Greetings!
As I wind down operations here at Freedom in Christ Prison Ministry, I need a few folks to do something for me. I issued refund checks for donations to the ministry to people/congregations/organizations that did not respond to our attempts to notify us on the disposition of their donations. There are quite a few checks still outstanding that have not been cashed which poses a problem for us. I will be closing our checking account in the next couple of weeks and need you to cash those checks, otherwise, I will have to submit stop payments on them which will cost us additional funds. Please, please cash those checks as soon as possible! I appreciate your help with this matter.
In other updates, Pastor Marlow is still going to the prison on Wednesdays to do one-on-one pastoral visits with the men. Upon our notification at the beginning of February to the prison that we would be shutting down the ministry, they were able to fill our spot with a new grace-based organization to replace our worship and Bible studies. Pastor Marlow agreed to continue to provide one-on-one visits. So, we still have a presence in the prison for a while longer!
This will in all likelihood be the last article we will submit for this newsletter. Our website will shutdown on March 1st along with our Facebook page.
On a personal note, I just want to share that this ministry and its mission was, and is, very near and dear to my heart. It was personal as I have a son who was incarcerated who received the blessings of a church providing ministry at the facility he was at. Those men, through the work of Jesus Christ, brought my son back to me. Freedom in Christ allowed me to pay it forward. I received way more blessings from the men at the prison than I ever could provide to them. It was a privilege to be able to worship and celebrate alongside them sharing the joy of knowing we are forgiven for our sins and oh so loved. And I was so very, very blessed to be able to mentor one of the men, who I am so proud of. He has been out of prison for about seven years now and still staying out of trouble and goes to church every week! So, I thank you for the ability to serve this ministry – it has been a pleasure.
I would also like to thank our board members – past and present – for their unwavering support and hard work guiding this ministry, and to our DEMs – George Karras, Peggy Paugh-Leuzinger, and Kay Wittman for guidance through these years. The past few years have been hard, and hard decisions had to be made. They did it with grace and honesty. Thank you to the prison, from the warden, security guards, to the Religious Activities staff for allowing us the privilege of being in the prison for the last 15 years. Last but not least, thank you to Pastor Rob and Pastor Marlow for going into the prison, week after week, working with the men and journeying with them and guiding them in their faith walk.
All of us here at Freedom in Christ want to thank you for your support of this vital ministry at Montana State Prison. We were able to walk alongside so many men in their faith journey bringing the Good News of hope, love, and forgiveness into their lives. For that, we will be forever grateful. Because of you, we were able to help change lives! THANK YOU!!!
I leave you with a quote to ponder:
“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” ~Bryan Stevenson
In His Everlasting Love –
Bea Rosenleaf, Executive Director
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We are equipping our community for the Gospel with a ministry of presence. We are there: present and caring for others. Our message is not "get right with God" and you will be saved. Rather we walk alongside others in their trials, not promising to make it better, but only that they are loved and valued. We are a grace-based ministry.
"God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation does not come from anything you do. It is God’s gift." Ephesians 2:8 NIRV