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My First Decade With APM

This month (November) marks 31 years since APM began in 1983. But it also marks the 10 year anniversary of my joining APM as the ministry web designer, graphic designer, computer tech, newsletter editor and writer, and Board member.

My approach as newsletter editor has always been to focus on the ministry so I haven't made a practice of attaching my name to the articles I write for the newsletter. I do mention myself every once in a while but some of our subscribers still aren't aware of who the writer is. It came up at our last Board meeting that some of you are curious about my identity.

With this being my ten year mark I already planned on this article to commemorate; now the timing means I can also satisfy your curiosity. The discussion at the Board meeting was about people knowing who to compliment, which I appreciate, but I jokingly said, “I don't get any complaints this way either.”

My name is Steve Chittenden. I am a self employed web designer with several talents and gifts which include writing. APM tends to produce long term volunteers and my ten years is nowhere near the longest. I count it a privilege to be part of this ministry.

How I came on board was just God being God. I had donated a web design certificate to a ministry auction with a stipulation of a minimum sell price so my donation would yield appropriate value and the buyer couldn't get it too cheap as if it didn't have value. I'll confess at this point that charity auctions turn my stomach when they're reduced to “getting something for almost nothing” instead of providing meaningful revenue for the charity/ministry.

My certificate did not sell but it didn't go to waste either. Pastor Joe Szendre from my church was also connected with APM and gave the certificate to this ministry. When I was contacted to do the APM web site, I recognized the God move right away.

I became a Christian in November 1982 and for my first several years as a Christian, I was with a group that ministered at a jail facility doing Bible study type church services for inmates. I also knew APM founder Bob Whitehead during the late 80's, early 90's but had forgotten he was involved in prison ministry. What more perfect match could there be? If you're going to develop a web site for a prison ministry, it helps to have experience like mine!

I completed the web site for APM which I have managed, redesigned, and updated ever since. Leon then asked me if I would be willing to take over on this version of the newsletter. Being the graphic design snob that I am, I was thrilled to make this newsletter represent the Lord with a standard of excellence . It looks like the ministry has a big budget this way but that's an illusion. I would just be ashamed to do anything but my best.

Without digging, I don't know the exact date the APM web site launched but I do know my first APM newsletter was published November 2004. It was at that time I was invited to join the Board of Directors and accepted by vote as the newest member. In reality, I sat in on a few meetings before that as preparation for developing the web site. I was already connected to APM, being accepted to the Board just made it official.

Prior to this, I have never served on a Board. Based on what others have told me, many ministry boards aren't always much different than those of corporations, complete with hidden agendas, power trips, and behaviors more heathen than Christian. I can gladly report that I haven't experienced anything even close to that.

My experience with APM has been 100% positive which is an amazing claim after 10 years. The men I serve with are a genuine pleasure to be around. What APM is able to accomplish with our small budget is impressive. The unity and harmony on the Board is refreshing. I actually look forward to every meeting. These are men who love God and his word, love prisoners, and are committed to our mission to evangelize and disciple men who happen to be prisoners and former inmates.

When you think about it, it kind of makes sense that prison ministry would be this way. There's no glamor in it, there's no way to be profitable in earthly terms, there's no room for self righteousness, the people we minister to are unable to repay us—only people that God has called would be attracted to or last very long in prison ministry.

But as many of you reading this already know, it is addicting. God is real. He still changes people's lives. My own history prior to turning my life over to the Lord in 1982 did not involve prison, but I was a total mess and only Jesus Christ could fix me. I was the kind of person most people would have considered hopeless.

Prison ministry specializes in hopeless cases. It demonstrates the reality of Jesus Christ radically transforming people from the inside. This month I celebrate 32 years of being a Christian, 29 years of marriage, my son's 20th birthday (he's the youngest with two older sisters), and 10 years with APM. I am genuinely glad for all these blessings and more.

Taken from the Fall/Winter Newsletter, November 2014

 

Inmate Response to a New Bible

I am an inmate at Bellamy Creek and have just finished your One on One Discipleship program. I have an extensive church background but in all of that, it has taken my arrest to truly bring me to the foot of the cross. I have felt like I had a “spiritual stroke.” I still have my head knowledge of my faith, but feel I had to start from scratch as far as really walking with my Savior.

