Another graduating class of Holistic Hardware!
Rickey, Greg, Me, Andy(teacher), John and Jim(teacher)
In May I was blessed with a new office at Hope Street Ministries. I have been working with multiple offices at James Place, home, Salvation Army. My motto was, have laptop, will travel. However, it is hard to keep straight where everything is and efficiency is lost when something you thought was at this location and it is at another location.
So, while talking to Perry Brown, executive director of Hope Street, I was asking if I could visit more often the men who the Prison Aftercare Network has living at Hope Street and he suggested that I have an office there. So, they cleared a small office they had of clutter and voila, I have an office. It is so good to work with Darrell, Dave and Perry with the men and women at Hope Street. I have one of my ladies I mentor who lives a few blocks away come to visit usually every week and she enjoys bringing me treats. What a sweetheart.
I am looking forward to expanding the relationship and collaboration between Hope Street and BASICS through the Prison Aftercare Network so we can disciple men and women returning from prison more effectively. Please keep both our ministries in prayer.
Nancy
Well, for those of you who could not make the Super Sundae Sunday, you will not want to miss the next one. What is Super Sundae Sunday? I invited my supporters and friends to Arn and Norma Quakkelaars home for a ice cream sunday bar to fix your favorite ice cream and toppings to enjoy while listening to the ministry of prison aftercare. I also invited 3 of my friends who I have know for many years, to share their experiences as they transitioned from prison back into their community and how God is working in their lives. Laurie, Elaine, and Pedro told of how scared they were when they first came out of prison. Laurie remembers not wanting to leave her apartment for days until her mother forced her to go to Walmart to shop for the items Laurie needed. Elaine also remembers (as do I) how she couldn't step outside the front door of the apartment until we prayed and I took her hand to help her step forward. Pedro recalled how he went from a gangster on the streets of Chicago and Milwaukee, to a child of God, who is now starting his own cleaning business, married to a Godly woman, and doing ministry at his church in Milwaukee and also at one they attend in Chicago.
I did video tape the testimonies and hope to have them on my regular website soon. Look for them in the near future and enjoy the work of God in their lives. And, if this has you to be excited for the next Super Sundae Sunday, let me know by emailing me and I will put you on the list for an invite in a couple of months. My email address is: nancy@basicsinmke.org
Nancy
Saturday, April 24, 2010 we had our 3rd Annual Ex-offender Dinner for the men and women who were formerly incarcerated. I was so blessed to take one of the ladies who was released a few months ago along with her mentor to the event. She was so appreciative of all that the Salvation Army, Prison Fellowship and PAN did for all those invited. The dinner was great and the testimonies, music and speakers were awesome.
I also got to meet the daughter of another woman who was released last year and she finally got to bring her daughter to an event. It was such a blessing to see how God reunited a mother and a daughter who were separated for so many years during her incarceration. God is a God of restoration and sees what we don't always see in these wonderful men and women. As it says in Philemon, "Formerly he(they) were useless to you but now he(they) has become useful to both you and to me."
I want to share an email I received from one of the Chaplains I work with in the Prison Aftercare Network. Here is what he wrote:
"I just met with a very active Christian inmateabout his aftercare, and it brings up a common theme: it is very, very difficult for inmates toconnect with Christian aftercare providers in a timely manner. Thisis the second self-motivated inmate I've visited with in the past 2-3 weeks -who are very discouraged with trying to contact Christian aftercare providers. Both of these men had come to me months ago asking for assistance and Igave them the best contacts I had available. The first one said hehad sent letters to my recommendation, plus about nine others that had beenrecommended by other sources. He contacted me two weeks ago sayingthere were "no responses - notone". The young man today had sent out 28 inquiries and only 1 semi-positivelead in response. As a side note, both these are beingreleased in WI, but not in Milwaukee.
This leads to two situations for inmates and myself: For inmates, eventhe most resourceful inmate becomes discouraged. For myself, everysuccessful placement requires hours of assistance from me."
I was saddened to hear of this situation with the Chaplain and even more saddened to hear how the Christian community is not responding. While I know that Milwaukee, through the work in the Prison Aftercare Network, is doing somewhat better, I know that we have much more work to do. The role of mentors/discipler's is always a difficult area to find men (we seem to have an abundance of women) who will work one on one in the spiritual discipleship of those coming home from prison. IF WE THE CHURCH ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP CHRISTIAN EX-OFFENDERS IN DISCIPLESHIP, WHO WILL THEY GO TO?
Please pray for God to move on the hearts of church members to help in the ministry of prison aftercare. Pray for safe places for these men and women to go to, or sponsoring an ex-offender for their first months rent or a one month bus pass for job searching. How about hiring an ex-offender who is living at Hope Street and staying clean and sober? If you'd like to help, contact me at nancybasics@sbcglobal.net or 262-993-6328.
Thank you for your prayers.
Nancy
The call came in and it was good news. A woman (we'll call her Sue) I had been working with on her pre-release plan the last few months was getting out early! Yes, a few months earlier than expected. This was the good news. The bad news, it would be in 2 days and she would not have her release money check for another 2 weeks. We were thankful that her sister had an apartment for her, but a small amount of food, only 2 pairs of clothing, no transportation, or money. But, Sue is a great woman of faith and she stepped out of prison with the Lord as her guide. When she called me, I told her I would see her on Friday to take her to lunch and to get her some food, clothing and bus passes.
Sue was excited and we had a great lunch and even applied for a job on line that she had called about a few days before. Sue had been busy despite her situtation. She had called and set up an appointment for Food Stamps, called about a driver's license or ID and gotten a few job leads that she needed to apply for on-line. We were blessed to get some food at a food pantry as well as a clothing voucher, then we went to the office to pick up her Food Stamp info.
We talked about how she would fit into a church she didn't know about except through her sister, but Sue was determined that she would go to church each Sunday and once she was more estabilshed, she could look for a new church. Today, when Sue called to check in, she said she enjoyed her sisters church and that she was glad she took yet another leap of faith. She is continuing to grow and is also in Sunday School. Her mentor has met with her and they are beginning their relationship of discipleship.
I marvel at how the Lord works in those who our society would look at in such a negative way. The Lord sees the potiential and not all the baggage of the past. Sue is doing well and will have struggles, however, when she puts the Lord first, all things are possible.
Please pray for a job for Sue and for a continued relationship with God and her mentor.
