Matthew 25 Ministries

PRISON CRUSADE

Matthew 25 Ministries in cooperation with several other ministries is planning a crusade at Glades Correctional Inst. in Belle Glade, on December 19 & 20th. We will feature the Rap Singer “20 The Remix” (Anthony Duran) along with the “Solid Rock Evangelistic Assoc.” with Tony Loeffler’s musicians and their rendition of Blues/Rock. There is also the possibility that evangelist Glenda Rambo will be joining us along with a number of volunteer counselors.
If you would like to be a volunteer, let us know immediately as we need enough time to obtain approval for each volunteer who will enter the prison. No experience is necessary, as you will receive instructions on how to share with the inmates. If you have never served on a prison crusade, this will be the experience of a lifetime.

C.O.P.E. CONFERENCE

The Coalition of prison Evangelists are having their regional conference in Orlando, November 20-22. We have been members of this fine organization of prison evangelists for 15 years. Dick will be presenting a workshop on “Sex Offender Ministry.”

MINISTRY NEEDS: Automobiles

UPDATE

We are making progress with our plans to operate a prison aftercare program in Pahokee.

The success of that program hinges on our being able to get jobs for those we are assisting. Even under the best conditions those with the label “ex-offender” have difficulty in obtaining employment. With the downturn in the economy, they will have to vie for jobs with a host of prospective employees. This coupled with the logistical problem of transporting our men to an industrial area like West Palm Beach, presents a challenge. While we will be looking for employers that will hire our men, we are hoping to start some service industries. Some that are being considered are: Industrial cleaning, lawn maintenance, medical billing, and rehabilitating older homes.

We are also investigating the possibility of manufacturing and installing of “see through hurricane shudders.” There are benefits for employers that hire ex-offenders such as a free bonding program and tax breaks.

Christmas Caroling

Mark your calendars for Friday night, Dec. 12th at 7:00 P.M. We’d love to have you with us as we bring the joy of Christ’s birth to those in the nursing home and in prison. Call Dick or Maggie now and we’ll send you the info. We need time to get your application approved.

TODAY’S WORLD

Matthew 25 Ministries was founded in 1990! Many of the people we minister to come from homes that were impacted by tragic circumstances. Divorce, violence, alcohol, drugs and sexual issues plague many lives and families. Problems manifest when the abused become the abusers. From early ages, patterns of abuse and problems with the lack of good social behavior are working to develop tomorrrow’s criminals. The tragedy is that innocent lives are permanently changed as a result of these abuses.

In today’s world, families are under attack! The issues of alcohol and drug abuse are all too common. Programs on television have dulled our senses of morality. They have glorified fast living and immoral behavior. In today’s drug and sex-saturated society our young people are being bombarded with wrong messages designed to trap them into activities that lead to addictions. The music industry also sends a message to our youth that drugs and sex are, “Where it’s at.” We see the innocence of our children when they are four, five and six years old, but ten years from now, far too many of them will not be innocent. We need to spare parents the heartbreak of finding their child is using drugs, is pregnant, or has contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

Pastors and others within the Body of Christ need to practice preventive medicine. We should be talking to our youth about their gift of sexuality and the boundaries that God lovingly puts on this gift. I have written extensively on this subject. I also recommend a couple books: “Every Young Man’s Battle” and “Every Young Woman’s Battle” by Stephen Arterburn, also, “Love, Sex and Lasting Relationships,” by Chip Ingram. We keep Chips’ book in stock.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:

Oct. 6th-Chapel Service Martin C.I.
Oct. 19th -Chapel Service Okee, C.I.
Monday-Alcoholics Victorious
Glades C. I.*
Tuesday- Anger Management, Okee. Jail
Wednesday- Sexual Purity Glades C.I.*
Thursday- Bible Study WPB Work Release*
Nov. 20-22 C.O.P.E. Conference
Dec. 12, Christmas Caroling
Dec. 19 & 20 Crusade, Glades C.I.