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What a gift! Mike?s testimony.
(Edited for space considerations)
My life was empty, it had no meaning, I lived for myself
and for pleasure. I never cared for anyone or anything
other than myself. looked for comfort and pleasure
through alcohol and drugs. I believed in Jesus, I
attended Bible Studies and other religious programs in
prison, such as
Alpha.
But it did not affect my life and attitude, until one
day at the end of the Alpha sessions on the Holy Spirit,
the Alpha volunteers prayed for me to be filled with the
Holy Spirit. I experienced a turning point, I now have a
new attitude and life.
I cannot describe in words what happened to me, all I
know is that a gift was given to me, I repented and
confessed my sins. The burden of my past life was
lifted, I have a new beginning. I pray each day, asking
that my heart mind and soul be opened and that He keeps
on filling me with his Spirit.
I now have a zest for life, I want to turn my heart and
life to God, to do what he wants me to do. The more I
give Him, the more He gives. It is exciting! It is only
2 months (May) since I had this turning point. What a
gift! (from God) I know it is a gift because of
how my old life was and now I am beginning a new life.
Vision New England (VNE) Annual Report
Ministry highlights
Each of VNE's many ministries are permitted only 4 - 6
lines giving the previous year's ministry highlights for
inclusion in the annual report. It was difficult for me
to squeeze so much of what God has done into such a
small space. Since it is summer, and you probably don't
want to read a lot, I include this brief summary as it
will appear in this year's VNE annual report.
14 full Alpha Courses each taking 12 -15 weeks were
given in 5 Connecticut prisons this past year, attended
by a total of 347 inmates or an average of 25 per
course. Distributed 500 Bibles to inmates and Chaplains
for use in their ministries. Free Inside now has 41
trained volunteers from 9 different denominations who
lead Alpha BEHIND BARS in CT prisons. Presented Free
Inside and Vision New England Prison ministries and the
spiritual needs of prisoners in 8 churches during the
year.
Obviously statistics are just cold facts, the story of
the human lives behind these statistics is not visible.
Statistics say nothing about the more than
40 faithful volunteers,
who week by week serve Jesus by sharing His love with
the lost, hurting and dejected men and women in our
prisons. Men and women whom Jesus loves deeply and
passionately.
Beth is one of our newest volunteers
(Edited for space considerations)
My name is Beth, I am an Alpha volunteer at Corrigan
Correctional Institution.
A frequent prayer of mine is;
"what
can I do to
give back for all the blessings I have received.?"
One morning in church, I heard about an Alpha
informational meeting, I might have ignored it had it
not been for this inner voice that said
"Go
to the meeting."
"That
can't be God,"
I thought, so I explained it away. During Lent I go to
church daily, I heard the same thing the next day,
"Go
to the meeting." OK, OK,
I thought, but I am just going to the informational
night.
The meeting was on Friday and I would be at the church
for stations of the cross anyway.
I listened to Rev. Peter Dewberry and to Sr. Patty
Cook and it sounded like a good program. I did not
commit to taking the training that night but decided
to go to the first session. In prayer one night,
following an Alpha training session, I remember
asking,
"Prison
Lord?"
I am
grateful for all I have but" . . .
then I heard loud and clear,
"Yes,
Beth you are grateful and . . . I am in you and I go
with you."
After a big gulp and a tear, I knew I couldn't
refuse." God was with me, if He wanted to go,
then we would go.
Alpha is an opportunity for you to allow our Lord to
work through you to minister to some of His lost
sheep. In Alpha, God goes to work through us. He
uses us to bring His love to the inmates. But there is
more.
We get back ten times more.
It
is wonderful to witness the way the Holy Spirit works
in the inmate's lives.? It is like watching a seed
grow into a plant and then seeing the first bud
blossom.
Chaplains of the DOC.
I am very grateful for the gracious help and
encouragement that our Alpha volunteers receive from
the Chaplains in the various facilities we go to, they
do a vital work in a challenging situation. Please
pray for these men and women, everyone of them has the
spiritual welfare of inmates at heart. Pray for Sister
Cook; Deacon Dolan, Rev. Etter,
Rev. Miralles, Rev Elder , Sister Mary Healey, Rev.
Parker and Rev. Williams.
The Purpose Driven Life
Praise the Lord! and thank you all of you who donated
toward the fund to purchase
The Purpose Driven Life
for distribution to inmates through our volunteers this
coming Fall. Please pray that God will use the message
of this book to change lives of inmates.
Give glory to God for the growth of the ministry
The growth of the ministry has been a wonderful thing to
see. At the end of 2003 a handful of volunteers went
into Gates C I. God has blessed us and we now have over
40 volunteers serving in 6 prisons.
This
is the Lord's doing it is marvelous
in our eyes
Psalm 118:23
"Not
to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory .
. ."
Psalm 115:1
Important events coming up.
Commissioning Service for our Volunteers.
It is my desire to kick off the 2006 - 2007 ministry
year with a public service of dedication and
commissioning of our volunteers. I will be sending you
an invitation as soon as the details have been worked
out.
Annual Prison Ministry Conference (Caleb Connecticut)
The conference will be held at First Baptist Church in
Manchester, CT on Sept 23.
Please click
here to download a brochure to register.
Peter
Dewberry,
For
Christ and His Kingdom.
click
here for
more information about Peter
Newsletter
Archive
- click here if you wish to read any of
our past newsletters.
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