Phone: (217) 892-4044 Fax: (217) 892-5995 E-Mail: J-I-T-W-P-M@msn.com info@jesusisthewayprisonministries.org www.jesusisthewayprisonministries.org
NEWSLETTER JuLY 2014
Hi, my name is Louis. I grew up in Peoria, IL. By the time I was seventeen, I was in trouble off and on. That went on for about a year. My dad passed away when I was six and I was sixteen when my mother passed away. After losing her, I did not care about anything, not even myself. I was living with my grandmother at that time. She did her best to help me, but I would not do anything she said. I kept going to jail and from there, prison. I went to prison eight times between 1978 to 2011. I had money and I was getting visitors while in prison, so I looked at it as just not being at home with my loved ones. I would get out, do good for a minute, and find a job. I was drinking beer and doing weed when I was thirteen and did not stop. I got older and started dealing with harder drugs, which kept me in prison. After my last time being locked up, I told myself that I cannot deal with this on my own. I asked God to come into my life and He did. Me coming to Jesus is the Way Prison Ministry has opened my eyes up like never before. I enjoy everything that the ministry has to offer. They are God fearing people here. The programs here are very helpful to me. I have learned to deal with patience and be more obedient to God’s word. The
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staff at Jesus is the Way doesn’t look at you like a number. Being here keeps your mind out of the gutter and is an experience I will never forget. If I had paroled somewhere else I don’t think I would be writing this. It is truly a blessing being here and we are like family. All of the staff does everything they can to help us stay focused on the right things. I have never been this humble in my life before coming to Jesus is the Way. I am grateful for everything they do for us. I am thankful that I do not have to live my life behind bars. My goals for the future are to continue my walk with the Lord. I have found out that volunteer work does a lot for my soul and it makes me feel good on the inside, knowing that I am helping someone in need. I’ve been there and I know what it is like when you have no one to help you. It is a blessing helping others and forgetting about yourself for three to four hours. I would like to find work and hold onto it. I am looking forward to getting married one day. I have asked God to send me a God fearing lady. I am fifty-seven and I want to live my days doing hard work. God is real and good all the time. Keep us in your prayers. Louis Postlewaite
Jesus is the Way Prison Ministry cordially invites you to: “GRACE AND MERCY” (Our annual fundraising banquet)
August 22, 2014 6:00 PM- 8:00PM (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
PLEASE CA 217-892 LL -40 to make 44 yo reservat ur ions!
HOLIDAY INN CONFERENCE CENTER 1001 KILLARNEY ST., URBANA, IL. The banquet will be a celebration of our ministry in the jails, prisons, and aftercare program leading to our ultimate goal of introducing people to Jesus and empowering and training them to become productive and responsible citizens in our communities. This year’s speaker will be Carol Kent, best-selling author and popular international public speaker- dynamic, humorous, encouraging, and biblically sound. She is a former radio show co-host, and her messages have been featured on Focus on the Family. Mrs. Kent has been a keynote speaker at Women of Faith, Extraordinary Women, and Heritage Keepers arena events, to name but a few. Carol and her husband have been involved with prison ministry since her son, presently serving a lifetime sentence without possibility of parole, was incarcerated in a Florida State Penitentiary in early 2000. We are sure you don’t want to miss the message she will share with us on Friday, August 22, 2014; so mark your calendars now.
The banquet is also a powerful outreach that will improve our effectiveness to minister in the jails, prisons, and our aftercare program. Keep in mind that our ability to raise funds to support these goals depends heavily on the financial support of faithful friends like you. Please reserve your seat at our annual banquet by calling us at 217-892-4044 or you can also reserve a seat by email: info@jesusisthewayprisonministries.org.
Pictures of last year’s fundraising banquet.
Aftercare Program is growing! I’m happy to announce that God is moving and the Aftercare program is expanding. We now have 10 residents and could have up to 15 by the end of August! Due to the increase of residents served we have had to increase staff for safety and support reasons as well as work on getting resident rooms ready with everything from carpeting to bath towels. Only with Christian community can our residents succeed. Our current overall recidivism rate is 15%. The percentage of men who have graduated has risen from 1% to20% since the end of 2012, these numbers are getting better thanks to our community. I am so grateful to so many men who have given their time by mentoring our residents to grow in their personal walk with Christ, as well as the many sponsors who tirelessly work to teach the practicality of the 12 steps to sobriety! Our program has been truly blessed by Christians who have servant hearts. Developing a servant heart is one of our many goals for the residents at our aftercare program and we develop this by serving. We consistently send a few men to help on a regular basis in the community.
In July we have served at the following: July 5 - Helped someone move July 7, 14, 21 - Helped with Canteen Run for the Homeless July 8, 15 Helped Crusaders Church in Urbana with remodeling July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Helped at Vineyard Food Pantry July 10, 11,12 - Helped at the Historic Farm Days at a food stand July 11 - Also helped at Salt and Light Ministries sorting clothes and cleaning July 18 - Helping someone move July 22 - Helping Books to Prisoners in Urbana - getting books ready to mail July 26 - Helping with weeding and upkeep at the Bethany Park Garden in Rantoul
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Nancy Neukomm MS, NCC, LCPC Aftercare Director
MINISTRY NEEDS Copy Paper Bath Rugs Small Garbage Cans Light Bulbs 60w-100w Batteries (AA-AAA-C-D) Envelopes Paper Towels Toilet Paper
Founders Jesse Mathes/Edith Mathes (1942-2008)
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY P.O. BOX 98 602 LIBERTY AVE. RANTOUL, IL
OFFICE: (217) 892-4044 FAX: (217) 892-5995 EMAIL: info@ jesusisthewayprisonministries.org www.jesusisthewayprisonministries.org Executive Director Dennis Daniel Aftercare Director Nancy Roberts, MS-NCC, LCPC
OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday
Assistant Director Business Operations Dr. Peter Patton, Ph. D. Assistant to the Aftercare Director Scott Krile Prison Services Coordinator John Henderson Jail Service Coordinators Darrel Dunnigan David Nisbet Women’s Division MaryAnn Bridges
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Case Manager Kathy Mayberry Rantoul Staff Brenda Krile Vicki Schoonover
Residents in Classes
Residents and Staff at Circus
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 25 Champaign, IL