Not Under Law...

We've Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:21:00 +0000

We've redesigned our website and moved our blog. Please visit www.undergraceministries.org for future posts.

Gotta Have More MTC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Last year Arkansas released over 6,000 inmates from prison. Half will be back within three years, most for addiction related crimes. This high recidivism rate plus new convictions has our prisons and jails so full that it affects the performance of our justice system (i.e. no room in jail for new arrests, releasing inmates faster than the courts wish (Emergency Powers Acts), and unreasonable case loads for Parole Offers. The current situation led officials to “call the overcrowding in Arkansas prisons a crisis”.

As bad as the situation is, there is a bright spot. A small alternative incarceration program in Arkansas has achieved unusual success, cutting recidivism to 25%. The five Department of Community Correction Units around the State take non-violent offenders through a 9 mth program they developed termed “modified therapeutic community” (MTC). Residents in the program enter recovery to maintain sobriety, learn responsibility, and practice accountability. These ‘life skills’ are the foundation that DCC spiritual volunteers build upon in their teaching of courses like Men’s Fraternity, Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Crown Financial.

A couple of UGM folks were interviewed in a Channel 4 Sept 2009 report:

What Changed the Bloodiest Prison in America?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Angola Prison in Louisiana was the most violent in the nation until Warden Burl Cain took over. What could change this large maximum security unit? Watch as Warden Cain takes us through a picture of current day Angola.

Video from the Arkansas Out4Life Conference

Warden Burl Cain from Paul Chapman on Vimeo.

Tashonda's Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:05:00 +0000

This post by Rita O’Kelley, ministry leader in the Wrightsville Hawkins Unit for women.

FREEDOM!!!

My name is Rita. I don’t carry a badge (think Joe Friday and Dragnet)
I am a prison ministry volunteer. I’ve been “in” for three years and
am now OUT. I’m out because God released Tashonda Whitlock today, September 8, 2009. He told me to be a mentor to Tashonda,
young 37 year old mother of two, in prison for 5 years. Today we both graduated into real life mentor/mentee on the outside. FREE!

It was a grand and glorious day in The Lord’s work. He shows up in the best ways, with high expectations and He never disappoints.

A group of us showed up (IFI staff and volunteers … friends ALL) to welcome Tashonda into her new life. The “old clothes” removed (prison whites… State issue clothing)… plopped into a plastic bag and sent back to prison, re-cycled for those still awaiting their big day. Amy Osborne is now walking in Tashonda’s shoes. Big shoes to fill.

We took pictures, hugged, cried, laughed, carried out a copy paper box full of her entire life, encapsulated in such small space it is a lesson to all of us as to what is important. Her Bible was not in that box. She carried it separately… kept it with her. When in my car, the Bible got placed inside her new black purse. Tashonda carries The Word with her everywhere. It is hidden in her heart… but also in her purse.

The rest of the day is a blur…. Her First meal was On The Border… steak fajitas and a Dr. Pepper. Yum! She was clearly in heaven. We prayed, ate, shared God stories, passed around gifts and chips and salsa. A nice gentleman recently returned from vacation in Alaska offered to take all of our pictures together. Yea! 8 smiling faces

After lunch we detoured from our shopping plan and made our first
(of many) trips to the Parole Office in N. Little Rock. We sat in the waiting room, waiting to see her new Parole Officer, with no appointment. As I sat wondering how long this would take and bemoaning the fact we were not shopping for essentials (for a girl), those fears were soon dispelled as IFI Counselor Tena trounced back to the inner sanctum to high-five and visit with her old buds from her P.O. days (that would be Parole Officer, not Post office). She found our officer and we were soon whisked back to her office…. Down many long narrow hallways formerly used for bowling balls but now remodeled for parolee business. Take breadcrumbs… you won’t find your way back out of there without a trail!

Patricia Shade (IFI) and I escorted Tashonda outside after setting up her first appointment and waited for Tena to emerge from her fun reunion with former co-workers and supervisors.

Off we go to take Tashonda to the Rens’ house where she will live for a while until she has a job and an apartment of her own. Everyone is thrilled with the accommodations. What is not to love… her own “suite” downstairs with a sitting room with TV And movies, a patio overlooking a beautiful back yard, bedroom and bath… all on her own, privacy… real toilet… a shower where you don’t have to wear flip flops… no one watching…. New fun-smelling shower and bath products.

