The Eraser

Remember elementary school back in the day?  If you made a mistake on your writing or math you simply grabbed your No. 2 pencil with the pink eraser and started over.  God has an eraser too. One of the men in the prayer group gave me this Eraser poem recently.  I hope you know about God's eraser and the freedom it can bring to you.

So What's Next?

So what's next?  You may ask New Life that question after Brothers-in-Blue climbed the mountain peaks.  Well here are five things to look forward to:

• Pentecost Service at the Newton Prison on the 3rd Thursday of May.
• Weekly studies at the prison featuring "Doing His Time" and "Grace" by Max Lucado.
• Baptism Service at the Newton Prison on the 3rd Thursday of June.  This is where the fruits of Brothers-in-Blue are harvested.
• July 11 concert by Christian rock group Piercing the Darkness.
• Pedal for Prisoners fundraiser at the end of July (our 5th straight effort on the bicycles)

Please pray for us as we ride the Spirit wave of God's revival at the prison.

Brothers-in-Blue - Part III

Here is a poem that Rick C. wrote after experiencing his first Brothers-in-Blue at Newton Prison this April.

We are Brothers-in-Blue
Drenched in Red
and Robed in White.

Praise God for Change!

Rick C. loved the worship times embedded in the Brothers-in-Blue.  He often sat in the front row.

As for me I'm thankful to everyone who played a key role in the Brothers-in-Blue event at Newton Prison on April 23-26.  There were many New Life volunteers represented as well as others coming as far away as Spencer and Cedar Rapids.  I'm especially grateful to Mark Willson - our fearless leader!  Mark combined a nice balance of humor and spirituality.  

This event helped men to discover a new way of life while drawing closer to God.  62 inmates and 19 volunteers completed the program.  Two of our volunteers were living, breathing role models for the men at the prison, having been locked up at one time in their past.  Overall, it was an absolutely inspirational event for all of us involved.

We were very grateful for the cooperation that we received from the staff.   We know that this event is beneficial for the men to discover a new way of life as they draw closer to God.

This is now the third year for the Brothers-in-Blue at NCF.  I know that this event requires additional effort from volunteers and staff.  However, we trust that all this extra effort will be worthwhile due to the positive impact.  It'd be great if this event could be held once again in the spring of 2016.  To paraphrase the famous words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, "We'll be BACK!"

Blessings Behind Bars

 There are blessings from our brothers behind bars.  You just need to open your eyes so that you can recognize them.  One of our brothers in Christ wrote out the final verse of an inspirational Psalm - Psalm 19:14.  It is quite familiar yet strikingly beautiful.  It is prayerful, challenging the self to become the person he/she was created to be.  It also reminds us that God is our Rock and our only source of salvation.  He is the strong one who comes to bring about redemption.  It's just one more reason to praise Him.  

On the back of the baptism class booklet, one of the men at the prison drew this creative picture of what looks to be the "New Life Leaf" with an embedded cross.  I like what this picture has to say.  The green growth of inner transformation happens in and through the cross of Christ.  He is the inspiration for us.  If growth is to occur it must come in Christ, through Christ and for Christ.  And that's just one more reason to praise Him.