2008 - 01 - January
THE Grapevine NEWSLETTER > Jan 2008
Matthew 25 Ministries, Inc., A Ministry of Prison After-care
P.O. Box 5690, Lake Worth, FL. 33466
Dick & Maggie Witherow
Contact Us | (561) 432-9072
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AN OPEN LETTER
If you are hurting this Christmas season, God is writing you a love letter. He says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.
The Bible says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”. All of us need hope. It is as critical to life as the air we breathe. If you are at the point where life has ganged up on you, and you have lost all hope, God’s Word says, “Yet there is one ray of hope: His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His lovingkindness begins afresh each day. The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him, to those who seek for Him. It is good to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Jesus says; “I understand your despair, your feeling that things are hopeless. I have your future in the palm of My hand, and I will give you hope. Hope that your future is going to be different from your past”. There is one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus defeated him and took away his power to accuse you of sin, when He rose from the dead! We pray for those who are hurting that they would start the New year out right, by heeding to the words of Jesus: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. He is the life giver, and He gives abundant life to all who call upon His name.
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Christmas Caroling
Caroling was wonderful this year. We had so many come out at the Work Release Centers and the Loxahatchee Road Prison. There were some inmates wiping away tears as we told them of the real meaning for Christmas. Some gave their hearts to Him. It was heartwarming!
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UPDATE
Just when it looked like we were going to be able to close on the purchase of the mobile home park in Leesburg, we learned that we would not be able to get the loan amount we needed. The property owner refused to lower his price since he had another interested party. I felt so discouraged. What do we do when God says no? We felt as though God had shown this to be the right property for us, so we did all we could to acquire it. Then I remembered that God’s Word says, “In everything give thanks”. So I began praising Him. A few weeks later, the owner called me and let it be known that he still wanted us to be able to purchase his property, and gave us the name of a person who felt he could get us the loan we need. So, please keep this lifted up in prayer. We want Godly wisdom.
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CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Last month we reported that a number of prisons where we conduct chapel services had eliminated evening services during Eastern Standard Time. I stated how I felt this was counter productive in-as-much as it is most certain to lower the moral of the prisoners and create unrest. Today, I received a phone call from a fellow prison minister commenting on my article in last month’s newsletter. He agreed that something is drastically wrong. He reported that a number of his concerts and evangelistic meetings had been canceled. He said there has been a marked increase in violence and rape in Florida prisons. Prison administrators are bemoaning the fact that they are so over budgeted that they have had to cut back on the number of correctional officers, which has created a security problem. This has caused some to acknowledge their need for more volunteers to come into our prisons, so they have additional eyes and ears to monitor what is happening with the inmates. How can you have more volunteers when you eliminate those programs conducted by volunteers? Normally we conduct several chapel services every month, but last month we did none, and so far we have none scheduled for January. This is spiritual warfare and we need our prayer warriors to go to battle. Speaking of prayer warriors, we need someone to coordinate those who lift up the many prayer requests we receive. Please let us know if God puts that on your heart.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
We are looking forward to 2008, whatever it brings. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. We are so grateful to those who have supported God’s ministry to the least of His children this past year. While year-end giving has been down this year, we are confident that He who supplies all of our needs will continue to provide. All of us here wish all of you a Christ centered and a prosperous New Year.
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Monday’s – Alcoholics Victorious Meetings Glades C. I. *
Tuesday’s - Anger Management, Okeechobee Jail.
Wednesday’s Sexual Purity Glades C.I.*
Thursday’s - Woman’s Work Release. *
* These programs are conducted by volunteers