I had to tear myself away to head back to Wrightsville for my last class with Group 2 who have now completed their 18-month program. More tears… passing the roll around (prison Kleenex comes on a roll… also known as toilet paper). We laughed, danced, sang, shared, said our goodbyes and farewells and “see ya laters”. We will be back from time to time, for graduations, holiday banquets, other occasions.

But the real fun happened just now when I went to the ADC website, plugged in Tashonda’s NUMBER and name and "No Matches Found - Please Try Again" is what popped up! Nope, don’t think so. I think that information is entirely accurate, forever. Tashonda is out. She is OUT4LIFE!

- Rita O’Kelley

One Year Later...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:13:00 +0000

I love that we have these two videos of Jerry. The first was taken the day he walked out of prison after doing 14 years.

The second was shot a year later on the day he graduated from the IFI Program. The piece is for the upcoming Out4Life Conference at Fellowship Bible Church in September.

I love the opening story.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE STATS?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Wanted to share the cool PSA we created for the Out4Life Reentry Conference.

The Conference is September 14 - 16, 2009 in Little Rock, AR. Click here for details: www.out4life.com

Out4Life Graphics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Wanted to share the cool 'leave behind' created for the Arkansas Out4Life Conference. Jeff Pace, Benton, did an outstanding job.

A lot of people have been working hard to make this conference great. Checkout the Out4Life website for details (speakers, breakouts, etc...).

Doing the Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:40:00 +0000

There is not enough taught about helping folks in crisis.

It's hard and unpredictable.

People are messy and, when in crisis, can generate huge amounts of chaos. But just because it's difficult doesn't mean that we give up or worse, play the spectator.

No, each person has great value... no matter how mad we are at them. And helping them is a worthy endeavor if you count yourself among those who follow Jesus (Matt 25:31ff).

When someone is in crisis (drugs, alcohol, transitioning from prison to free world) here are the principles we equip or our folks with and demand of those we're helping (aka 'the deal'):

For our Folks
No matter how much you love, how strong your personality, or the amount of resource (housing, job, etc...) you bring to bear on an individual, if he/she doesn't 'will' to get better, then they won't. They aren't ready. To protect ourselves and increase the number of people we can help, we communicate early and often:

"As soon as we become more interested in your success / sobriety than you are, we're done".

This does not mean that we drop a guy or gal just because they make a bad choice. In fact I'm often surprised by how many bad choices some folks can string together. At times we could help the guy most by instructing them to 'just do the opposite of what you would normally do'. But if we get to the point where they no longer are seeking to change/grow, then we're out. Some come back and we start over, but we don't enable.

For those we seek to help
The non-negotiables for an individual to enter our aftercare program are:

Active Member of Alcoholics Anonymous
Active Member of Celebrate Recovery (must find a sponsor in either AA or CR)
Active Member of our church

If the guy or gal will do these things then we'll help with housing, employment, transportation, etc...

Each of these points, we think, has healthy expectations of, and seeks to influence vital behaviors in participating members.

In the next post I'll explain why we've chosen these (after much debate) and why we recommend to this course of action to those we consult.

Disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:03:00 +0000

If you're helping addicts, disappointment can be part of the deal.

Today we learned:

that a guy we've poured tons of time, prayer, and effort into is gone. Last seen with a drug user. We've resourced this guy unlike anyone before. He had potential to do much good for many.
another man we were helping died. Our guy dropped him off at home yesterday. Cause of death unclear at the moment.

This has put several guys in a funk. It's hard. That's why it's so important to do this kind of thing in community with other believers.

In the next post we'll list the principles we use in 'aftercare'. These give us tracks to run on, protect our folks, and set proper expectations with those we hope to help.

Out4Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:54:00 +0000

This is big.

A Prison Fellowship Out 4 Life Conference is coming to Arkansas Sept 14-16.

The purpose of the movement is to educate, equip, and network community stakeholders for the purpose of reducing recidivism.

I don't think there's been anything like this. A partnership of the Department of Correction, Prison Fellowship, and the Church. Our goal is the same... reducing recidivism.