When I received my new Bible from Alpha, I went back to my room and wrote the following on the inside cover:

I was heading to my room at the Ionia Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility when a guard told me I had property in the PC. I had no idea what it might be. When I saw it was a Bible I was overwhelmed. My emotions were too much for me to control. By the time I sat on my bunk I was sobbing. This was such a wonderful gift from almost strangers. This book represents all that God has done in my life this past year. As I looked through it, I realized that from these pages I will receive my tutoring from the Holy Spirit. From this book I will teach my family. From these words I will be used as a conduit by Jesus, share his insight with others. I will study from this, I will share from this, and I will cherish every word on every page as the personal letter from You, God. Many hours will be spent living these words. Many mornings will be spent pouring over every page. Many lives, beginning with my own, will be changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. This may the last personal Bible I will ever own. May this represent my covenant with the Holy God.
If you trust Me, I will be faithful.

I cannot thank you enough for this gift and thank you for being Jesus, along with the volunteers who selflessly come to love on these broken men.

His clay — David

Taken from the Fall/Winter Newsletter, November 2014

 

“We're God's Children—Not Beggars”

The above is one of my favorite expressions I made up which probably isn't unique due to its simplicity but it's an important principle to remember. God's not stingy or withholding anything from us. We don't have to plead with him or hope for the best. We don't have to earn his favor or appease him. Those are religious ideas from fallen man, not Bible.

When we share with you that our finances are behind budget, currently by almost $15,000, it's not from a position of worry or fear. I didn't make this one up but, “Fear begins where faith ends.” We thank you for your prayers, volunteering, and support, and we confront the shortages with faith.

Taken from the Fall/Winter Newsletter, November 2014

 

More Than Just Name Dropping

Cornerstone University President and internationally recognized conference speaker, Dr. Joseph Stowell, has graciously agreed to be our guest speaker this year. Being able to name drop like this is sure to boost attendance, but it's Dr. Stowell's love of Christ and concern for the poor and marginalized that distinguishes him as a fitting guest to speak at our banquet.

As most of you receiving this newsletter are aware, the purpose of our annual banquet is mostly threefold: to show tangible appreciation to our volunteers and supporters, to raise awareness of the ministry so more people will want to be involved, and it serves as our biggest fund raiser of the year. It also provides an opportunity for you to “see” the difference you are making with your support.

As a Board member, I get to review all the pertinent information and financial status of the ministry, hear the names of residents in monthly reports, receive updates on in prison Bible studies, and other “business” of APM. But nothing compares to being at the banquets, meeting people we minister to, hearing testimonies directly from people who have been forever changed, and being with a large group of people who heed God's call to help make it happen.

Among the many reasons I am proud to be a part of APM, there is never any pressure for you to give, no mind games or guilt trips, no assumption that we're any more or less important than other ministries you can give to. We're one of endless opportunities for you to serve the Lord. We trust and pray God will hook us up with those who need to be involved. The banquet is an ideal venue for people to check us out and for our partners to be refreshed.

With the banquet being our biggest fund raiser of the year, there are some things you should be aware of so you can pray and have the opportunity to help any way you can. In May, we advised you that Alpha House driveway and parking lot repairs were made costing over $5000. In June, we paid our insurance premium which sticker shocks most people. It was over $6000.

As you can imagine, our year to date finances were seriously impacted by these expenses. As of July, we were about $5000 over our expense budget and income fell short by almost $20,000. That is very significant to a ministry as small as APM but we serve a big God. We appreciate your prayers, support, and telling others about APM and inviting them to the banquet. Be assured that every “little” thing you do makes a “big” difference. Thank you!

