First Church and CONTACT

January 12, 2015 - Uncategorized

Sunday, January 11, was a banner day for Prisoners in Christ CONTACT. We filled some gaps in the first adult education class of a 3-week series at First CRC. There were plans for a mentor and mentee to speak, but the mentor was sick, so Rich and I worked together to present the first 15 minutes of the first session. The three sessions were designed to cover 1. the issues and context involved in prisoner reentry ministry, and the Biblical expectations for God’s people, 2. The roles of CLEAR, Living Water Prison Ministry Network, and CONTACT, and 3. First Church’s response, including a “supper and stories.” I had to leave early to go to the Latvian Lutheran Church to play organ, but not before we sang “He sent me to give the good news to the poor” and I talked a bit about Troy and CONTACT’s connections to Restorative Justice. I also pushed Restorative Practices for congregations and Ecumenical Advocacy Days.

Then in the afternoon at our CONTACT meeting we had a student, Gabe, from Harambee House, and the closer to 4:15 pm the mentor couple, who had been invited by Bryan Howard. James and Sarah stuck around a little while afterward for more conversation. He is a first year seminary student and his wife was trained as an elementary teacher and is focusing on working at the house.

Another new person, Keith, came with Paul Strong. Jimmy and Nancy were there, as were Shane, Joe, Bryan, Steve, and Michael Cooper with Kimberly. Of course, Rich, Bryan Blakely, Bill Dykstra and I were also present.