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A Heart For The Captive
A New Focus
"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was IN PRISON and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:36,40
Several years ago Vince D'Acchioli taught the Men On Target seminar in a correctional facility in Anchorage Alaska. It was the first time that this event had ever been conducted for inmates. The response surprised everyone. In fact, Michael Ensch, who is the chaplain for the entire state of Alaska, said that in all of his years as a chaplain he had never seen inmates respond to anything like this. Several men gave their heart to the Lord that day.
Since that time a significant number of chaplains have used the material through our video presentation and reference manual to minister to prisoners. We have had some incredible feedback. The result of all of this has led to a sincere desire to make this material available to every prison and inmate throughout the US at no cost. We believe that God is working powerfully here and want to do everything possible to expose these inmates to this persuasive teaching.
What People Are Saying
After attending a Men On Target seminar in 1999, John Thaler-Sanborn shares this testimony from Everett, Washington:
"A short time after you had done the weekend with New Life Center in Everett, I started praying about taking the videos into the Twin Rivers Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex here in the State of Washington. After allowing Chaplin Don McMillan to review the first tape he and I set up a program that was to last 7 weeks and develop accountability groups (path levelers). My entire 4-man Path Leveler group went into the prison to demonstrate the power that God has in groups like this.
We have just recently completed the first 7-week session and have had some tremendous results. We had 18 men sign up and all of them completed every session (except 1, he got out the day before the final session) and all but a couple have set up their own path leveler groups.
We will start the next session in October and we already have 20 + inmates ready to go. One of the inmates shared with me, 'I have not been involved with any program that opened me up as much as these last six weeks.'"
Mr. Thaler-Sanborn also shared that one of the inmates who participated in his On Target group at the Monroe Correctional Complex will be released in September 2000. This ex-offender is voluntarily submitting himself to a men's accountability group at the church he plans to attend as a result of being in Mr. Thaler-Sanborn's group while incarcerated.
Already, Chaplain Cliff Raleigh at the United States Penitentiary (USP-Federal) in Florence Colorado has agreed to review the FFL Manual and is very positive about hosting a seminar before the end of 2000. Chaplain Raleigh has served for nearly 20 years within the United States Department of Corrections and carries considerable influence and seniority within the prison system. It is highly likely that after participating in a FFL seminar, Chaplain Raleigh will recommend the seminar and follow up materials to his colleagues serving within the DOC at Florence and around the United States.
In addition, Dick and Carol Gott, Prison Fellowship Volunteer Coordinators and Bible study leaders in Colorado's state facilities for the past 17 years have reviewed the FFL Manual. Both Dick and Carol feel it is exactly what prison inmates need to make a successful transition out of prison. They also feel that the FFL seminar and anticipated follow up materials will help an inmate serving a life sentence become a godly leader and role model to his fellow inmates. As Vince D'Acchioli has said, "real freedom has little to do with which side of the bars you are on".
We're also greatly encouraged by Chaplain Dan Cannady's comments from Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City, Colorado. After speaking with Dick and Carol Gott regarding the FFL materials, Chaplain Cannady said he has been looking for something like this material for a long time that will help the inmates make a true life change. He has already agreed to host a seminar at his facility by the end of 2000.
Additional endorsements from prison chaplains are forthcoming as they become available.
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