next three years in prison. Chris gave his life to Christ while at the jail.
Pray for a young man named Chris who has just left the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis and will be serving the next three years in prison. Chris gave his life to Christ while at the jail.