Taken from the Fall Newsletter, September 2014

 

Meet Dr. Joseph M. Stowell III

Special guest speaker for the Alpha Prison Ministries 2014 banquet

Joe StowellDr. Joseph M. Stowell serves as the President of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. An internationally recognized conference speaker, Joe has also written numerous books including The Trouble with Jesus, Simply Jesus and You, The Upside of Down, and Redefining Leadership: Character-Driven Habits of Effective Leaders. Joe also works with RBC Ministries, partnering in media productions, outreach to pastors, devotional writing, and a web ministry called Strength for the Journey. He serves on the Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Wheaton College and has a distinguished career in higher education and church leadership. Joe and his wife Martie are the parents of three adult children and ten grandchildren.

When Where and Why

October 6, 2014 at 6 pm • The Ground Floor at Resurrection Life Church

Society, even some Christians, view prisoners as getting what they deserve. Sometimes that's true. But God doesn't dispose of them. He changes them, sets them free, and yes, uses them. It's not glamorous work ministering to prisoners, but it is exciting. This annual banquet is your opportunity to find out why people in their right mind get hooked on seeing God transform broken lives.

Taken from the Fall Newsletter, September 2014

 

APM: Quick Summary

One of the goals we seek to accomplish through this newsletter is to occasionally summarize the mission, purpose, and strategy of Alpha Prison Ministries. Most newsletters use tidbits to outline what we do, how we do it, and why, but we believe it's important to use specific reminders on a regular basis.

Going back through old newsletters, I discovered we haven't done this in just over 4 years. Wow, time flies! Here is the APM mission statement:

To evangelize and disciple men who happen to be prisoners and former inmates

Since our annual banquet is coming up, this makes an ideal time to reiterate what APM is about, especially for new supporters, volunteers, and people you would like to introduce this ministry to.

At the top of every newsletter are some fairly well known words spoken by Jesus Christ: “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Society and even many Christians would write these prisoners off but the Lord doesn't do that. He is specifically concerned about prisoners and APM operates through his blessing.

So how do we do it?

Taken from the Summer Newsletter, July 2014

 

Why We Minister to Men

Leon, our Executive Director since 2001, ministers directly to every Alpha House resident in addition to several other duties that include responding to inmate letters, processing applications, screening and interviewing prospective residents, and much more. He also keeps detailed records that put faces and names on otherwise dry data.

For those of you who attend our annual banquets, he also provides the current tally of men who are or have been Alpha House residents since he took over the position after APM founder Bob Whitehead went home to be with the Lord. Right now, Leon has overseen 198 residents since 2001 and 192 of them have come from broken homes.

Statistics tell us that without a father in the home, children are seven times more likely to end up in prison. Leon's head count confirms the sad reality of this statistic. Fatherless homes are either responsible for or significantly contribute to the ills of society.

Just a few other examples are:

The complete list is long. It's also been confirmed through studies that when the father is a spiritual leader and committed to attending church with his family, his children are almost sure to follow the example. No matter how faithfully the mother tries to set the same example, without the father, the success rate plummets.

Large tree rotted from the inside weakened and taken down by windIt's no accident that Satan has strategically targeted the family and fathers in particular. It's a strategy the devil has used successfully throughout history to rot societies from within, much like the large tree shown here taken down by the wind storm that hit Grand Rapids on June 18, 2014.

There is another dangerous myth that has permeated our society in regard to what a Christian father should be. The church has too often endorsed this myth. The idea that Christian men should be docile nice guy sissies has wooed many a deceived father into not being a true spiritual leader.

Christianity is not for wimps! We're told very clearly in the Bible that our enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone he can devour. He can't devour just anyone. If he could he'd devour everyone. But he does devour weak/uninformed Christians and unprotected families.

Real Christian men who understand the Bible keep a shield of faith firmly in place and carry a whopping big sword (God's word) to dash the enemy's lies to pieces. They surround themselves with other Christian men who will help them remain strong whenever there's a temptation to let up from fighting the good fight of faith.

All men need this, but prisoners especially understand and experience the consequences when the father is absent from the home: be it physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally. Regardless of their past, prisoners have the opportunity to reverse a curse put on them in the past. They become men of God, spiritual leaders, and true fathers.

