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February 2016 Setting Prisoners Free

Christian Prison Ministry of Missouri

Volume 3, Issue 7

What is Going on in Our Neck Of The Woods

Richard’ s schedule in ACC (Algoa-Jeff City) Cherylynn & I completed our ninth Inside Out Dads
class. We had a group of guys who were very engaged & wanting to become
February & March better fathers. Here are their comments: "I got a lot out of the class! Mr. Blake
explained everything well & was understanding, as well"! "I honestly didn't
Feb 4 — NEMO Men's think I'd like the class, but it was really good"! "I got quality feedback from
fellowship @ Callao CC all the other dads"! "I liked the information & tools that were provided! It will
help me be a better man & husband"!
7— PowerPoint
@ Callaway CC JCCC (Jeff City) I continue a cell-to-cell prayer ministry in "the Hole". (I
in Fulton pray with over 30 inmates weekly.) In our PC worship service , we are
10— PowerPoint currently going through a study on the "Many Names of Jesus".
@ Glendale CC in
Springfield FRDC (Fulton) We are completing a study "7 Habits of Highly-defective
14— PowerPoint Christians". We baptized 4 in January! P.T.L! Again, I can't tell you how cool
*Mt. Vernon CC that is! We observed communion 3 times last month. Claudio is a "huge help"
21 — PowerPoint to Tom, Bob & I!
@ Hwy 54 Church
of Christ(JC) BCC (Boonville) I began my fourth class of "Purpose Driven Life" there. We
28— SonRise CC have a very engaged group of men who truly want to know purpose in life!
in Marshfield Amen to that!
Mar 6 — Rolling Hills
CC in Odessa Prayer Needs
13— PowerPoint
@ Prairie Hills Pray that prospective volunteers get approved in a
CC In Salisbury timely fashion.
Pray for God to heal Stan Myers (a former Board
member).
Praise for the new prison ministries in Potosi &
Bowling Green!

Pray for new prayer & financial partners.
Pray for safety in travel for Ben, Richard & all the
volunteers.

Setting Prisoners Free

Christian Prison Ministry of Missouri

What is Going on in Our Neck Of The Woods Page 2

TCC (Tipton) Dan & Tom just completed "The Story" on Tuesday nights. They will begin
a new study called "Gods at War". They continue to do a monthly Sunday night worship
service (fourth Sunday). They consistently average in the fifties!

SCCC (Licking) I continue an intense verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians (And
I do mean intense!). I began it the first Tuesday in 2015 & we are now in chapter 6 (after
one year)! The inmates who attend the class are the most mature Christians of all the
prisons I got to. It's not even close! One other note, Jeff Wofford (minister at Roby CC)
visited our class last month & he was favorably impressed. *Please read his article below.

MCC (Moberly) We (Don, Matt & I) are currently in a new study "7 Habits of Highly-
defective Christians". Several of the inmates have gone home (And that's a good thing!),
but we have gotten new ones in their place.

MECC( Pacific) I began my fourth class of "Pathways to Change". The inmates are very
focused on changing their behaviors & attitudes that brought them to prison. Amen to
that! Also, the Activities Coordinator there asked me if I would begin teaching "Inside Out
Dads" & "Anger Management on a rotational basis along with "Pathways to Change". I
told him, "yes".

OCC (Fordland) Glenda & I began our fifth "Inside Out Dad" class there! I am always
amazed at the sincerity of the men in the class who want to change their lives, not only

for their own good , but for the good of their kids! (Remember the kids of incarcerated
dads are five times more likely to go to prison than the general population!) The men
realize that they have to stop the prison cycle with themselves.

WERDCC (Vandalia) I began my fifth class of Anger Management with the women there.
Even though the class material is secular in nature, we discuss anger & related topics from
a Godly perspective almost every week! Matter of fact, the class asked me to give them a
handout with scriptures concerning anger, which I did.

Christian Prison Ministry Of Staff: Executive Director Jefferson City, MO.
Missouri Richard Blake
Ben Suchman Prison Evangelist Richmond, MO.
Mailing address: Peggy Ernst
CPMM Secretary Jefferson City, MO.

P.O. Box 1111 Board Members: President Jefferson City, MO
Jefferson City, Mo. 65102- Bob Osburn Vice-President Sedalia, MO
Tom Hodges Secretary Jefferson City, MO
1111 Jerry Lane Carthage, MO
Bert Ott Potosi, MO
Phone numbers: Mark Wilkinson Wentzville, MO
Office:573-635-3200 Bob Holmes Martinsburg, MO
Larry Healy Jefferson City, MO
cell:573-301-5883 Dan Woodell St. Joseph, MO
Ted Myers
SETTING PRISONERS FREE

Richard's Ramblings

I have some great news to tell you! Beginning the middle of February,' will be
going to Potosi & teach "Financial Peace University". (For those who don't
know, Potosi is a maximum-security. It is where death-row inmates live.) The
only Hope they have is to know Jesus and His saving grace! Also, beginning in
the middle of March, I will be going to Bowling Green to the Protective Custo-
dy unit & lead a worship service there. (The guys in PC don't get to attend the
general population worship service on Sundays.) Please pray that God uses me
mightily there! CPMM is now in 15 state prisons! P.T.L!

I have some exciting news to pass along! At our Board meeting in January, our
Board approved us renting a Hospitality Room at TanTara in conjunction with
the Missouri Christian Convention on April 1-2, as a way of saying "thanks".
So if you happen there, please stop by on Friday night from 8:30 to 11 p.m. We
would love to meet & greet you.

People ask me all the time, "how can I help"! Well, Ben & I go about 1,400
miles a week. Maybe, you can commit to praying for us daily. Maybe, you'd
like to commit to helping us defray our travel expenses by financial supporting
us. Maybe, God is speaking to your heart to be a volunteer for CPMM. Re-
member , we can't continue to go forward in this ministry without your help!
May God continue to richly bless you!

Thoughts from a Perspective CPMM volunteer
By Jeff Wofford

My name is Jeff Wofford. I am the Pastor at Roby Christian Church (in
Roby, Mo.) I’d like to tell you about my recent visit to the South Central
Correctional Center in Licking. I've had a heart for prison ministry for
several years, after I met a friend who had been led to Christ while in
prison! I had talked to Richard about helping him at Fordland, but
through his urging, prayer on my part & God speaking through over-
whelming circumstances. He made it abundantly clear that Licking was
where I was needed the most!
To be honest, I was intimidated by the idea of going to a maximum-security
prison. But, I soon forgot all my fears when I sat down With Richard &
eight other inmates to study the Bible. We read Ephesians 6:10-20(the ar-
mor of God). We didn't get very far because, to my amazement , these guys
really came prepared to study God's Word! They dug deep into the cultural
background, Greek syntax & personal application to their lives, in a way
that would put many preachers to shame! Most of all, the focus was on
how God's Word would prepare all believers to live for Christ. I greatly
look forward to continuing to study be challenged by these men. I en-
courage you to persevere in prayer for the ministry of CPMM. God bless.