Letters for the LORD Prison Ministry

Women rarely given death penalty in Oklahoma for crimes | NewsOK.com

2012-03-03T15:48:00.000-06:00

Women rarely given death penalty in Oklahoma for crimes | NewsOK.com

Bryan Duncan Radio Rehab Roadtrip 2

2012-03-02T23:14:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma Mother Pushes For DNA Sampling At Time Of Arrests

2012-02-20T19:35:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma Mother Pushes For DNA Sampling At Time Of Arrests: A mother hopes a break in the case of a serial rapist in Norman will bring more interest in her push to change laws in Oklahoma.

PRISON CHAPEL PROJECT!

2012-02-16T17:29:00.000-06:00

The Dept. of Corrections partnering with World Mission Builders, plan to build 17 prison chapels across the state of Oklahoma. In order to offer "hope going in and help coming out". The budget for all 17 chapels will be $6,000,000.00. and they will be built over a 5-6 year time period depending on successful community support and donations coming in. Chapels have already been built at Bill Johnson Correctional Center in Alva, Ok., and Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Ok. Two chapels are under construction at Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy, Ok. The 5th chapel, next to be built will be at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in Mcloud, Ok. which houses 1100-1200 female offenders. The budget for this one chapel will be $500,000.00. And will depend on the donations of caring individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses in the community. We must all work together in order for this and many other chapels to be completed at our prisons. The Mabel Bassett CC chapel will be 5000sf, with a large worship center, with meeting rooms, chaplain's office, a library, and smaller meeting rooms, with a built-in baptistry with changing rooms, vaulted ceiling, and raised stage. The auditorium area will have seating for 200 to attend chapel services and programs. For more information, and how you can be involved raising funds, giving donations, or to be involved in raising the building, contact World Mission Builders. { World Mission Builders, Dr Joe Wilson, 431 N. Oakwood Rd, Enid, OK. 73703-3711 1-580-747-2550 wiljoeok@yahoo.com http://prisonchapelinc.building4net }

Champions For Life

2012-02-02T23:10:00.000-06:00

Champions For Life

Teen Challenge Oklahoma Reality Is.mov

2012-01-18T09:37:00.000-06:00

OK Teen Challenge Freedom House Testimony

2012-01-18T09:27:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma Justice Reinvestment Press Conference

2012-01-17T14:12:00.000-06:00

Prison assets: Volunteers, inmates construct chapels

2012-01-10T06:53:00.000-06:00

Prison assets: Volunteers, inmates construct chapels

When Murder Hits Home

2012-01-08T18:27:00.000-06:00

When Murder Hits Home

Prisoners of Hope, Part 2

2012-01-03T22:55:00.000-06:00

Prisoners of Hope, Part 1

2012-01-03T22:43:00.000-06:00

Groups prepare to build women's prison chapel | NewsOK.com

2012-01-01T18:28:00.000-06:00

Groups prepare to build women's prison chapel | NewsOK.com

WOMEN BEHIND BARS: The Poetry of Lauren Zuniga

2011-12-27T18:29:00.000-06:00

Inmates' families treated to gifts, party | NewsOK.com

2011-12-20T14:14:00.000-06:00

Inmates' families treated to gifts, party | NewsOK.com

Sinners and Saints--Prison Redemption

2011-12-17T12:19:00.000-06:00

What is Restorative Justice?

2011-12-08T15:13:00.000-06:00

What is Restorative Justice?

Oklahoma Women's Coalition symposium recap

2011-12-06T20:37:00.000-06:00

<span class="caps">OWC</span>’s 2011 Fall Issues Symposium — Recap

Voters should decide if Oklahoma parole rules need to change | NewsOK.com

2011-11-06T18:52:00.000-06:00

Voters should decide if Oklahoma parole rules need to change | NewsOK.com

From an inmates perspective Christmas in prison

2011-10-31T18:24:00.000-05:00

With Oklahoma criminal justice data crunched, now hard work begins | NewsOK.com

2011-10-27T20:47:00.000-05:00

With Oklahoma criminal justice data crunched, now hard work begins | NewsOK.com

Hope Invades Largest Women's Prison Complex

2011-10-17T14:24:00.000-05:00

Hope Invades Largest Women's Prison Complex

The Big Threes

2011-10-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

The Big Threes

My Loneliness ..by a Convict's Wife:

