News
March 2007
This March we were pleased to once again begin 2
Disciple classes in FCI-McKean - one in English and one in Spanish - after not
being able to hold these classes for over 2 years due to regulation changes and
limitations on the time inmates could spend in the chapel. We are praising
the Lord for this renewed opportunity to allow the men to share together in
studying God's Word.
September 2006
In September we
began new classes in SCI-Forest and SCI-Laurel Highlands in addition to the
continuation of all the other classes. It is an exciting time to be
involved in this ministry!! The Suitcase Ministry is really growing and
more and more churches are becoming involved. Praise the Lord!!
March 2004
On March 4, 2004 we were happy to
announce that Randy Datsko, one of our volunteers at FCI-Loretto had been
accepted as the new Conference Missionary to replace Stan Nixon as he returns
to serving a local church in our Conference. Randy has been active on the
Board of Directors this year and really felt a call to this ministry. He
is employed by Church Mutual Insurance and travels throughout the Conference and
is familiar with our local churches and pastors. He has been leading the Jesus
in the Gospels study this year and has previously led the Disciple classes.
On April 27th Bishop Richard
Wilke and his wife Julia, authors of the Disciple studies and advocates
for Bible study in the prisons, joined us at FCI-Loretto for a special
worship service and presentation of certificates to the men who have been
participating in the study for the last 4-5 years. It will be a very
special time for everyone and many of our volunteers will be in attendance as
well.
Please keep this ministry in
prayer as we prepare for our transition in leadership in June. God has
blessed us all and we ask for your continued support as we move the ministry
forward and expand our outreach.
January 2003
We welcome Rev. Bill Thwing as Chair of
the Board of Directors. He has been a volunteer at the Camp for several
years and his church has provided volunteers for the ministry.
We also wish God's best for Jim and Marlene Beckwith in their retirement and our
best wishes go with volunteer Rev. John Swank in his retirement as well.
The Spanish Disciple class at Cresson SCI has graduated 9 men from the program
and are preparing to start Disciple II. A new English Disciple II class
will begin there as well.
A number of churches are participating in the Disciple Bible Study this year and
preparing to enter several other prisons next fall. We appreciate their
commitment to this ministry.
May 31, 2002
Graduation
Services were held in the facilities this Spring for the inmates who completed
the 9 month studies. The
service at Loretto was held on May 31st with
Rev. Jaime Potter- Miller administering the Sacrament and Rev. Roy
Gearhart delivering the message for the combined English and Spanish classes who
have formed one covenant group in Jesus Christ this year.
The Armagh UMC choir and the inmates led the music for the service.
Certificates were given to the men in both classes who completed the study this
year.
Plans are being made now for
additional classes this fall in Somerset, Fayette County,
and several other prisons in Western PA. Amen!
March 1, 2002
Our Board was excited to elect and welcome Jim Beckwith as
our new Chairperson. Jim and Marlene live in Johnstown since moving from
Mifflin County after Jim's retirement. They will also be involved as
Volunteers in the Youth Detention Center in Ebensburg.
Ron Platt has moved to Crafton, PA with his wife's appointment to the UMC there.
He wishes to remain involved and will be our first representative from the
Pittsburgh area.
Sept. 7, 2001
Please keep us in your prayers as we begin
our classes. There will be 5 classes at Loretto including a new Korean
Disciple class and a special worship service in the camp. Just in this
facility there are 11 volunteers involved. The women in the Cambria County
Jail will be studying the Companions in Christ program. The Spanish class at
Cresson will study and worship with Disciple I and the Youth at Cresson will
work with the Youth Disciple I study.
Plans are in the works for a
Spanish and an English study at Pine Grove as well. Stan has been visiting
the churches in the Conference almost every Sunday. Be sure to call us if
you would like him to share this special ministry with your congregation in the
months ahead.
Please also consider supporting our efforts as the cost of materials for each
inmate is $50. We are presently serving 133 inmates as we begin our classes.
August 1, 2001
We are
beginning preparations for the fall classes at the Prisons. There will be
a study of Romans at Loretto with the men who completed Disciple I last year and
a study of John, Acts, and the letters Paul wrote from prison for the Spanish
speaking inmates using a series called "Tres Meses". These 2
groups of inmates have been meeting together over the summer and we plan to
continue their worship time together to open the study each week. Disciple II
will be studied by the men in the Camp. The women in Ebensburg are
continuing their Bible Study over the summer as well.
Stan has been
"on the road" and visiting churches and prisons in Western PA.
We are applying for grants to help raise funds to purchase the Disciple study
books and Bibles for the inmates.
The classes
are set up for Cresson - SCI and the Youth Facility. We have already begun
the Spanish worship at Cresson and the inmates were thrilled! 23 men are
attending the service and preparing for the Disciple study in September.
Classes are
being set up at Pine Grove Youth Facility and Greene County Prison at this time,
and Stan is continuing to visit other facilities to pave the way for new
classes.
The need is
increasing for more local church involvement for Facilitators and funding. If
your church would like to become involved as a Partner to help support this
vital ministry, or you have persons who would like to take a study into a prison
in your area, please contact Stan at 814-471-9766 or at PONDTOONY@aol.com,
or e-mail Dorie at dheckman@nb.net.
Most of all, please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for another year
inside the walls.
on Thursday, June 7th
Rev. Stan Nixon
was commissioned as a 10-10-10 Local
Missionary
in the Prison Outreach Ministry in Western PA
and attended Missionary School in Atlanta.
He is back and ready to
roll!! Please call to have him visit
your church and explain this exciting ministry!
Updated:
03/29/07
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