Men who have experienced prison have seen the depths possible when the devil's rule is carried out to completion. Prisons are extremely dark places, so dark that about 80% of prisoners never attend a church service. For those who will, we have a message of hope and rescue—a declaration that Jesus Christ is head over every principality and power.

For these reasons and more, that is why we minister to men.

Taken from the Summer Newsletter, July 2014

 

I Had Everything and Lost It

NOTE: This testimony appears in shorter form on the printed newsletter. This online version includes more detail that space on our printed newsletter would not allow for.

My name is Brad. I am 43 years of age, born and raised in Houston and currently reside in Grand Rapids.

I feel the Lord is directing me to share my testimony, especially with the youth of America, as a vessel to give praise and glory to our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose love always endures, who never forsakes us, and who will take our hand and lead us, carry us if necessary, out of the pit of hell we have created, and deliver us.

No matter what we have done, Christ is there waiting for us to reach out to him. All we have to do is receive. I have received, and this story is about the long road I took and what I endured before I received God's grace, mercy, and love. My life has never been the same since and will never be the same again. With that, I will proceed.

The story of my life reads like a script for a Hollywood movie, like the APM site analogy from 2004 now revisited in a different way with my story ten years later here in 2014. I had fame, fortune, success—I had it all, and more. But I did not have Jesus. I lived in the flesh, in the world, in darkness.

I lived in darkness for most of my life and had fame and success that most people only read about, and then hit bottom in a manner most people could not imagine.

My testimony is how I got addicted to drugs and lost everything, lost my family, my wife and two children, all my material possessions and money, lived on the streets, homeless, stole, scammed, and ultimately went to prison. It was through my adversity that I came to know Jesus.

It took me hitting bottom, sitting in prison for me to take a long, hard, uncomfortable look at myself: where I had been, and more disheartening, where I was going. I was on a one-way road to hell, and did not know how to detour from the life I had led and continued to lead.

Most people would consider prison a misfortune, but for me, it was a blessing...a life changing blessing. For me, it took prison to accept Christ and rebuild my life—a life that is still in the making.

Though I am not proud of where I've been, by the grace of God, I am proud of where I am going. I believe the Lord is using me as a vessel to show the world that his grace is sufficient, that his love and mercy is abundant. I want to share how the Lord lifted me up out of my self-created cesspool and carried me when I was too weak to walk, brought light into my life when it was too dark to see.

I spent a large part of my life preparing for and then becoming a successful stunt man in Hollywood. I did stunts in movies, commercials, and videos. I was a water skier, did free-style jumping, and barefoot water skiing. I performed for millions of people. I raced motor cross and BMX and ranked in the top 15 in my class nationwide. My résumé was impressive to say the least.

You could say I was an adrenalin junkie. The high I would get was unlike any I have achieved until I became a Christian and soldier in the army of Christ.

Before knowing Christ, and as I moved away from my action-packed life style, I turned to drugs as my source of getting high. I also turned to drugs to fill a void...a void of life long pain that only the love of Christ could fill. But it would take me many years and much destruction to myself and others, and enormous pain I inflicted on loved ones, before the scales were removed from my eyes.

After getting out of show business, my brother, a successful businessman in Nashville, asked me to move in with him and learn the auction business. I learned it quickly and assisted my brother in taking his business to new levels.

It was in Nashville that I met my second wife. Once married, together we launched our own auction company and diamond company. By the age of 37, and a high school dropout, I was a multi millionaire, a CEO of two very successful businesses. God had blessed me in so many ways but the scales had yet to be removed from my eyes.

I was a poor steward of his blessings, ignorant of the fact that I was being blessed or that I needed Jesus. I thought I was doing just fine without him, or so I thought. I really did not think, which was part of the problem. I perpetuated the power of the enemy, especially over me.

I had everything worldly a man could want; I was somebody. I was a multi millionaire, had friends and associates in high places, had a wonderful wife and children (a gift from God I was too blind to see), diamonds, cars, $800,000 home, boats, bikes, and other recreational toys, any material possession one could want and/or imagine.