I have the privilege to serve on the planning team and can make this promise to church leaders: you will have a more effective ministry to the families and individuals who are experiencing the consequences of breaking the law. From explaining the justice process (cop, jail, prosecutor, judge, prison, parole, reentry), to relationships of trust with government staff, to effective in-prison programs your congregation can run, to practices most likely to lead to a successful transition back into society.

We're so committed to equipping church leaders, that we're flying in a specialist in volunteerism. Don Simmons is a long time seminary professor and one of the foremost thought leaders on 'serving as discipleship'. He will speak at a special dinner Monday night just for church leaders on the most effective way to call your congregation to serve (it isn't from the pulpit folks). His Tues breakout will equip you to create an ever growing movement of service (heard of TAFFER?). I would attend the conference just to interact with Don.

I'll post more details in the coming weeks. If you can't wait, contact me and I'll give you the brief on other presenters and activities.

Mail Call

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:25:00 +0000

We love mail like this....

Under Grace Ministries,

I wish to start this off with a Thank You. I can't express the amount of appreciation me and my family have for you guys and your aiding me in my search of manhood and spiritual growth and insight. Through your time, wisdom, and contributions I have began my walk to becoming the man and spiritual leader that I had in me all along.

By taking Authentic Manhood and the 30 Days Through the Bible you have helped to completely change my way of thinking and the way I am living and plan to live the rest of my days. I also have begun to read Raising a Modern Day Knight. Thanks to your hard work and time and I just wish I will someday be able to contribute to a lost prisoner the way you have taken the time and effort to change this one.

From the depths of my heart,

Zach

Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Ceremonies mark transition.

After 14 weeks of Looking Back, Examining Current Situations, and Setting Goals for the Future, our guys submit their Plan. To celebrate the event the teachers hold a ceremony where the graduates receive their bound plan, a medallion, book, and the blessing "Today you are a man. Welcome to the Circle of Manhood. Go forth and show yourself a man." For most this is the first time they've been told they were man and given expectations of how to live.

We work hard at creating environments where spiritual claims (including atheism) are freely debated. Our desire is to promote critical thinking (rigorous examination of claims) and not to leave ones beliefs to soft thinking and wishing (i.e. a warm feeling, experience, or your momma's religion since non of these are good indicators of truth).

In these discussions, it's not unusual for a man to become a follower of Jesus as this one did....

Join us in celebrating these guy's transition from 'boyhood' to 'manhood'.

Go and Show Yourself a Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:29:00 +0000

When King David was close to death he brought his son, Solomon, in and gave him this charge "Be strong, and show yourself a man." 1 Kings 2:2

What is a man? Men - do you know the difference between boyhood and manhood? Parents - if you gave the manhood charge to your sons would they know what it means? Will your daughters marry adult boys, or men?

We facilitate 'The Quest for Authentic Manhood' twice a year at the DCC (Dept. of Community Corrections). The class is so popular that we have to split the students into two groups and run parallel classes. Our guys learn what it is to be an authentic man and then create a plan to become one. We held our largest graduation to date in June as nine volunteers congratulated and honored the 55 guys who completed the course and turned in a life plan.

The ceremony was awesome with several guys telling stories of how they planned to reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and expect God's reward. Here're some highlights:

Down for Fourteen

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:25:00 +0000

In the last week we've had the privilege of taking Carl and Jerry into the Philemon's Program (UGM's Aftercare program). Here's a short clip of Jerry leaving prison after a 14 yr stretch.

Please pray for these guys and their mentors over the next few months as they transition into community.

Who’s Your Daddy?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:39:00 +0000

Grandchildren are the crown of old men,

And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Proverbs 17:6

The Tues/Fri DCC team thought he wasn't getting it. One of those guys who would go through 'The Quest for Authentic Manhood' class without taking action to deal with wounds from his past (i.e.: absent father). We doubted he would create a plan for his future. Didn't seem open to following Jesus.

He got a letter from his dad and wanted us to read it. He had written his mom about what he was learning and plans he had to become a real man. At the bottom he asked if she would talk to dad about going fishing for a day, or possibly a weekend when he made parole.

Dad collected the mail that day, read the letter, and penned this reply.

Hi Son,

There are some things I want to say to you that should of been said a long time ago. I'm sorry for all the times I hurt you in any way. Please forgive me, I hope you can, but if you can't I understand.

