JAIL-MAIL
-from Chaplain Tom

/ NEW LIFE CORRECTIONS MINISTRY
-a division of Wayside Cross Ministries
215 E. New York St., Aurora IL 60505
August 23, 2013
AFFORDABLE, EFFECTIVE, GROWTH-PRODUCING
MISSION TRIPS FOR MEN
SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS
Spend 2 days in prison
presenting our DADS' SEMINAR.
THE LACK OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH HEALTHY PEOPLE, is the major factor in the high recidivism rate. (80% of released inmates return to incarceration within three years.) Inmates are released from jail/prison, only to return to the same unhealthy people they've known all their lives.
So, healthy people, to love our neighbors, we need to get out of our comfort zones, and enter the mission field!
Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, so send I you!
The Bible-based, Gospel-centered curriculum of our Dads' Seminar is all developed, well-tested and well-received. Experienced volunteers lead the classes (we've already presented it 30+ times, in 20+ facilities). New volunteers facilitate the eight small-group discussions -working with the same inmates for the whole 2 days.
50-60 inmates is the average attendance at each Seminar. We have small-group discussions, facilitated by the volunteers, after each of eight classes. Volunteers work with the same inmates for the whole two days. To keep the small-groups small, we want to take 10 - 15 volunteers on each trip.
WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS! About 40 men, mostly from the Chicagoland area, have been involved in presenting the 30+ Seminars. With the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) wanting the Seminars in MORE prisons, MORE often, we have a state-wide open door! We have a HUGE NEED for more volunteers!
And, if all the volunteers on the Gospel Team are from the same local church, the inmates will not only start relationships with individual volunteers, they'll start a relationship with a whole church!
QUALIFICATIONS for volunteers are:
  • Born again
  • A Dad, 18+ years old
  • No recent felony convictions
  • Pastor's recommendation
  • 30-minutes of training before the Seminar
  • IDOC has the final word as to who they permit to enter their prisons.
A CHALLENGE FOR CHURCHES!
Churches, and individuals, spend thousands of dollars to send teams on Short-Term Mission Trips, to "the uttermost parts of the earth." Right here in Illinois, we have a neglected mission field, "white unto harvest." Would your church consider covering the minimal expenses for 5 or 10 or 15 Dads, to bring the Gospel to men of whom Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me" (Matthew 25:40).
A BARGAIN! The volunteers presenting the 2-Day Dads' Seminar, have been paying their own expenses - gasoline, motel, & meals. Volunteers from Chicagoland to prisons in Middle or Southern Illinois have been paying about $125 - $150 per trip. Volunteers from "downstate," presenting the Seminar in "downstate" prisons, have been able to pay a lot less! Compared with building an orphanage in Nicaragua, it's a bargain! It's good stewardship!
  • 2.2 million children under 18 now have at least one incarcerated parent.
  • ​Children of inmates are about 7 times more likely to be incarcerated than their peers.
  • THESE KIDS WILL FEED THE PRISON POPULATION OF TOMORROW!
  • This CYCLE OF CRIME needs to be broken!
Inmates DO NOT want their kids to follow them to prison They know that changes must be made, and we Christians are the ONLY ones who have THE ANSWER!
MANY PRISONS ARE ALREADY SCHEDULEDand many more can be scheduled, as God raises up more volunteers. If there's an Illinois State Prison near you that's not been scheduled, please let me know! We'll get it scheduled!
Most are scheduled for Monday-Tuesday. This is to suit the Prisons' staffing. Other days, including weekends are not automatically excluded, it's just that there's less staff on weekends. So, the prison officials prefer the weekdays.
VANDALIA, October 7-8GRAHAM, October 21-22
VIENNA, October 26-27SHAWNEE, October 28-29 JACKSONVILLE, Nov. 4-5EAST MOLINE, Nov. 18-19 TAYLORVILLE, Dec. 2-3S.W. IL CC, Dec. 16-17 We need more Dads in all!
And, we'll have prisons scheduled once or twice or more every month in 2014.
Our 2-Day DADS' SEMINAR, Bible-based & Gospel-centered, has been presented in over 20 prisons, and for good reason: Nothing motivates men more than the issue of fatherhood. We present the life-changing Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the context of fatherhood!
MORE INFORMATION on these classes can be obtained by clicking on the NEW LIFE CORRECTIONS "downloadable files" page.
Chaplain Tom will welcome your participation!
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED!
Contact Chaplain Tom at

JESUS CHRIST CHANGES PEOPLES LIVES! Please click on Chaplain Tom's mugshot for some of his story in a Gospel tract, well-received by inmates!
In fact, if you have a use for it, please feel free to print it and give it away! (8.5 X 11, both sides, tri-folded)
/ THE DADS' SEMINAR
CLASS 1
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
  • AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF FATHERING
  • GOD’S PLAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
  • PRIDE, HUMILITY & GRACE
  • THE FEAR OF THE LORD
  • RE-BUILDING TRUST
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 2
GETTING STARTED
  • LEARNING FROM OUR PAST
  • WHAT IS A REAL MAN
  • SELF-WORTH
  • SETTING GOALS
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 3
SPIRITUALITY
  • SPIRITUALITY, RELIGION & CHRISTIANITY
  • CHRISTIANITY & CHANGE
  • SPIRITUAL FEEDING
  • SPIRITUAL WORK-OUT
  • SUGGESTIONS ON READING THE BIBLE
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 4
HANDLING ANGER & MORE
  • ANGER & CONFLICT RESOLUTION
  • SELF-CONTROL
  • ALCOHOL & DRUGS
  • HANDLING STRESS
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 5
DISTANT DAD
  • BECOME A SPECIALIST ON YOUR KID(S)
  • EMPATHY
  • PROVIDING TREASURE
  • MORE INSIDE DAD ACTIVITIES
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 6
RELATIONSHIPS
  • S-X
  • MARRIAGE
  • LOVE
  • LUST
  • PORNOGRAPHY & MASTURBATION
  • CHASTITY
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 7
FATHERING
  • WHO IS THE PERFECT FATHER?
  • HOW DID I LEARN TO BE A DAD?
  • BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE
  • COMMITMENT & SECURITY
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 8
LEADERSHIP & DISCIPLINE
  • DAD IS LEADER
  • DAD IS A SERVANT-LEADER
  • DISCIPLINE
Small-Group Discussion
CLASS 9
"COURAGEOUS" (the movie)
  • PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION

HISTORY OF
THE DADS' CLASSES
In 2009, Kane County (IL) Sheriff Perez gave us permission to present a "pilot program" of weekly Dads' Classes in his jail. The inmates & the staff received it so well, it spread to four other CountyJails, and in 2010 we began the weekly classes in Stateville Prison. IDOC liked the program and asked us to develop a 2-Day Seminar to take to all the male prisons. Now, they want it in MORE prisons, to MORE inmates, MORE often!
Please pray that men will catch the vision of what a difference they can make in the lives of inmates, and inmates' families! Remember, we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world!
Chaplain Tom is available to meet personally to discuss this opportunity, or to come to your church or your Men's Group.