2008 - 04 - April
THE Grapevine NEWSLETTER > April 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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MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS FOR
Our 18th Annual Spring Banquet
Featuring Rocco Morelli
Rocco was involved with the Mafia. Hear how his lifestyle earned him a prison sentence. He will also share about his transformation.
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DICK’S REMARKS
Do you realize that the United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world? The U.S. Justice Department reports that our current prison population stands at 2.2 million. In addition almost 5 million more are either on probation or parole. One out of every 37 adults has served or is serving time in prison, and when these prisoners are released, two-thirds of them will return to prison within three years. Our prisons will release 600,000 inmates this year. It has been reported that our nation spends over 500 billion dollars per year on fighting crime! The good news is there is real revival going on in prisons!
God says, “He will give us the desires of our heart.” Twenty eight years ago God put it upon my heart to minister to the outcasts of society. So I joined a ministry to the homeless, which then became a ministry to the recovering addict. Then God gave me a burden for men and women coming out of prison. That was back in 1990. At the time there were very few ministries helping ex-offenders. Praise God, today many of those involved in prison ministry have come to realize the importance of helping prisoners make a successful transition back into the free world. Over the past eighteen years our ministry has helped hundreds make that transition from prison back into the free world. Without your help many of them would be part of the statistic that see three out of four ex-offenders returning to prison. Because very few that complete our program return to prison, we have reduced the crime rate in the areas where we operate and have saved taxpayers millions of dollars.
In Okeechobee County, we have been forced to close two of our prison aftercare centers for men due to new zoning. We are currently searching for other property that will meet our needs.
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JUDGE NOT
Keith Getty, Christian music composer said: “I am keenly aware of my need for God’s grace. I understand that the seeds of every sin are in the heart of every man. There is not one despicable sin of which I am not capable.” Praise God, he got it! He understood why Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.” There are a whole lot of Christians who are judging former sex offenders as not being worthy to live in their neighborhood. Whether because of fear for their safety, or disgust for the nature of the crime, they need to be cautious of judging. We should echo Brother Getty; being keenly aware of our need for God’s grace and understanding that the seeds of every sin are in our hearts. There is not one despicable sin of which we are not capable.
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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
In March of 1983 I wrote, “I am pleased to introduce the newest member of the Gospel Rescue Mission team. On Feb. 26th, Maggie Howe became Mrs. Richard Witherow.” As I read those words in that old newsletter, I couldn’t help reminiscing about all we have been through. All the marvelous things God has done in our marriage and in our ministries over the past 25 years. On March 2nd we, along with our good friends Jim & Joanie Leary renewed our wedding vows in the witness of friends and family. Thank you Jesus!
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OUR CHILDREN
Carolyn Esparza, author of “The Parenting Business,” speaking before a group of male prisoners said: “Did you know that as a parent in prison, you have placed your children at extreme risk for becoming prisoners themselves? Seventy percent of your children will become prisoners one day!” She said that she was as surprised as anyone to hear those words coming out of her mouth. When one of the young men defiantly hissed, “Where do you get statistics like that?” She said, “Well let’s see. By a show of hands, how many of you had a parent in prison?” Of the 35 men there, almost every hand went up. This was taken from the article “When Prison Becomes A Family Business” in Prison Victory Magazine. It’s sad, but true. Without a man in the house, children are prime candidates to run afoul of the law. In previous issues of “The Grapevine,” we have stressed the need to mentor men and women coming out of prison. It is just as important for Christians to step up to the plate and accept the challenge to be a mentor to the children of parents who are incarcerated. If this speaks to your heart and you would like to see how you could get involved, give Dick a call.
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
April 4th Spring Banquet. Reservation deadline March 28th.
April 20th Chapel Service Okeec. C. I.
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