2011-09-24T22:58:00.000-05:00

I was asked by the author of Letters For The Lord, if I would be willing to write an article for her about the loneliness that the convicts wives & families endure & the effect of prison on the family.
When you are use to doing most everything with your loved one; a spouse, a wife, a brother, a sister or even a mother or father; it is difficult when they are gone.When it comes down to 140 phone minutes per month, when you can hear that precious voice on the phone, it is hard. You find so much to say when you have such a short amount of time to say it. When you wait for the mail to be delivered to find a letter from your loved one; when you visit your loved one, getting up when it is still dark outside to make the two hour drive to wait in line, to be searched & get in to see your loved one, when your relationship comes down to the phone, letters & visits, they all become precious. And going to that from being use to being together all of the time & doing the little things you use to do; like grocery shopping together, attending church, going to concerts or dinner or even the movies, going on trips together or just coming home from work to find your loved one there, then the loneliness is CRUSHING!
Our families were not that understanding about what we were going through! His mother turned her back on her son; his brother & sister too! No one has been to visit him in the past 27 months, but me! My family is a bit more understanding, but they are in California. I have had to shoulder all of this alone!
What is tragic, what is so terrible about this, is he does not belong in that Texas prison! We have some cases in Federal Court right now, trying to get him out & find justice, but it is an uphill battle & it is really bad when the authorities ( the administration) wants to lie to you & make up stuff! I am wondering just what the criteria is for hiring these folks!
The lonliness is EXCRUCIATING! The walls close in on you, you eat your meals alone & sleep alone. On the holidays & even on the weekends, they were sad. When I first moved, I did not know anyone there, so I spent a lot of time alone! Falling asleep at night was extremely difficult for me, because I was used to falling asleep with my husband's arms around me & my puppies at my feet! I needed my night noise & that had gone away. And you find you go out less because the one you want to have fun with is not there- at least felt that way; because I was afraid to have fun, because I knew he was not having any fun.
When I go & visit my husband early on Saturday mornings, it is like a child looking forward to Christmas or a birthday, I am all excited! I get prettied up with make-up, earrings & a nice outfit. I plan the night before what to wear, I make a snack & drinks for the trip. I fill the car with gas & check the fluids & tires. I go by the bank to get a $10 roll of quarters (for his snacks). I really plan ahead!
I get there to the gate & they search my car thoroughly, sometimes there is a line of a dozen cars ahead of me, waiting to see their loved ones too! When I am cleared, I drive to the guard shack area & park my car & walk. I wait my turn in line to be searched, they go over me with a wand, up the front & down the back. Then the female guard frisks me & makes me lift my feet up one at a time, & then my shoes. I receive my little blue sheet & my drivers license back & I walk up to the camera on the gate & flash my ID & my face, then the gate opens. I walk up to the second gate & they open that one too. Depending on whether it is my week for a regular visit or a contact visit I walk to the door & hand the guard my blue sheet & she seats me. But instead of sitting down, I walk over to the regular visit room to get my husband his snacks & sandwiches (we heat them in the microwave there, waiting in line for our turn). When I have his food, then I go where they assigned me & wait for him to come out. The excitement builds & then there he is! I walk up to him & latch on to him & he kisses me dizzy! The guard may or may not say break it up but if we are lucky, they understand. We sit down. We pray together & talk; we cannot get enough of each other! We hold hands & talk quietly. The visit is over, my heart CRACKS just a bit! I have to leave, we stand up & he walks around the table to me; we kiss again sadly. The take cares & the be carefuls & then I love yous are said & then I am walking out of the door, looking backwards, until I cannot see him anymore. My heart goes into its cave again, it will be another long week! The loneliness comes back again, like an old comfortable blanket!
My husband was the breadwinner, as most men are, of our family; he is a Senior Engineer & much, much more, he made a good living for us! When he was arrested, we lost our support. I was a stay at home wife. My husband had promised me when we got married, that since I raised a daughter by myself & have worked hard all of my life, that he now wanted to take care of me. Not only has self-esteem suffered from the situation, because he cannot provide for me, I have had to go into myself & find the woman who worked all of those years! I found a secretary job & I found a sense of independence, a pride & a nurturing for my husband, that I did not have before! Not only that, my husband met JESUS & became saved, & that was a blessing to me, as I had prayed so hard for him to become friends with JESUS! But it has not been easy, I have placed my trust in JESUS & He has helped us through some really hard times! We have had a few major setbacks & three parole setoffs, but through prayer & faith, together my husband & I are working our way through this storm & we will get through it & be together having fun again! Be blessed...Deborah L.

DO's & DON'Ts of Mentoring Prisoners By Mail

2011-09-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

DOs & DON'Ts:

DO write on a regular schedule, at least once a month or more.
DO write carefully! THINK about what you will say in your letter. Be careful using certain words,
such as "love", in order not to cause a major misunderstanding. Make sure to make it clear you are
writing in Christian "love" & friendship, NOT romantic love. If you are married, talk about your spouse
in your letters. Have your spouse read your letters before you mail, if they desire, so everything is open &
honest.
DO keep CHRIST in your letters! While you can certainly discuss other things as hobbies, family interests,
birthdays, parties, church etc. Always bring the Bible into your letter! You might even want to share Bible
study between you and the prisoner you write. Select passages to discuss etc.
DO include Christian Bible tracts in your letters, but nothing larger without permission from the facility.
Many prisons do not allow inmates to receive materials unless its shipped directly from the store or online store.
DO find out their birthday, and be sure to send them a nice card.
DO send Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards, and other holiday cards to bring some cheer to their day.
DO pray constantly for those you correspond with.
DO enjoy ministering & mentoring prisoners in service to Christ, if you don't enjoy it or feel the Lord calling you to do this, please do not.
DON'T get romantically involved!!
DON'T send money, stamps, or any other valuables!
DON'T send any obscene photos or materials period!
DON'T get involved in their legal matters.
DON'T make promises you can't keep!
DON'T give out your personal information, such as banking, SS#, etc.
DON'T stop writing without an explanation to them, because your letters are the highlight of their
day, & they will worry about you and also wonder what they did wrong even if it was nothing. So please
if you have to stop writing for a period of time, please let the inmate know.
DON'T tolerate any obscene language, or sexual talk period! Hardly ever happens, but sometimes it could
if it does, tell them to stop being offensive or you will have to report them to the warden.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you should have no problems at all, & you will bond with your
inmate & develop a rewarding friendship.
God bless you for caring for the prisoners, & mentoring them by mail for Christ.