While our main activities are the classes and mentoring done in the DCC, Hawkins, Tucker, and Malvern units, I wanted to let you know about some upcoming large-group events. Some of these we've committed to, others we will do only if funding allows:
- UGM annual family picnic. One Saturday evening in September (date TBD) we'll gather at Maulmelle Park for a potluck BBQ. Chance to meet or catch up with others serving in prison ministry. Good time last year (pics will be on the site with the coming update).
- Website updates (sections for each unit, pics, video, etc...). Coming soon.
- Build the long-planned Chapel in the Wrightsville Unit. This will help the Men’s IFI program to move to the Unit which, as y’all know, is closer to LR and will put all the IFI folks close together.
- Help bring Nicky Cruz (subject of the movie The Cross and the Switchblade and author of the best-seller Run Baby Run) in for a week long evangelistic tour through 4 units and 3 churches. I’m reading his book now… it’s good. He was a bad dude but, for decades, has been called the Porta Rican Billy Graham.
- Transitional House – our goal is to be operational by EOY. We had neighborhood opposition at the Planning Committee while trying to get the property zoned. Looking for an alternative location.
- Christmas Dinner for the Women’s and Men’s IFI groups and their families. Last year was the first time anyone could remember in ADC history that inmates had a meal with their family.
- Christmas presents for the Hawkins Unit
- Dinner honoring the DOC (+ spouses). The Dinner with a Perfect Stranger thing was such a hit that we’re planning something like it again next summer. Don’t yet know if it will be a play, but planning on the dinner.
Funding has never been a problem for us. We've been blessed to say the least. We, as volunteers, have given or solicited donations from folks who're excited about our mission and those funds have always been sufficient. To that we give all thanks to God. Our forecast through the next year shows a need to collect $11,000 (we have 9k in the bank) to fund classes and special events. I can't figure out how to insert the spreadsheet here (send me an email if you would like to view). If you're inclined to do so, please talk to a friend/organization about a donation. Thanks.
You are the Church and I consider it fortune to be numbered among you.
- Paul
Under Grace Ministries is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to mobilize the Church to present the salvation found through Jesus Christ to the incarcerated, neglected, broken, and shunned in society. Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell. We wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell. http://www.undergraceministries.org/
