" Chaplain, thank you for coming and sharing the real message of the Bible! For the first time I have real hope!"
Those were the kind yet revealing words of a young man named Charlie. We had just completed an in depth study in the Word of God. This was a new class of 6 men the Lord had provided me in a small County jail. I had been given this open door to start this class just a few months ago. All these men I had never seen before, yet I could see a great Spiritual hunger in each one's face.
My study was on the Abundant Life that The Lord Jesus has for each of us. I was guiding them in the Word of God to see His plan and purpose for their lives, even while being behind bars. Each of them were open and ready to ask questions truly seeking answers for the emptiness they each had shared.
I opened the Word and showed them that this emptiness was because of their seperation from God because of sin. Then I pointed them to the answer found only in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ to become a Child of God. They had so many questions but the Lord was faithful to give me the answers to each of them as I opened the God's Word.
Right there in that small classroom, around a conferance table, we bowed our heads and each one of the men asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior as they confessed they were sinners with no hope except in Him. When l said, "Amen" you should have seen the room light up with the smiles of hope and meaning on each face. The Lord was there and you were too! Thank you for your prayers and faithful investments in me and this new life giving work.
As we go together,
Steve Bradshaw
President
P.S. Please pray for the Lord’s supply in funding! We’re falling short each month!
Well, I hope everyone is safe. I'm fortunate, I have a service dog, Patou, who can hear a storm coming 200 miles away. The minute he feels it; he tries to push everyone into the closet. He's capable of this since he weighs 186 pounds.
Speaking of Patou, he is now working in the prison with me. He has become an asset. If any of my students are having a bad day, Patou seeks them out and does a little one on one with them. When they relax, he just walks away. It is amazing to watch!
Project HUB has been quite busy. We were lucky to start one class this year that quickly mushroomed into six. One class has been cancelled by the Federal Government, no explanation. We now have a new program with five classes. The classes are Victim Impact, Circle of Life/Anger Management; new classes, Common Sense, Moving Up/Drug Abuse, and last but not least, Re-entry/Merging Two Worlds.
Now here's the greatest opportunity you may ever have. Moving Up, our drug program needs $2,100.00 for equipment, manuals, and training aides. No, I'm not out of my mind, the program I am working on is so compelling it will be requested by all Oklahoma Prisons. I do not teach a 12-step program because it does not address the root issues of behavior. With this program we can move two steps forward in assisting our inmates to learn behaviors that will enhance their opportunities for their future.
I pray you will look into your heart and see the good this can do.
Sincerely,
Ivy S. Kirk
Executive Director