Newsletter

February 2008

Dear Friend,

“I am pleased to learn that you are still ministering in prison,” he wrote. “It was your efforts that brought me closer to God and prepared me for what I am going through.” It’s not often we are able to see the fruits of our work. This letter from an old friend arrived last week. I first met Rudolpho in Cambridge jail. The charges were dropped and he was back on his feet for awhile before immigration people pulled him in. He wrote me from an immigration jail in Texas where he’s waiting trial again The word of God does not come back empty.

I’m beginning to realize the many challenges men and women face on release- scrambling to get to appointments with parole officers and housing case workers… renewing contacts with family… getting ID…finding a job… learning how to use cell phones and ATM machines... learning how to be normal again.

“Every time a woman talks to me, I just want to run away,” Jerry told me his second day of freedom. It’s been a week and this morning he asked when we were going to get together again. “I need a sit down,” he said. Successfully navigating the mini-moments of life make all the difference in the world between success and failure. We aim to be there to help.

Pastor Norm Townsend and I will begin a Life Boat Fellowship meeting at Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston on Wednesday nights starting in March. On other fronts, the Lord is inching us closer opening a house for released prisoners in transition. He’s been raising up people who share our passion and interest. For this we give thanks.

God is awesome. He answers our prayers and blesses us just when we need his help to do his work. I’m learning to be patient and wait in expectation for his response. It always comes. In the midst of this long, dreary winter, His light is shining through. Keep praying for us, please.

The Coalition of Prison Evangelists (COPE) Regional Conference is coming to New London, Connecticut, May 1-3. I encourage everyone and anyone interested in prison ministry to check it out. I guarantee you will come away blessed and fired up for the work. Call 817-684-7870 or email copeoffice@sbcglobal.net  for details. The COPE web site is www.copeconnections.org.

Much grace and many blessings, 

P.S. Financial support for the ministry continues to be a challenge. If you’re not already a regular supporter, please consider a gift of $25 or $50 a month to help released prisoners stay out of jail. 

Your continued financial support is critical. Remember, make your checks out to New England Prison Ministries, Inc., and send them to P.O. Box 1785, Lowell, Ma 01853 or Donate online.