Matthew 25 Ministries

On 10/26/06 our entire staff attended the Okeechobee Board of County Commissioner’s Meeting. One of the items on the agenda was a hearing to make permanent the emergency resolution the county had passed on 10/12/06 stating that no more than one sex offender could reside in a private dwelling and extending where a sex offender could live from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet from any place where children congregate. This would include schools, parks, playgrounds, daycare centers and school bus stops. Dick addressed the county commissioners and told them that the premise that all sex offenders presented a threat to their children was wrong. He advised them of a study that had been conducted with a large population of sex offenders that showed only 2.46% committed new sex crimes. That other studies showed that 90% of children who were sexually molested knew their attacker. He let them know that the news media gives the wrong impression in their reporting of sexual crimes. It would seem to most viewers of the evening news that convicted sex offenders are running rampant, when in reality (in almost every case) these are new people being charged, not those who have served their time and are trying to live their lives in peace and tranquility. Studies show that 85% of sexual offenses go unreported. This means that legislatures have totally missed it by profiling convicted sex offenders, when it is those who have yet to be discovered who pose the greatest threat to our children.

Nyoka Edwards told the commissioners, “We’re not dealing with the problem, we are dealing with the results of the problem. You are putting a Band-Aid on the problem when you should be doing something about what causes it”.

Patrick Powers a former sex offender who is now on staff, said. “Please consider the individual. Not all of us will re-offend. He said I will not re-offend because Jesus Christ has changed my life”.

We feel we made some headway when the county commissioners agreed to take out the provision that restricts the number of sex offenders that can live together and eliminating school bus stops from the 2,500 foot rule. This is a still bad law, and we will address this again at the next hearing.

In October Maggie and I attended the 2006 Prison Reentry Conference in Dallas, Texas. I along with a fellow presenter conducted a workshop on “Ministering to Sex Offenders”. Our workshop was filled to overflowing, and from the feedback we heard it was well received. You could have knocked me over with a feather when it was announced at one of the general sessions that I was being given the award for “Innovation In Prisoner Reentry“. It blesses me to see that those who work with prisoners and ex-offenders are beginning to see the light concerning the needs of those who have been charged with sexual crimes.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Dec. 17th - Chapel Service at Okeechobee C.I.

Monday’s PM – Alcoholics Victorious Meeting at Glades Correctional Institution.

Tuesday’s AM - Support Group for inmates wanting to learn how to live a life of sexual purity. Okeechobee Correctional Institution.

Tuesday’s PM - Anger Management Class for women. Okeechobee County Jail.

Tuesday’s PM - How to have meaningful relationships. Woman’s Work Release Center.