August 13, 2012
Dear Friends,
I know it probably seems like you’re hearing a lot from me this summer, but there’s a lot to tell and your prayers are much coveted. The expansion of the Hebrews 13:3 Project that I’ve been mentioning is in full swing—with over
half of the funds needed before the end of 2012 already in the bank. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the response to the PRO Mentors Initiative by old and new friends alike.
At the brig, we just finished our 18-month-long study in the Gospel of John, and are working our way through the Old Testament prophecy of Zephaniah. After Labor Day, we’ll study 1 John. The Wednesday afternoon prayer meeting, which I began in late June, has had a consistent group of three or four show up, including some new men. Pray for Jeffery, Antonio, Matt, and Ryan who have come two weeks in a row to study Zephaniah.
And last week, the brig’s new “Re-entry Coordinator” asked to meet with me to discuss establishing a mentoring program that helps inmates in their last months of confinement get ready for their release. A similar program is already in place for female inmates. The established model depends on volunteers who will give an hour each week to meet with an nmate inside the brig and discuss what he should be doing to prepare for release. This is not a Christian program, but will give volunteers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with both Christian and non-Christian inmates and give them advice about the “outside world.” This will be the first re-entry program established for men in a military correctional facility.
When I’m not at the brig, I’m meeting with folks to talk about the PRO Mentors Initiative. I’ve been talking with church men who’ve been involved with prisoners for many years as well as church leaders who deal with homeless ministry. As of this writing, I have at least one other man besides myself, Tom, who is ready to mentor a PRO, and both Tom and I are inviting others to be involved and trained. At the same time, we are working to find PROs to mentor. Our best “source” for these men will be the County Probation department. Because this population is so new to the County, things are moving both quickly and slowly. That is, everyone is working like the proverbial one-armed wallpaper hanger, but there is so much to do that things seem to be moving slowly.
Several people have offered to put meetings together to recruit mentors or to publicize the project on Facebook pages or church newsletters. I’ve told them that I’d like to wait until Tom and I are meeting with a few men before we start rallying the troops. In addition, I’ll be traveling in the Midwest for two weeks at the end of August and beginning of eptember, so I’d like to wait until I return so I can give my full attention (and calendar) to growing this program.
When I next write, I expect to have names of PROs for you to pray for, as well as men that I will be mentoring to become mentors of PROs. For now, please continue to pray for Clark in Arizona. In a letter last week, he wrote that his current attorney had failed to find any reason for appeal, and that the state has offered to let him represent himself (“pro per”), but he must file all the papers by September 8. Clark is serving Life Without Parole on a murder conviction and is trained as an Army medic, not an attorney. He just turned 27 a couple of weeks ago.
Also keep Bruce in your prayers. Bruce was granted parole in September 2010, but remains at the brig because he has been unable to get a residence approved. The re-entry coordinator has found him a place, but the approving federal parole officer isn’t returning emails or phone calls from either the residence or the coordinator. Bruce has been a regular
participant in my weekly Bible studies longer than any other inmate in the 14 years I’ve been at the brig.
Arthur had been in a similar situation, but was released to the residence of a family friend in Tennessee last month. Brad has been assured that his case will be overturned, but that assurance came almost a year ago and the legal wheels are still grinding away. Zach’s wife gave birth to a baby recently; he will be released in early October.
There are a lot of staff changes coming at the brig over the next few months, also. The Commanding Officer is replaced this Wednesday (August 15), the Director of Prisoner Management (a civilian) is retiring, a new Navy chaplain arrives in October, and a new Technical Director (the highest civilian position) in December. Changes mean tension for inmates and staff alike.
Here’s a name from the distant past: Allen, whom I mentored when he was on trial for murdering a Marine in Hawaii back in 1996, sent me a note that he has been moved to a new facility for his good behavior. But, he writes, in the new facility he is housed in a dorm-like setting rather than having his own room (or cell). He’s not sure it’s an upgrade. Allen is hoping for parole (on a life sentence) in 2018. He is 37 now.
I do want to thank all of you who have responded to my letter of July 11 with generous checks and pledges. If you haven’t responded, please give careful consideration to being a part of this ministry through regular prayer, regular giving, or a one-time “special” gift to keep things moving along. That will require about $5000 in special gifts, in addition to the regular gifts that have been coming in. Even an extra gift of $25 will be helpful.