The void continued to grow within me. I had many demons that I allowed to take control of me. The enemy had me fooled. The spirit of addiction had such a hold on me that it owned me. If there was an addiction for it, I had it. I was addicted gambling, cocaine, crack, meth, alcohol, pain pills, and played around with heroin.

I would go on gambling binges and take large amounts of money from my family and gamble it away. I would go on drug binges and stay gone for days or weeks at a time every 3-4 months. Even in between, the drugs and drinking never stopped. I resorted to behavior that is unfathomable.

I became a slave to drugs, alcohol, and gambling. It became my master and I served it with every once of my being. The spirit of addiction was the stronghold the devil used to hold me and keep me in bondage and despair. Self loathing became a constant companion which only fueled my problems.

After 9 years of living with me, my wife had enough and kicked me out of our home. I gave her all our assets for her and the children. I went from being someone, successful businessman, multi millionaire, with a life and material possessions only few achieve, to a homeless man addicted to drugs, alcohol, and gambling, and not a penny to my name.

I went from a life of luxury to a life of bare existence. I made my way to Grand Rapids and was living on the streets , wearing the same clothes day in and day out, panhandling so I could eat, sleeping in the woods, old abandoned cars, and with bugs and spider webs all over me.

Even in this state, I still served my masters: drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Now I could justify my addictions; look at the conditions I lived in, if you could call it living. With my gambling addiction, well, I needed to make some money fast.

I was emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. I continued to make bad decisions. Perhaps the worst decision I made in my desperation turned out to be my best decision, a decision that ultimately landed me in prison.

Once in prison, I accepted Christ. The burdens were lifted off of me, the scales were removed from my eyes, I no longer live in darkness but in the light. The love of the Lord descended on me with hope, comfort, and forgiveness. I was reborn in an instant. The old person had died and a new one was born.

I still have struggles, but with Christ all things are possible. We are more than conquerors and I am living proof of that every day I get up and serve the Lord.

My mother, father, and brother and sister are all dead, and died due to drugs and/or alcohol. I am the only one that is left. With the love of Christ and his promises, I have broken the generational curse. That is a promise I live every day through faith and the direction of the Holy Spirit.

There is so much more to my testimony. The Lord has placed good friends back into my life to help me down this road and overcome the struggles and challenges the enemy continues to place before me. It is my friends that encourage me to share my testimony in the event it will touch the lives of others.

I am truly a testimony of God's love, grace, mercy, and promises. If the Lord could bring me out of the brink of destruction, deliver me from so many addictions and breathe new life into me, then his abilities are infinite and I am living proof.

While I continue to struggle and seek God's favor, strength, and direction on a daily basis, I am living a life beyond my wildest dreams. I thank the Lord for his grace and mercy or I would not be here today. I am a walking testament to his promises: Knock and I will answer, seek and you shall find. I thank the Lord that he never did forsake me even when I forsook him.

I feel a sense of urgency and led by the Holy Spirit to share my testimony with others. I pray that the Holy Spirit will descend on you and guide and direct you as you read this, and speak to your heart and allow me the honor to share the love of Christ. I pray that you receive God's blessings.

Taken from the Spring/Summer Newsletter, May 2014

 

The Law of Sowing & Reaping

NOTE: This article was slightly condensed for publication in our printed newsletter. This page contains the original version that originally appeared in the Boyne City Gazette in its entirety.

The law of sowing and reaping is universal. It crosses every barrier, every faith group, every nationality, and it's a very simple law: What we put out there, good or bad, always comes back to us, and it usually comes back to us multiplied — sometimes on a grand scale.

We usually think of it in negative terms. When we see someone in trouble for some wrongdoing, we say, “They're just reaping what they've sown,” and, of course, it's true. Anytime we sow selfishness, bitterness, anger, discord, gossip, violence, mistrust, or any other negative action or attitude, we can expect a bountiful harvest of destruction in our lives. Always. It may not happen right away, but the harvest will come.

It can be a scary reality when we start looking back on our lives and recall some of the things we've done. Maybe we can see where the law of sowing and reaping has held true for us, or maybe we're wondering when the proverbial hammer will fall.

