Free Inside News - Fall 2005
After such an unusually hot summer, the cooler autumn temperatures are a welcome relief. In mid-September our Fall courses at Gates, Bergin and York got off to a rather slow start. Please pray that the difficulties we have encountered will be overcome.

Spiritual weapons for spiritual battles
It is rather easy for us to assume that the difficulties we face are entirely due to human error. One of our volunteers reminded me this week of the fact that we are engaged in a spiritual ministry. We face an enemy who will use any tactics to oppose and undermine the spread of the Gospel. 

Let us remember that we are engaged in a war, a war that is every bit as fierce, and more so, than that which is being waged in Iraq. But unlike the wars on human battlefields "we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with . . . have divine power to demolish strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10: 3 - 5). We do not lose heart because we know "the battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17: 47). With those encouragements from Scripture, will you do battle in prayer for the spiritual release of prisoners. 

Conference on Caring for Ex-offenders
The board of Free Inside and the generosity of our supporters has made it possible for me to attend this conference. The conference is being held at Holy Trinity, Brompton, London. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn as much as possible about Aftercare and Re-entry of prisoners. As the Connecticut representative of Vision New England Prison Ministries, I will be getting involved in this aspect of prison ministry in the future. Holy Trinity is the home of Alpha.

I leave for London on October 18 and return on October 27. In addition to the conference I hope to visit a halfway house run by Alpha prison ministries in London. I also hope to get to Devon to visit a special unit at Dartmoor Prison that is set up to work intensively with pre-release inmates, preparing them for reentry into society. I will also speak on our ministry while in England.

Aftercare is separate from Free Inside's in-prison ministry.
Due to D O C regulations the ministry of Aftercare will be separate from the work of Free Inside and will need a wholly different set of volunteers. Free Inside will continue with Alpha in Prison. During the summer I had a fruitful interview with the Rev. Fr Bruno, D O C director of Religious Services. He informed us that the D O C is placing greater emphasis on Aftercare and Re-entry. He requested we submit a proposal for him to consider. I am working on this with Mark Hemenway of VNE. Please pray about this, as I don't seem to have enough time for everything that needs to be done. 


Willard-Cybulski C I.
In November our newest Alpha team will start at Willard-Cybulski in Enfield CT. Please pray for this new opportunity. We will be cooperating with First Church, Whethersfield in this venture.


Events in October and November

Keeping the sanctuary Safe. 
A specialized conference on working with sex offenders. October 14, Fitchburg, MA. For Information Contact: Pastor Pete Fiske, PO Box 1128 St.Albans VT 05478 802-524-2669 . Mark Hemenway PO Box 263, Lowell, MA 01853 978-458-1721, mhemenway@VisionNewEngland.org

Caleb Prison Ministry Conference 
12 November 2005 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Immanuel Church, 301 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA. 

I will be sending those of you in New England more information about the Caleb conference before I leave for London.

Last but definitely not least a big thank you
1. Volunteers. Without you there would be no Free Inside. 
2. All of you who pray for and donate to the ministry. 

Prayer Summary
o Fall Alpha Courses
o Conference - Caring for ex-offenders
o Development of Aftercare ministry
o New team starting at Willard-Cybulski
o Our volunteers and supporters

Peter Dewberry,

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