Sincerely in Christ,
Ben
Dear Friends,
I know it probably seems like you’re hearing a lot from me this summer, but there’s a lot to tell and your prayers are much coveted. The expansion of the Hebrews 13:3 Project that I’ve been mentioning is in full swing—with over
half of the funds needed before the end of 2012 already in the bank. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the response to the PRO Mentors Initiative by old and new friends alike.
At the brig, we just finished our 18-month-long study in the Gospel of John, and are working our way through the Old Testament prophecy of Zephaniah. After Labor Day, we’ll study 1 John. The Wednesday afternoon prayer meeting, which I began in late June, has had a consistent group of three or four show up, including some new men. Pray for Jeffery, Antonio, Matt, and Ryan who have come two weeks in a row to study Zephaniah.
And last week, the brig’s new “Re-entry Coordinator” asked to meet with me to discuss establishing a mentoring program that helps inmates in their last months of confinement get ready for their release. A similar program is already in place for female inmates. The established model depends on volunteers who will give an hour each week to meet with an nmate inside the brig and discuss what he should be doing to prepare for release. This is not a Christian program, but will give volunteers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with both Christian and non-Christian inmates and give them advice about the “outside world.” This will be the first re-entry program established for men in a military correctional facility.
When I’m not at the brig, I’m meeting with folks to talk about the PRO Mentors Initiative. I’ve been talking with church men who’ve been involved with prisoners for many years as well as church leaders who deal with homeless ministry. As of this writing, I have at least one other man besides myself, Tom, who is ready to mentor a PRO, and both Tom and I are inviting others to be involved and trained. At the same time, we are working to find PROs to mentor. Our best “source” for these men will be the County Probation department. Because this population is so new to the County, things are moving both quickly and slowly. That is, everyone is working like the proverbial one-armed wallpaper hanger, but there is so much to do that things seem to be moving slowly.
Several people have offered to put meetings together to recruit mentors or to publicize the project on Facebook pages or church newsletters. I’ve told them that I’d like to wait until Tom and I are meeting with a few men before we start rallying the troops. In addition, I’ll be traveling in the Midwest for two weeks at the end of August and beginning of eptember, so I’d like to wait until I return so I can give my full attention (and calendar) to growing this program.
When I next write, I expect to have names of PROs for you to pray for, as well as men that I will be mentoring to become mentors of PROs. For now, please continue to pray for Clark in Arizona. In a letter last week, he wrote that his current attorney had failed to find any reason for appeal, and that the state has offered to let him represent himself (“pro per”), but he must file all the papers by September 8. Clark is serving Life Without Parole on a murder conviction and is trained as an Army medic, not an attorney. He just turned 27 a couple of weeks ago.
Also keep Bruce in your prayers. Bruce was granted parole in September 2010, but remains at the brig because he has been unable to get a residence approved. The re-entry coordinator has found him a place, but the approving federal parole officer isn’t returning emails or phone calls from either the residence or the coordinator. Bruce has been a regular
participant in my weekly Bible studies longer than any other inmate in the 14 years I’ve been at the brig.
Arthur had been in a similar situation, but was released to the residence of a family friend in Tennessee last month. Brad has been assured that his case will be overturned, but that assurance came almost a year ago and the legal wheels are still grinding away. Zach’s wife gave birth to a baby recently; he will be released in early October.
There are a lot of staff changes coming at the brig over the next few months, also. The Commanding Officer is replaced this Wednesday (August 15), the Director of Prisoner Management (a civilian) is retiring, a new Navy chaplain arrives in October, and a new Technical Director (the highest civilian position) in December. Changes mean tension for inmates and staff alike.
Here’s a name from the distant past: Allen, whom I mentored when he was on trial for murdering a Marine in Hawaii back in 1996, sent me a note that he has been moved to a new facility for his good behavior. But, he writes, in the new facility he is housed in a dorm-like setting rather than having his own room (or cell). He’s not sure it’s an upgrade. Allen is hoping for parole (on a life sentence) in 2018. He is 37 now.
I do want to thank all of you who have responded to my letter of July 11 with generous checks and pledges. If you haven’t responded, please give careful consideration to being a part of this ministry through regular prayer, regular giving, or a one-time “special” gift to keep things moving along. That will require about $5000 in special gifts, in addition to the regular gifts that have been coming in. Even an extra gift of $25 will be helpful.
Sincerely in Christ,
Ben