I don't know why a man can't say I love you. I guess it's pride, or maybe they think it's sissified or queer, I don't know. But I want you to know I love you. You're my SON. I thank God all the time for giving you and Harley to Mops and me. I just wish I knew what I know now when you were a kid. You would not only be my son you would be my friend.

God gave you to me and God gave me to you. I want you to be proud of me and I want you to know that I've always been proud of you.

I feel like all I done was give you a place to live. I never tried to teach you right from wrong or tried to be your friend. I sometimes feel like I never considered you as a person or tried to get to know you. I wish I could start all over!

To me you'll always be my Son. And I am well pleased of the man you're becoming.

I love you
Mops loves you
Bradly loves you
God loves you

- Pop
II Cor 5:17 (Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!)
----------------------

A bunch of tough guys were choking back tears as we read this aloud. A few commented they would love a letter from their dad.

The glory of sons is their father. The proverb proved true last Tuesday.

Muddin' at Wrightsville

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Two weeks ago 80 students from Kansas State University spent their Spring Break in Little Rock building homes with Habitat for Humanity and painting murals in Promise Land Church. UGM volunteers had the pleasure of taking groups of 12 - 15 of them with us as we served in our units. Here's the story of one of those trips.

Rita writes.......

If we were a Peanuts cartoon, picture Snoopy sitting atop his dog house, typewriter tapping away…. penning the words “It was a dark and stormy night…”

Pan forward to real life… there is no Snoopy… no dog house… and no
typewriter. I sit at my computer in the dark, power going off and on while the storm rages outside….illumination coming from intermittent flashes of lightning and the glow of the laptop screen running on battery power.

Sixteen women… three of us who are regulars with IFI prison ministry and thirteen students visiting from various colleges in Kansas headed for the women’s prison in Wrightsville, AR. The students were in town on Spring Break on a mission trip with Habitat for Humanity by day, engaging in various adventures in their “off time”.

It was not your typical Tuesday night Bible study at the Wrightsville Hawkins Women’s Unit. Karen Stone, Jennifer Hawthorne and Rita O’Kelley and the students piled into the long white van. We talked all the way on the half hour trip, getting to know each other, answering questions about what we do, what their expectations were, and making sure everyone was comfortable going into a prison setting. These “girls” were ready. Many already knew they wanted to be involved with prison ministry and other related areas. Tonight they witnessed first hand what that will entail.

It was the last evening of the 18-month program with our first group of IFI inmates. Emotions were close to the surface as this was our “goodbye” to women with whom we have forged strong bonds of friendship and love “behind the wire”… a love only God could orchestrate. It helped to have “visitors” with us to create some diversion.

The weather forecast was for flash flood warnings and we prayed for safety and for God to meet with us, changing the hearts of inmates, volunteers and guests alike. He showed up!

The chairs in the visitation room were arranged in a large circle. We watched amazed as the young women exhibited maturity beyond their years, choosing to spread out rather than huddling in the comfort of their peers. They wanted to interact with the women who lived in IFI barracks 4. Jennifer opened with prayer; we listened to one song on CD, and went around the circle making introductions. Our lesson was from Isaiah 40, bringing good discussion and comments from the college women as well as the inmates. The inmates encouraged all of us with changed lives and advice for living, telling the students to never give up, commending them for their maturity and vision while still in college. One woman commented to the inmates “this exceeded my wildest expectations…. we came to encourage you and we are being ministered to by you instead.” She read from Isaiah 61:3, tearfully praying for the women and thanking them.

We ended 15 minutes early to allow everyone to say their goodbyes, hugs all around, and thank you’s for the friendship and life lessons we learned from each other. We passed around a roll of toilet paper (a/k/a prison Kleenex) to wipe teary eyes as everyone shared.

