Only the most notorious crimes and criminals make it on the front page of the local paper. Those involved in those stories you read live (at least temporarily) where we work on a daily basis.
The redemption of God is not intimidated by an above the fold story of the newspaper and that was evident the other day as ten of our "higher profile" men made a decision to be baptized as a result of a Bible Study led by our very own Chaplain Rev. Andy Iorio. He has been using a book titled "Gifts of Freedom."
This book written by Greg Rice (www.giftsoffreedom.com) has made a noticeable impact in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. Over the past three months or so we have given out (by request) nearly 100 of these books.
Here is a little about this book " it is about 12 gifts which God offers to each of us. As we accept, unwrap, and use these gifts, we develop a more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, thereby unlocking incredible freedom in our lives; spiritually and even physically in many areas. I believe that most Christians neither receive nor use all of these gifts to develop that closer relationship with their Heavenly Father. Either they have never been taught about them, or they don't fully understand them. This series will give both new and mature believers the information they need to receive all that God has to offer them, as well as draw them into the Bible."
And it has, as a result there are currently three Bible Studies in the prison that are using this book as a starting point and the discussion and study that begins in the classroom usually continues on the "block" (living area.)
This book is one of the tools that God is using to transform people from the inside out on a regular basis in our local county prison.
I wanted to share that with you and remind you how grateful that I am for people like you that make it possible. I would ask that you consider or continue to support Providing Hope financially so that stories like this will not only continue, but multiply.
You can now give online at www.jub.org our Proving Hope link is on the top left of the page. Thanks again.
We offer direct chaplaincy care, Bible studies, worship services, and a variety of recovery programs to the over 750 (average population) inmates of the Luzerne County Division of Corrections. Each week classes/services are conducted by our Chaplain's and volunteers that currently represent a variety of different churches in Luzerne county committed to sharing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have been affected by incarceration in our community.
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