Thankfully, this law of sowing and reaping is not one-sided; it is a positive law as well. When we sow charity, generosity, kindness, love, peace, edification, gentleness, trust, or any other positive action or attitude, we can expect a bountiful harvest of great blessings, prosperity, and joy.

Okay, I know, many of you already know this. Fair enough, but maybe once in a while we all need a little reminder to give us a push back in the right direction. We should keep this law in mind in every decision we make and every action we take. After all, everything we do — in a sense — we're actually doing to ourselves.

But allow me to share with you more than just a reminder. After all, what good is it to share a universal law without giving some practical ways to put it into positive action in our lives and the lives of others? Let's skip the negative stuff. We all know the things we shouldn't be doing that will come back to “bite” us.

In doing good, please keep in mind that our motivation must not be simply to get something good for ourselves out of it, but a sincere desire to reach out and help meet a need. In our communities there are multitudes of ways we can reach out and help. In doing so, we strengthen our communities, improve lives, build hope, and provide an example for our kids, and others, to follow.

Over the years residents have risen time and again to meet the needs expressed in our communities. Every fund raiser, food drive, community improvement, and charity event has met with great success. It shows that people care; and while these organized events are a wonderful blessing, there is more — much more — we can do on an individual basis every day, and not just with our money.

Here are just a few ideas for getting you, or your whole family, involved in sowing some goodness:

There are so many different ways we can give of ourselves, limited only by our own imagination. Be creative, and think up some ways you can give, and leave the door of your heart open to spontaneity. Always be prepared to help meet a need as soon as it arises. Our kids, neighbors, and friends will catch on to this kind of giving too. Kindness spreads like wildfire.

Love — it needs to be the heart of our community. A community that cares. If you haven't gotten involved in the past, become part of the heartbeat of kindness. Reach out a helping hand in your community. Simply making the trip into town for one of the many local events is a great way of showing your community spirit. Shopping locally is another great way to show support for our friends and neighbors who own our local businesses.

Let's all get out there and sow some seeds of goodness, and don't be surprised when the blessings you've sown come pouring back into your life. Don't wait; start today. The harvest will come. God bless you all.

Kevin J. Lounsbury

Kevin is a current Alpha House resident and this article was originally published in the Boyne City Gazette on January 12, 2011, and is used by permission.

Taken from the Spring Newsletter, April 2014

 

Our Father, We Have Wandered

This poem/hymm is used here in celebration of Lent and Easter:

Our Father, we have wandered
and hidden from your face;
In foolishness have squandered
your legacy of grace.
But now, in exile dwelling,
we rise in fear and shame,
as distant but compelling,
we hear you call our name.
And now at length discerning
the evil that we do,
Behold us, Lord, returning
with hope and trust, to you.
In haste you come to meet us
and home rejoicing bring,
In gladness there to greet us
with calf and robe and ring.
O Lord of all the living,
both banished and restored,
Compassionate, forgiving
and ever-caring Lord,
Grant now that our transgressing,
our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch out your hand of blessing,
in pardon and in peace.

Taken from the Spring Newsletter, April 2014

 

Same Day, Same Place, Same Need

APM does not have an official ministry at Newberry Correctional Facility but we received two letters dated December 12, 2013 from two different inmates there. Following are those letters:

Justin's Testimony

My name is Justin, I'm 39 and have been incarcerated since October 15, 2011. I'm here on a sexual charge that happened in 2006. I am ashamed of this crime. The very thing I looked down on all my life, I had committed.

I got married at a young age (17) and knew nothing about marriage or how to raise a family. The girl I would marry (16) was pregnant when we met. I took the parental role for this child. Neither her mom nor I had any role model for how a family should live or function. Both of us came from broken homes.

By the age of 23 I had three beautiful children with this woman. Our marriage was rocky and unstable. In 1999 she was pregnant with our 5th child. During this pregnancy we separated because of an affair she had. When the child was born, she was 2 months premature and had several complications.

While we were in and out of the hospital, we were also in and out of the courtroom having our 4 children taken from us by my wife's family saying we were unfit. We lost our daughter 30 days after she was born to sepsis. We lost everything; our children were taken away, I lost my job and our home.

