CHAPLAIN MINISTRY NEWS

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Look through a porthole – the MV Zhen Xing Hai

We had a full day and my coworker Trish had one last task. Detained Chinese seafarers had asked for cigarette liters while she was on board earlier. So before she went home she boarded the ship to deliver them. Trish engaged the non-English speaking Chinese in conversation. She discovered that the Captain was a Chinese Christian. As Trish spoke to the seafarers about the truth of Jesus Christ, their captain interpreted her words. It wasn’t long before the pair began to pray and accepted Jesus Christ. She thought she was delivering Zippo lighters. God had another plan. Please pray for the new believers on the sea.

 

PATRICIA “TRISH” ALLIGOOD

Received

Denominational Endorsement

by

North American Mission Board Chaplain’s Commission

Southern Baptist Convention

September 7, 2010

 

Volunteers

We are thankful for our wonderful volunteers who serve here, but we need more! Our volunteers are dependable and care about the seafarers and great personal friends too. Recently we have had a rash of hip or knee surgeries among other challenges to no fault.

Find Us on FACEBOOK: tim@anchorhousemission.com

If you are able to volunteer at the center, have the skills to help with basic computer data entry, or drive the seafarers to Walmart or join in “the fast track to the ends of the world,” sharing the Gospel or building relationships with international people, please call Chaplain Tim at 941-722-0764.

 

Donate stuffing

Each Christmas Anchor House gives Ditty Bags filled with personal items to seafarers. To participate in the Ditty Bag Program find the instructions to make the bags at our website: www.anchorhousemission.com, or call the center and we will send a pattern. Or if you do not sew, contributions of items to fill them include: travel size shampoo/conditioner, disposable razors, toothbrushes/toothpaste, combs, lip balm, tissue packets, fingernail clippers, emery boards, bar soap, deodorant, aftershave, hand lotion, white tub socks, note pads, pens/pencils. Or beat the postage and send a check and we will shop for you. Instructions: Cut fabric to 12 x 21 inches. Fold it over and seam the side. Turn down the top ½ in. and seam. Insert a single 25 in. drawstring in the top. Bag should be approximately 10 x 10 inches when complete.

 

Anchor Notes 13 Sept. 2010

Dear God: Lord God, I just want to thank you for a place like this, a Christian center where we could know and learn more about you. I pray that you may bless all of the people involved in this center and also the people who enter in and out of this place in Jesus’ name. Amen

4/9/10

God, forgive me for everything that I have done to hurt my family and friends. This is the only way I find myself able to talk to you. – Thank you

 

Thank you for every day you gave me strength. I love you lord and I am proud to have you in my life. I’m asking for forgiveness to all my sins. Bless me and my family for our everyday living. I give myself to you Lord. - Crew member of Clipper Glory

It is almost one year since Susan and I returned to Port Manatee to reach seafarers with the Gospel. God has called us to this corner of the kingdom. His confirmations are multiple. I am convinced repeatedly of the need among seafarers – all over the world. This work is challenging and costly; but not nearly as costly as missing the opportunity to reach these gracious people. We could reiterate the cause but the reality is we often wish you were here to see personally what drives our passion. So in this issue we have tried to give you a glimpse through a port hole and a few entries from the book in the center which seafarers write in. Thank you for your financial and prayerful support. Our prayer is that you continue to partner with us in this mission. If you have the chance to visit, there is just nothing quite like it.

For Christ, Tim and Susan

 

Christ’s Great Commission to Inmates in Florida Prisons

“To God Be the Glory”

In 2002 the Florida Southern Baptist Convention observed an opportunity to assist Chaplains and Prison Ministries with an annual Restorative Justice Conference and LifeWay discipleship materials. The intent of this initiative was to accomplish three major goals. First of all it was designed to encourage the participates who were on the front line of ministry in the county, state and federal jails / prisons. Secondly, it was designed to better equip the participates with ministry tools so that they may be more effective in sharing the Gospel and Making Disciples. Thirdly, it was designed to enlist and train those volunteers who had a desire to begin a ministry to inmates and their families. The FSBC conducted several annual Restorative Justice Conferences effectively accomplishing these three major goals during that time. However, the FSBC determined to move their focus more toward equipping Chaplains and Prison Ministries with LifeWay materials plus support a summer missionary program in the correctional institutions. These materials are assisting the Chaplains to more effectively share the Gospel and Make Disciples with inmates.

In 2010 a Florida SBC Chaplain is one among many Chaplaincy exhibits of the effectiveness of the supporting Life Way materials used by Chaplains and Volunteers to teach the Great Commission principles and life skills to inmates. Chaplain David Ring has used the following donated materials to share the Gospel and disciple inmates during the last five years: 1) Survival Kit 2) Master Life 3) Experiencing God 4) Mind of Christ 5) Jesus on Leadership. Each disciple / student / inmate does not write in the LifeWay workbook but writes his answers in a plain composition notebook in order that the precious workbook can be used / experienced by many other inmates. These inmates become equipped disciple makers reproducing their lives over and over again as they serve their sentence fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission in the jails and prisons. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 15:16; II Timothy 2:1-2; Colossians 1:28) The effect of this strategy is changing “dysfunctional habitual criminals into functionally habitual citizens” who will be released at the end of their sentence back into society. The men are being equipped with real life skill tools in prison plus making a connection with a strong positive supporting culture outside in society through the volunteers and the LifeWay materials. This strategy has proven to make a substantial contribution to decreasing the number of disciplinary reports in prison and decreasing the recidivism or return to prison rate for inmates participating in the Chaplaincy programs.

In the event that you desire to contact Chaplain Ring concerning this Great Commission strategy in jails and prisons, his email is davidring.2tim22@gmail.com. Chaplain Ring will be conducting one of the many specialized training sessions at the November 8, 2010 Florida SBC state Chaplain’s conference on the topic of “Great Commission Strategy in Jails and Prisons”.

The following pictures of one weekly Chaplaincy scheduled inmate program demonstrate how God is ministering in prison to fulfill the Great Commission through Chaplains, Volunteers and the LifeWay Discipleship materials. To God Be the Glory!

 

 

Chaplain Josh Culley Serves As Chaplain Intern

Florida Department of Corrections

Chaplain Intern Has Impact!

Chaplain Intern Joshua Culley served in Florida through the North America Mission Board and Florida Baptist Convention as a Summer Missionary. The Mississippi native arrived in late May and left in early August. During his short ten weeks of service, God used him to impact Gulf Correctional Institution, a facility in the Florida Department of Corrections system.

The Gulf Correctional Institution currently has approximately 3200 inmates. Chaplain Intern Culley assisted as Worship Leader, Spiritual Counselor, Substance Abuse facilitator, Confinement Visitation and performed limited Chaplaincy administrative duties. His major role was assisting the Chaplain and volunteers teach the 128 inmates in the Faith & Character Based Dorm. He made several hundred influential contacts with Florida Department of Corrections staff and inmates while serving as Chaplain Intern.

The highlight of the summer for Joshua came on his last Friday night Worship Service at Gulf Correctional Institution. On that eventful Friday night, Joshua assisted the Chaplain in baptizing twenty four inmates who had prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Chaplain David Ring, who serves as Chaplaincy Services Specialist for FDC and serves on the Florida Baptist Chaplaincy Advisory Team, said, “The Department of Corrections appreciates the involvement of this Intern who modeled excellent character and work ethics before the staff and inmates. Mr. Culley personally gained valuable Chaplaincy experience and provided much needed assistance to the Chaplaincy Department during a time of Chaplaincy downsizing.”