Not your average Joe but instead a transformed one
What we know and have seen time and time again is that God does some of His best work with imperfect people. That is certainly true of the men we minister and mentor who are currently incarcerated. We see God working and we see our efforts lifting up these men, showing them who they are in Christ, and developing a relationship with Him.
We're always excited to share how God is working in the lives of these men. However, rather than share with you stories of the experiences the men have with our ministry, we thought you would like to hear for yourself from one of the men we are currently mentoring.
Here's our friend and follower of Jesus, Joe D sharing his experience with our ministry and the 3Thirds Discipleship training program we do inside the facility.
Joe D writes, “I’m so glad that I found something for me that has opened up my mind and heart to something different that actually works. I grew up in church and always wanted a better walk with God like I’d seen others in my family having, and I found it in the 3Thirds Discipleship Study. The format is so easy and comprehensive and interactive that lead me to so much more than just reading the Bible. I’ve learned so much in the 5 months I’ve been doing it than I’ve learned from just reading it and trying without success my entire life. It is truly a blessing to be part of this movement and that excites me because it gives me a higher purpose in my own life to help my brothers in Christ and to go into the world to reach the lost. I can’t tell you how much this has helped me and will continue to help me anywhere I go.”
It's not that we are working; it’s what we’re doing is working. The majority of the inmates we work with were surrounded by chaos and uncertainty that led to habits and decisions that led them to landing in prison. In prison these men only found more chaos, it was just a different kind. Furthermore, the men who have been transformed and were later released from prison found no support system on the outside. Now a new kind of isolation dominated their lives as the people in their old neighborhoods and social circles didn’t know the Lord nor functioned as any kind of support system. Many men, as a result, found themselves back in prison.
This is where Freedom Lake comes in.
Freedom Lake functions as a place of transition that allows men to slowly transition back into “normal” society while supporting their spiritual growth and keeping plugged into God and fellow believers. Freedom Lake is the much-needed next phase of providing a place for the men to “get out of the rain” upon their release to help ensure their success in growing into strong, mature men of God that become assets in any environment they reenter.
Freedom Lake will meet these men where they are and continue to provide the support to allow them to move into a leader position with the 3Thirds discipleship movement. These men will take up the challenge to replicate their growth in those around them, including in their homes, jobs, volunteer work, wherever God leads them.
You can learn more about Freedom Lake at our upcoming 3rd Annual God’s Harvest celebration on Tuesday, December 1st. You’ll not only experience what God has done through our ministry in the last year – during a pandemic, no less! – in addition to hearing more about Freedom Lake and the opportunities it gives those we serve once they are released from prison.
If you’ve ever wished you could see God in action, God’s Harvest event allows you to experience just that in an uplifting, inspirational setting. Tickets are on sale NOW and will sell out quickly. Visit our website to reserve your spot at this incredible event.