Matthew 25 Ministries

When is enough, enough?

Our hearts go out to the families of the latest victims of rape and murder. The reaction to these horrendous crimes by the media and our legislators has caused additional laws to be passed in an effort to protect our children. Will these laws accomplish the task for which they are intended? I think not. If they only targeted the one to two percent of sex offenders whose criminal history shows a tendency of violent behavior, or stalking children, they might be beneficial. But, when they target all those charged with a sexual offense they are only adding to the problem. The laws that were already on the books have not changed the danger one iota; in fact they have compounded the problem. For instance, do you think for one minute that prohibiting a sex offender from living within 1,000 feet of where children congregate is going to stop one who is bent on assaulting a child? I think not, but it makes it extremely difficult for one who is trying to live a normal life to find housing. Now many communities have extended these invisible buffers up to 2,500 feet.

As one who has worked with sex-offenders both in and out of prison, I can share with certainty that a large percentage of them have truly repented of their sins, and want to live honorable lives. Contrary to popular belief the majority of convicted sex-offenders do not go on to commit new sexual crimes. The Bureau of Justice Statistics published a study tracking 9,700 sex offenders over a 3-year period from 2001–2004 which showed only 5.3% rearrested for a subsequent sex offense. When a child was involved, the re-arrest rate dropped to 3.3%. This is a far cry from the 90% figure being touted by the news media.

y throwing all sex-offenders in a fish bowl, we have decreased law enforcements ability to closely monitor those who pose the greatest threat. The conditions of probation placed on the newly released offender makes it so difficult to obtain employment and housing that many are not able to make it and have their probation violated. This sends them back to prison even though they have not committed another crime.
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Kenny Reports

I have been a resident at Matthew 25 for 4 years. Prior to coming here I had very little going for me. All my Dad ever did was tell me I was no good, stupid or rotten. Pastor Michael Breznen of Holy Cross Lutheran Church tried to help me as well as my friend Joe Dominic, but when it became apparent that I had to leave West Palm Beach, they arranged for me to come here. Now at 58 years of age I am learning to do things I never knew before. I have learned how to fish and the men here are teaching me how to play golf. Jan and Nyoka and others on staff have shown me that I am loved. I have found out I can be independent. I help with the monthly newsletter and do some of our yard work. I also write letters to servicemen and missionaries overseas and to men in prison.

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Pat’s Corner

I am speaking out against the injustices perpetuated against a certain class of citizens by its government. When I was serving two tours in Vietnam for the government I believed in, I would never have thought I would ever be writing an article like this. It is time for all Americans to stand up, because we are blacklisting the American known as the sexual offender. The collective “we” have allowed politicians for personal political advantage to exploit our most vulnerable fear, the safety of our children. We are all responsible for allowing hysteria-driven legislation at the city, state and federal levels to remain unchecked due to the manipulation of our emotional bonds to our children. Journalists have not asked the hard questions or educated the public about the relative ease of how one becomes an offender, perpetuating the myth that all offenders are child molesters. Many sex offenders have been “convicted” of poor behavior offenses that involve no victim. Most charged persons lack adequate funding to fight such charges. The resulting plea bargain is followed by automatic sexual offender registration as decreed by Florida Statute 943.0436. The sexual registry list is so crowded that we can’t pick out the offender who is dangerous from the majority that are not. The politicians have effectively rendered this list ineffective, because we have hidden the dangerous offenders among the non-dangerous and none of us can tell them apart.

It’s time that we tell our politicians to start making laws that are going to protect our children instead of giving the politicians the headlines. Ask a simple question, “How is this law going to protect a child?”

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THANK YOU!

We want to thank all those who have over the years supported our ministry. Being a Para-church ministry we do not have a congregation from whom we can receive offerings. Those we serve, men and women in prison or just released cannot give; so we look to you our newsletter family. For those who like to give on-line, you can donate on our web site www.matthew25ministries.org. No matter how you choose to give, we thank you and know that God will bless you for helping some of God’s most needy children.
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
August 5th - Chapel Service Martin C.I.
August 17th- Chapel Service Okeec. C. I.
Monday’s - Alcoholics Victorious Glades C. I. *
Tuesday’s - Anger Management, Okeechobee Jail.
Wednesday’s - Sexual Purity Glades C.I. *
Thursday’s- Bible Study West Palm Beach Work Release Center *
* These programs are conducted by volunteers