While we were talking, the brewing storm erupted with torrential rain, thunder and flashes of lightning visible through the open visitation room doors. The women headed back to Barracks 4 at 9 p.m. and we hurried for the gates… 16 women with 2 umbrellas, hoping for quick gate exit. Water was pooling in puddles as we sloshed our way through the two gated areas into the flooded gravel and mud parking lot. We piled into the van, scrunched 3-4 to a seat, huddled together as comrades. The talk was lively, female voices vying to be heard above the crowd, sharing feelings and insights about the evening. Our student driver pulled forward and we belatedly realized she was leaving via a muddy field rather than backing out onto the gravel drive. Immediately the van mired in the mud and wheels began spinning. It was 9:15 p.m., dark and raining hard. We knew we could not remain in the dry van and exited to lighten the load. Everyone good naturedly jumped from the van only to realize the water was several inches deep. Shoes stuck in the mud and came off our feet while everyone was laughing and working on possible solutions. Several brave souls positioned themselves behind the van and begin pushing while the driver “gunned it”… although on prison grounds I guess we should say “accelerated”. The back tires were sinking deeper. I headed for the female guard who sat in her patrol car on the gravel a few yards away…watching from a distance. I asked her if she would get some strong men to help and she commented “I’m sorry, we are short handed tonight. You are just going to have to push until you get yourselves free.” I noted a slight hint of satisfaction in her voice, watching 16 city girls standing in ankle deep water and mud (Arkansas “gumbo”) … soaked to the skin, hair sticking flat to our heads like bad school photos, pushing a van in the rain.

I told the girls we needed to pray and push as we were on our own. Almost immediately they decided to push from the front and put the van into reverse. Shouts of encouragement erupted as the van bolted from the hole and reached gravel again. We ran to the van and slid into our seats, smelling of “au de wet dog” and headed down the gravel drive, laughing and recounting the bravery, strength and determination of a bunch of women on a mission…. and God’s mercy and provision. We were so proud of those young women, mature beyond their years, brave beyond reason. The new term coined was “Woman up!”

On the drive home we agreed that trips fraught with danger, trials, adventure and unexpected opportunities make for the best stories later. The experience left many students certain of their calling into prison ministry and other related venues to the homeless or hurting. One girl commented “I would feel ridiculous now, telling God “no”. Too many things had led us to this place… seemingly unrelated “coincidences”… all uniquely woven together to prepare us for the journey He laid out before each of us.

Sixteen women and God took the prison by storm. Everyone was freed that night…. women who thought they already were… only to discover that true freedom happens “on the inside”… unrelated to circumstances.

“It was a dark and stormy night…….”

Graduation Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:49:00 +0000

The team serving in the Malvern Unit have graduated their 3rd Authentic Manhood class. We got some great video clips....

Congratulations guys!

Mentoring - A Serious Call to Separate Butt from Couch - Pt. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:20:00 +0000

"You are going to give your life for something. What will it be - a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance". - Rick Warren

What a great year we had in 2007! Thanks so much for all you do. Looking into 2008 we have opportunities that are, quite frankly, amazing (future posts will give details). One of these is this Saturday (Jan 12th) where leaders from several ministries and churches have partnered to hold an informational and training session for those interested in joining the community of those working to solve the problem of incarceration and recidivism (return to prison). Details in the video below....

Please join us this Saturday for this kick-the-tires event where you'll meet a great group of people and learn: What a volunteer does? What is a Mentor? What are the requirements to be a mentor or volunteer? How do I get started? You will hear from current volunteers and Mentors and IFI men and women who have completed the first 18 months of the program. Invite others to attend.

When: Sat., January 12th, 2008
Where: Fellowship Bible Church, Student Center
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Lunch will be provided. (Please RSVP by calling 501-831-6943)

Giving Thanks For A Debt Paid

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:53:00 +0000

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Col 2:13-14 NLT)

Nailed to the top of Jesus’ cross is a “certificate of debt” to Caesar, a public display of Jesus’ crime: “King of the Jews.” When punishment is complete, Caesar’s court will cancel the debt with a single Greek word stamped upon the parchment’s face: “tetelestai.” Finished. Paid in full.
Being king of the Jews is not the crime Jesus pays for, however. Hidden to all but the Father is another certificate nailed to that cross: ours. In the darkness that shrouds Calvary from the sixth to the ninth hour, God the Father unleashes His fury for our wrong doings upon His sinless Son who has taken upon Himself our crimes as if guilty of all.
At the last, it is not the cross that takes Jesus’ life. When the full payment is made, when the last of the sin debt melts away and the justice of God is fully satisfied, Jesus simply dismisses His spirit with a single Greek word that falls from His lips: “Tetelestai.” It is finished (written by Greg Koukl).

