February 6, 2013
Dear Friends,
We’ve been studying the Old Testament book of Habakkuk at the brig the past
two Thursday nights. Like our study in Zephaniah last August, we’ve been
having larger numbers of inmates show up. Habakkuk asks God questions like
“Why?” and “When?” God replies with “You wouldn’t believe me if I told
you.” In the third chapter (which we’ll tackle this week), Habakkuk prays
a great prayer—really a Psalm—that ends with content in the Lord, even though
troubled times are on the horizon. No food to eat? Rejoice in the
Lord! Troubled by what you see around you? Remember that the LORD
God is your strength!
A great example of being patient and waiting on God’s time is Bruce, whom
you’ve read about before in these letters. Bruce was due to be released
over two years ago. This Thursday will be his last study before he returns
to New Jersey. Bruce has been the most faithful man in Bible study—and has
the longest tenure of any man in the nearly 15 years I’ve been studying with men
at the Brig. Please pray for his transition.
PRO Mentoring Initiative—now underway (finally!)
Our first 90-minute meeting at East Mesa Detention Facility (after nearly two
months of waiting for clearance from the Sheriff’s Department) was on January
28. EMDF is the County Jail where sentenced inmates will serve the last 18
months of their prison terms. It is primarily a “local custody” facility.
If not for the new laws in California, most of the men now at EMDF would be in a
state prison.
EMDF is the only one of the seven jails in San Diego County that focuses on
re-entry. Some of the programs there are so innovative that officials from
all over California and even from Arizona have come to EMDF to observe.
Because of this innovative thinking, we are being given unprecedented access to
the prisoners. Our program focuses on getting to know the inmates so we
can give them a mentor to meet with them first while they are incarcerated, and
then when they are released. They will all be released in San Diego
County.
At our first meeting, we had six men—one of whom was released this past
Sunday. We got to know them a bit, and we talked about what a mentor
is. We then looked at 2 Timothy 3:16, and talked about the need for
regular Bible study in a Christian’s life. All of the men had been locked
up before, and as the idea of having another man to help them in their faith as
they got out began to sink in, you could see excitement on their faces.
We will meet as a group on the 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons (mark your
calendars to pray!), and I and other volunteers will be able to visit one-on-one
in between. The counselors at the facility are screening the inmates, and
expect to max out the room at 20 men. The counselors are as excited about
this as we are!
Pray for: Michael (just released), Jason, John, Jeremy, Shannon, and
Tracy, who came last week; and for Robert who has applied and will join us next
time.
You can read more about EMDF here: http://www.sdsheriff.net/DetentionFacilities/EMDF.html
The County will be adding about 500 new beds to the facility in the next
year.
Brig Re-Entry Mentoring Program
Although the re-entry mentoring program at the brig has been approved, there
has been a delay in the start. We’ve been expecting good news any day for
over a month now.
Mentors in Training
Michael, a guard at the Brig, has orders to a ship here in San Diego and will
leave the brig in early April. We plan to finish our study in Exodus
before he leaves. Kyle, a man who attends my church, is hoping to mentor a
man in the re-entry program. He and I are beginning a study through the
book of Romans next week. Keon is the senior enlisted in one of the Navy
commands. He has asked me to help him learn how to lead Bible studies with
his peers. He is already a leader and a teacher, but he wants to learn how
to teach the Bible.
Finances
Thanks to all of you who gave year-end gifts in 2012! And thanks to
those of you who have increased your support for 2013! Oh, yes—and thanks
to the new donors! As you can tell, there is plenty of work for me to do
full time, and God continues to provide. I still have a lot of money to
raise for 2013—so please keep praying. Give as the Lord leads.
Peace in Christ,
Ben Conarroe
We’ve been studying the Old Testament book of Habakkuk at the brig the past
two Thursday nights. Like our study in Zephaniah last August, we’ve been
having larger numbers of inmates show up. Habakkuk asks God questions like
“Why?” and “When?” God replies with “You wouldn’t believe me if I told
you.” In the third chapter (which we’ll tackle this week), Habakkuk prays
a great prayer—really a Psalm—that ends with content in the Lord, even though
troubled times are on the horizon. No food to eat? Rejoice in the
Lord! Troubled by what you see around you? Remember that the LORD
God is your strength!
A great example of being patient and waiting on God’s time is Bruce, whom
you’ve read about before in these letters. Bruce was due to be released
over two years ago. This Thursday will be his last study before he returns
to New Jersey. Bruce has been the most faithful man in Bible study—and has
the longest tenure of any man in the nearly 15 years I’ve been studying with men
at the Brig. Please pray for his transition.
PRO Mentoring Initiative—now underway (finally!)
Our first 90-minute meeting at East Mesa Detention Facility (after nearly two
months of waiting for clearance from the Sheriff’s Department) was on January
28. EMDF is the County Jail where sentenced inmates will serve the last 18
months of their prison terms. It is primarily a “local custody” facility.
If not for the new laws in California, most of the men now at EMDF would be in a
state prison.
EMDF is the only one of the seven jails in San Diego County that focuses on
re-entry. Some of the programs there are so innovative that officials from
all over California and even from Arizona have come to EMDF to observe.
Because of this innovative thinking, we are being given unprecedented access to
the prisoners. Our program focuses on getting to know the inmates so we
can give them a mentor to meet with them first while they are incarcerated, and
then when they are released. They will all be released in San Diego
County.
At our first meeting, we had six men—one of whom was released this past
Sunday. We got to know them a bit, and we talked about what a mentor
is. We then looked at 2 Timothy 3:16, and talked about the need for
regular Bible study in a Christian’s life. All of the men had been locked
up before, and as the idea of having another man to help them in their faith as
they got out began to sink in, you could see excitement on their faces.
We will meet as a group on the 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons (mark your
calendars to pray!), and I and other volunteers will be able to visit one-on-one
in between. The counselors at the facility are screening the inmates, and
expect to max out the room at 20 men. The counselors are as excited about
this as we are!
Pray for: Michael (just released), Jason, John, Jeremy, Shannon, and
Tracy, who came last week; and for Robert who has applied and will join us next
time.
You can read more about EMDF here: http://www.sdsheriff.net/DetentionFacilities/EMDF.html
The County will be adding about 500 new beds to the facility in the next
year.
Brig Re-Entry Mentoring Program
Although the re-entry mentoring program at the brig has been approved, there
has been a delay in the start. We’ve been expecting good news any day for
over a month now.
Mentors in Training
Michael, a guard at the Brig, has orders to a ship here in San Diego and will
leave the brig in early April. We plan to finish our study in Exodus
before he leaves. Kyle, a man who attends my church, is hoping to mentor a
man in the re-entry program. He and I are beginning a study through the
book of Romans next week. Keon is the senior enlisted in one of the Navy
commands. He has asked me to help him learn how to lead Bible studies with
his peers. He is already a leader and a teacher, but he wants to learn how
to teach the Bible.
Finances
Thanks to all of you who gave year-end gifts in 2012! And thanks to
those of you who have increased your support for 2013! Oh, yes—and thanks
to the new donors! As you can tell, there is plenty of work for me to do
full time, and God continues to provide. I still have a lot of money to
raise for 2013—so please keep praying. Give as the Lord leads.
Peace in Christ,
Ben Conarroe