This was life changing for me and we started attending church, but like seed that was planted among thorns and rocks, it would eventually be choked out and we were right back to our old ways. I had an addiction to porn and she had an addiction to getting involved with other men.

We probably justified our actions because of what the other was doing. We did get our kids back and things would seem to get back to normal but we were still unstable, financially and spiritually. She felt she should stay home and raise the kids. This was something we argued about throughout our marriage. I would go through jobs about as much as we moved, trying to find the perfect fit.

In 2006 we would again lose our home because of poor decisions. At this point in our marriage we hardly had any physical contact. I felt worthless and alone; this would be where my crime was committed. I'm not justifying my actions by any means but I realize why it happened even though it shouldn't have. I realized something had to change.

We started attending a little church and in July 2007 my stepdaughter, my youngest son, and myself were baptized. I had given my life to Christ and was ready to serve. In 2008 we moved again and started attending a church in Adrian. We got involved with the youth ministry but things at home had still not changed.

My relationship with my wife had gotten worse and the damage I had caused my stepdaughter was starting to show in her rebellion against me. Again I felt like my world was collapsing. Instead of seeking help through the church and doing things God's way, I thought I had a better way. In June of 2009 I took an over the road trucking job and that would be the last time I saw my family.

I ended up moving in with my mom in Tennessee and working for a local trucking company there. My mom would ask me to go to church with her but I would just respond, “I'm not ready yet.”

In 2010 I got word that there was warrant for my arrest but just denied the allegations and kept living my life. In October of 2011 I was arrested and served two months in Tennessee before being transported to Michigan.

I prayed that same prayer everybody does: “Lord, I promise to change my ways, just don't let me go to prison.” That wasn't his plan. When God puts a calling on one's life, he wants that person to be all in. I hear so many people say, “I don't want to attend church while I'm in jail because I'd be using church as a crutch.”

But what's wrong with seeking God while I'm at the very bottom of the barrel? What's wrong with going to my creator and saying, “You know what Lord, I messed up and I do need your help!”?

I have rededicated my life to Christ and I stand on Hebrews 11:6:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (KJV).

He is my life source now, not just on Sunday or when I pray, HE is part of my everyday life. Because of Jesus I have life. Because of HIS sacrifice, I'm forgiven and can give others hope. I love HIM with all my heart and want to take all the necessary precautions to make sure I stay on that path.

This is why I'm writing you this letter. I am no longer married and only in contact with one of my children and have no family here in Michigan to parole to. I believe God has a place for me in Grand Rapids. This is my story in a nutshell and I thank you for taking the time out of your day to hear what I had to say.

I thank the Lord for ministries like yours to give hope to the future I know God has for me. Thank you again! God's grace be upon you and the families in this ministry.

Your brother in Christ,
Justin

Christian's Letter

Hello, my name is Christian. I am currently incarcerated with the Michigan Department of Corrections and am eligible for parole in September 2014. I am writing to you today because I am interested in your housing program.

I have referred many brothers in Christ to your ministry over the years that I have been inside and honestly never thought that I would be writing to you in need. But God has taken control of my life, freely given, and because of this, and leaving my old lifestyle and “worldly” connections behind to follow Christ, it has left me with no place to live.

I have read many letters from your ministry and will get more into my testimony when I mail in my residency application. Until then, I will continue to pray that God blesses your work and provide you with the means to help those in need.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to this letter.

In Christ's love,
Your Bro,
Christian

Taken from the Winter/Spring Newsletter, March 2014

 

Our Continued Thanks

As you can see from letters like this that we receive, this further supports the feedback we get from Alpha House residents and the testimonies you will hear at banquets; your support of APM, which allows us to provide much needed transitional housing, often makes the difference between success and failure for parolees returning to society.

We make a regular habit of expressing our appreciation for your support and prayers. Our prayers as a Board are with you as well. Prison ministry is a special calling and we are honored to have you serve with us. Thank you!

Taken from the Winter/Spring Newsletter, March 2014

 

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