I am thankful that I am no longer under law, but under grace (Romans 6)... my certificate of debt has been canceled. If you're reading this and don't understand, don't know where you stand with God, or have intellectual questions/doubts; please contact me or a leader in a healthy, well-balanced church near you. Many of us in Under Grace Ministries (UGM) were once atheist and agnostics. For that reason we've taken the time to explain why we believe what we believe (listed here) in hopes that you will understand: where you came from, who you are, why you're here, how you should live, and where you're going.

Volunteers and Supporters of UGM - I thank God for you continuously. I feel privileged to be numbered among you and am amazed at the things God is doing with this group. May you have a wonderful day of Thanks.

- Paul

Mentoring - A Serious Call to Separate Butt from Couch - Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:41:00 +0000

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist

For the past few years I've gotten to hang out with a group of thoughtful, committed citizens who joyfully give their time, talent, and treasure to incarcerated/recently released men and women. They wouldn't claim to be 'world changers'. For that matter, they wouldn't claim to be uniquely qualified, specially gifted, or overly knowledgeable. They accept no credit in success and are self critical in failure. But through their efforts I have seen sons connect (many for the 1st time) with fathers, moms reunited with kids, dads back with mom and kids, drug dealers holding legit tax-paying jobs, and whole families deciding that Jesus was who he claimed to be. So, while they don't claim to be anything special, their results seem to say otherwise. As Christians we'd say they're being used by God to accomplish the good works He created them to do (Eph 2:10).

A key to their effectiveness, whether in a class or outside the prison walls, is the life-on-life contact they have with those they are helping. In the next few posts we'll focus on the act of mentoring and the potential it has for real life change.

Rick and Carolyn Korte have been mentors for Mario and Chis (recently out of the IFI program in Tucker prison). This couple began volunteering in IFI which led to Rick becoming Mario's mentor (some of you may remember Mario from this video shot in Tucker prison late in 2006)

Then Mario and Chris got out 3 weeks ago and Rick and Carolyn kicked it into high gear helping these guys reintegrate into society. Carolyn has worn the phones out calling potential employers and visiting parole offices hunting down info useful to the ex-offender. She sent this email last week:

MARIO AND CHRIS GOT A JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!! They are on their way to take their drug test and have orientation of Friday and will start on Monday at ACE Glass Co. Some friends of ours (the Little's) that go the Fellowship own it and Rick called them yesterday and they went today for an interview. I think they start at $10/hr and once they learn everything they should be able to transfer to a big job at UAMS an earn $19/hr. YEA !!!!! GOD is Good !! We still have a couple of bumps to work out with drivers licenses' but will take that as we get more info. Chris went to Dr. Alfonso today and will have his tooth extracted tomorrow at 3:30pm so hopefully they will both be ready to rock-n-roll on Monday. Praise God. Carolyn

In the next post we'll hear from Rick as he tells us what it takes to be a mentor.

You crazy...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:09:00 +0000

After the Malvern Unit Chaplain heard the well-prepared and compelling pitch to teach Men's Fraternity's 24 lesson 'The Quest' at her unit on Tues and Fri mornings from 5:30am-7:00am, she studied us for a moment before quipping "you crazy".

That was over a year ago, and after getting to know the teaching team (Chad Albaugh, Mark Burris, Ryan Dunbar, Mike Harbour, Steve Robinson, Steve Street, Jason Temple, and Warren Woodham) I must say that I think she got it right.

These guys awake at the time the average college kid is heading to bed so they can drive to Malvern, make their way across the coldest place on earth (this designation is unofficial, but penguins would find the Unit's parking lot a little chilly), through the crash gates, and into the chapel to start class at 5:30am.

They've graduated 2 groups with a third planned to start Oct 30. The program has become so popular that no sign up sheet is posted - instead participants are selected from a waiting list.

This crew has earned the respect and gratitude of the Chaplain and prison staff because of the behavioral difference they see in the inmates. We're looking forward to stories from the newest class.

Where are they going now?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:54:00 +0000

Next week Drew, Warren, Scott, and Billy start Men's Fraternity 'The Quest' at the Dept of Corrections HQ. I had the chance to speak with Drew about the class (click to listen):

This is a great opportunity. Please pray for these guys and their class.

