2006 Newsletter Archive Vault

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Celebrate Jesus

As we enter in to another holiday season, enjoy it, celebrate it, and rejoice in the Lord who makes it all possible. This may seem like a very simple thing, but we live in a time and culture where it is easily forgotten.

Over the last couple years, media attention has fueled a divide over the using words Merry Christmas. Perhaps we should spend less energy on picking a fight over the words, and live the joy that Christ brought to our hearts. So tell everyone Merry Christmas with a big smile so they know you mean it.

More importantly, keep remembering the people we serve. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the entire holiday season can be a tough time for them. Family gatherings create an emptiness when someone in the family is in prison. In spite of the circumstances, the men who discover God's love while in prison get to experience more joy than some people on the “outside” have.

Our volunteers who minister in the prisons sense the special appreciation that inmates have when they give of their time, especially during the holidays when these men know the volunteers could be going to parties. Your time, gifts, and prayers are bringing more hope to these men and their families, the hope that we are celebrating this time of year.

So if you find yourself getting a little stressed at meeting the demands and expectations, annoyed by the commercialization, caught in traffic and long checkout lines, gaining weight, and other trials we face during the holidays, just remember the prisoners who would love to trade places with you.

Jesus, the one we are celebrating, is the one who said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The obvious way to celebrate is to serve, to give, and as quaint as it sounds, to remember the real reason we celebrate. Happy Holidays everyone! There is nothing wrong with using that expression either.

Taken from the Holiday Newsletter, November 2006

God's Word Wins Over An Atheist

Harold's testimony published in November 2006 can be read in full here...

A Few Reminders About Alpha Prison Ministries and What We Do

Financial Commitment:

Our budget and financial reports are available upon request
We will never give or sell our mailing list to any other organization or ministry
Although we will make our needs known, we will never invent or exaggerate a crisis to motivate anyone to give to this ministry
Alpha will acknowledge financial gifts monthly with a tax deductible receipt
You are always welcome to contact us with any questions you might have

Our Purpose Statement:

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

Our purpose is accomplished through the following initiatives:

Weekly Bible studies in Southwest Michigan prisons
Residency program for former inmates at Alpha House
Mentor relationships with prisoners and former inmates
Pen Pal and letter support for inmates
Follow-up on discipleship for Alpha House graduates
Bibles, Christian literature, and Bible study materials to chaplains and inmates
Prayer support
Networking with state legislature, other ministries, and organizations
Newsletter, printed materials, and web site

Taken from the Fall/Winter Newsletter, November 2006

Stupid World!

It would not be at all difficult to get discouraged with this crazy, devil-ravaged world we live in, but thank God he wants us to not be deceived or discouraged. He wants us to submit ourselves to Him, resist the devil, and the devil will run from us in stark terror. He wants us to renew our minds so we will not be conformed to the pattern of this stupid world.

Things may not be nearly as bad as the news media would have us believe, but those without spiritual insight are paying the price. As our society blindly rejects God thinking they are wise, they become fools and continue in a downward spiral.

The numbers for the jail and prison population are in, and they are up yet again. In May, The Associated Press reported the US is now at 2.2 million people who are incarcerated. That is the population of a large city! This population grew by 1000 people per week over the past year.

We know from Scripture that the end times will be perilous, and the world will keep getting worse, but we are called to rise above, and to shine. We are more the conquerors. When God is for us, nothing can stand against us, not even the gates of hell.

In the face of what could cause discouragement, we are facing more opportunities to witness the power of God. Those who are going to prison represent lives and families the devil has sought to destroy. God has other plans though.

He has called a few of us to serve in this ministry. Most people, even in our churches, feel that these prisoners are getting what they deserve. Your compassion and service is setting you up for eternal rewards. We send out this newsletter as a brief reminder that what you do matters.

You are making a difference through this ministry. The world may be crazy, but God is using you to make it better, and to reach those whom the devil is seeking to destroy.

Taken from the Summer Newsletter, August 2006

From Cocaine To Christ

Martin's testimony published in May 2006 can be read here...

A Letter of Appreciation

I just wanted take this time to thank you and Alpha Prison Ministries for allowing me the opportunity to take part in your residency program. I cannot truly express the great joy and peace that you have added to my life by accepting me.

It's a real blessing as well as an answered prayer knowing that I have a parole placement with a positive environment and Christian foundation. It confirms the Lord plans to continue the good work in me in which He started. And it also proves the Lord performs miracles for those who are faithful, not that I need any more proof.

I realize that I still have a ways to go before February, 2007, but I can honestly assure you that my heart or desire for residency will not change. I will see the parole board in either November or December and I will keep you posted on an actual release date as soon as possible.

I will continue in my studies and do my best to reflect Christ Jesus' life in my daily walk.

Again, I just want to thank you and express my sincere gratitude, and may the Lord's peace and blessings be upon you and the ministry.

Brother in Christ Jesus,
Joseph

Taken from the Spring/Summer Newsletter, May 2006

Letter From a Concerned Sister

My name is Janet. I am the sister of a prison inmate of Boyer Road Correctional Facility. My brother's name is Jack. He has recently written me to inform me of his release and his acceptance into Alpha House in December, 2005.

I am writing to get information on the truth of this matter. I am in high hopes that he has your blessings and invitation to reside at Alpha House Ministries as he has a strong spiritual side to him and has not had much guidance throughout his lifetime. We were raised in a very strong Catholic family. Unfortunately, Jack had problems as a youngster which carried over into adulthood. His needs were never met psychologically or spiritually. We were a large family of nine siblings. The time for one on one attention was never there.

As you probably already know, Jack's problems went with him into adulthood and he still struggles to this day. He is a wonderful person and with understanding and guidance I hope he can overcome his feelings of rejection. His faith is very important to him. He tried counseling but, the priests who saw him, and my parents did not take his needs to the next level and thus he chose a path of solitude and sin.

Please do consider him for a life in your ministry. I know you will not be disappointed. I always told him he would make a wonderful minister and he will do God's work if he is just given the chance.

While in prison, he has really found out how and why he chose a sinful life. He would have never found this help in the outside world and on his own. He knows and accepts that prison was the place he needed to be and even thanks our Lord for it.

While we are a family of nine siblings, we are not a close family, and Jack has always been on the short end of the stick when it came to help and understanding from his siblings. I know with the brotherhood that just comes naturally to all Ministries I have been involved with, Jack would be an asset to your community.

In closing, I would like to ask permission to be on the receiving end of any and all information you can provide me with regarding his work, faith and success should he come to live with you. I would also like to be involved myself in helping in anyway I can to be of support to you and my brother. Please consider this a very big “thank you” in advance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Janet

Taken from the Winter Newsletter, January 2006

Letter to an Alpha Volunteer

I just want to thank you very much for taking the time away from your family, friends, and business to come here, to Muskegon Correctional Facility, to share with us some valuable lessons from your experience, as well as motivate us to change our attitude about ourselves, life, and serving God; and giving us hope for a brighter future.

However, of all the things that you have done, there is another one greater than all the others put together. You showed us and gave us your unconditional love. In you, 1 Cor. 13:13 takes on real meaning, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (NKJV). I truly believe that through you, I have felt unconditional love for the first time!

I have to tell you this. In the first class session we had, and I saw how full of life you are, it upset me. I thought for a few moments about not returning to the class, but I realized that I was upset because I saw in you where I want to be, and how far I still need to grow in my relationship with God to get there.

I thank God for having our paths meet, and I pray that the way you affected me continues to create a godly effect in my life. Thank you again.

Your brother in Christ,
Dennis