- Paul

Good from Evil?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:40:00 +0000

Karen Stone and Rita O'Kelley teach in the Wrightsville women's unit on Thurday evenings. Karen tells the following story:

The Purse

A while back my purse was stolen at a local fast food restaurant. My husband had picked me up at work and I had laid my purse down on the floor in the restaurant and forgot it when we left. When I realized what I had done I immediately called the restaurant but to no avail…the purse was gone, along with my debit card, driver’s license, and of all things…my IFI badge! How ironic was that!

Before I could make the call to my bank the thieves had already charged almost $1,000 on my debit card! Needless to say I was upset, but was not about to let the incident ruin my day. I made all the calls necessary and reported the incident to the police.

The day my purse was stolen was the day my friend Rita and I go to Wrightsville to volunteer (each Thursday from 7:30-10pm). On the way out to Wrightsville I told my friend about what had happened. Rita thought it would be a good idea to share my story with the ladies as many of them are serving time for stealing and it would be a good opportunity to let them see how this act affects the victim and I agreed.

When I walked into the IFI room one of the ladies approached me before I could say a word and asked me if there was something wrong. I said yes and that I would share later with all of them. She took me aside and prayed for me right then and there not even knowing what was wrong. I was very touched by her insight and concern.

Before our lesson began Rita asked if I wanted to share or if she should share so I could cry. I told her I was over the crying, and that it was just a purse and everything could be replaced…but to go ahead. Rita began sharing my story and before long I felt a hand on my shoulder…one of the ladies had come to comfort me. Then I felt another hand, then another…and before I knew what was happening I was surrounded by all the ladies in IFI…all in white and all singing a song to comfort me! They kept singing and as they did I made a point to look around at each woman in that circle and I saw tears streaming down their faces…even on the faces of the most hardened women who normally show little emotion during our visits. I was so touched…and in that moment I saw a glimpse of what heaven must be like…being surrounded by angels in white comforting me with their heavenly song…

THEN I began to cry…not about my purse but because I was so touched by these special ladies who were there to comfort me in my time of need. Wasn’t that the reason I was there for them? I shall never forget that moment.

After the song was over I was approached by one of the ladies who told me that stealing purses is what she used to do and that she was so sorry as she rubbed my arm and I thought…what God can do with just a purse…

God is great ALL the time!

Almost Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:19:00 +0000

What's a person thinking about when they're about to get out of prison? I had the opportunity to interview Mario who is in the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program at Tucker prison. Some of you will remember the video shown in Tim's Easter sermon (click here to view - the vid is about 1/2 thru) of him and Buster (former Aryan Brotherhood leader).

Interview with Mario 3 weeks before his Parole Board hearing (press play to listen).

Listen for what Mario fears. Can the Church help? Acceptance, encouragement, help finding a job, accountability, marriage reconciliation, parenting, etc... It seems that, not only can we, but that the Church is uniquely equipped to deal with post-release issues. In much of the nation, the Church is the missing mechanism to lowering recidivism (return to prison). I thank you supporters and volunteers of UGM for investing in the lives of men/women in prison. It is truly a privilege to serve with you - you are the solution. Have a great weekend.

- Paul

Story from the front line...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:47:00 +0000

Tanya and her group teach Community Bible Study (CBS) on Monday nights in the women's unit in the Wrightsville complex. She routinely shares stories like this one.....

I have to share with you what happened last night at Wrightsville. We’re studying Joshua, and last night’s lesson was about Jericho. The [inmate] praise team said they wanted to do something different, so instead of singing, the praise leader listed some instructions about focusing on the desires of our heart and the barriers and roadblocks and baggage that stand in our way, to give it all to God. Then carrying our Bibles, we proceeded to march 7 times around the room – praying. That alone was priceless. But there’s more! Then one of the praise team members talked about Rahab and asked “have any of you been saved because of the faithfulness of someone else?”. Then they asked the volunteers and Tena Hauk to come forward and they gathered around singing a song of thanks to us (!) and one by one all the ladies stood up and joined them and then began to hug us. Of course, we were all crying!
Earlier that day, I had prayed with the volunteers that we would bless the ladies at least 1/10 of the blessings they give us. Of course I then had to share that with them and told them they’d set the bar really high for us last night!

Thank you ladies for what you do!