Can You Be A Friend?

[Guest mercy777]

Personally, I don't think I have ever felt lonliness.

But I haven't been deprived of positive human contact for a long time. I have never felt like no one cared about me or wouldn't talk with me if I needed to talk.

But so many of the inmates experience depression from the lonliness of their lives. Without the support, even Christians can get into the helpless thoughts that God isn't really there, doesn't really love them.

Remember, even John the Baptist did this, had doubts of Jesus himself.

You can help someone get past this, confirm to them, YES! Jesus is real, He IS doing great things if we believe.

This is a brother needing a Christian friend, please pray about being that friend:

Henry A. Holdcroft 381888

Ross Correctional Inst., Unit 6A

P. O. Box 7010

Chillicothe, OH 45601

Henry's mother passed on recently and he just needs a good Christian friend to share fellowship and encourage him in the Lord.

God will bless you.

Matt: 25:36 "I was in prison and ye came upto me"

In Christ's love,

mercy

http://christian-penpals.com

[Guest mercy777]

Hello again, if you have never had any experience in corresponding with a person in prison, we do have some guidelines to us, it might be a good idea to visit our web site:

http://christian-penpals and join with us in ministry.

Basically though, it is to use common sense, we suggest anyone use a PO Box or church address.

If you have any questions, please feel free to E-mail me. I have been corresponding with many brothers incarcerated since 1989.

God bless you,

mercy

[GymRose]

Hi

I'm in Australia but I'd liketo know more about what you are doing and if Australians can get involved or if you know of something similar here.

Cheers

[Catsmeow]

Mercy, I would dearly love to be a penpal but I would prefer to be a friend to another woman, rather than a man, (for obvious reasons).

I am married and I know that people can often try to manipulate penpal relationships to something they ought not be. There's dangers involved.

I'd love to write inmates but prefer writing with another female. Is this possible?

[Guest mercy777]

Praise God!!

Thanks to you both, I will reply to you both here:

GymRose, we have pen pals from all over the world writing, quite a few in Australia. It takes a little longer but works fine, it is good to have two letters going back and forth, that way you write your pen pal about twice a month, which is recommended.

And if someone needs to, they can send their letters by E-mail to CPP volunteer Lee, in USA to mail.

We have inmates from all over too, right now, most are in Africa and Thailand.

Hope you will decide to join with us!!

Catsmeow, we hope you will join with us in ministry too.

The situation is that 93% of the prison population is male, so we try to match all the men and the over 30 women with a male if possible. We are able to match the females right off, but the guys have to wait over a year now to get a Christian pen friend.

For women, we have guidelines, the pen pal would be 10-15 yrs younger, and usually they will be respectful and think of their pen pal as a big sister type friend. I was 39 when I was first given a pen pals then more, all men.

I know why now. But with all, they are brothers, 3 sons, and my husband cares for them too, I write as a unite, I say, "we care about you..."

Always using the plural pronouns. Of all I had, only one was disrespectful, thought of me wrongly and I had to stop writing when he wouldn't stop.

But we can work with anyone, anyway, (as long as you are a Christian Believer and over 18) ;there are women waiting for a pen pal too.

God bless you,

mercy

[Catsmeow]

Well, I'm 47 and would love to "adopt" a little sister or peer, either way...as long as she's female.

I don't think my husband would be "open" to the idea of a male penpal frankly.

I would not be comfortable either.

Tell me the next step and I'll go from there.

I do hope more men will step up to the plate and be willing to be a friend and witness to another male. Many men never had father figures in their lives and this has made the problem worse. Boys need strong, mature, father figures to guide them. Many come from single parent homes and lack any real male direction and guidance.

I would be most happy to correspond with a female inmate of any age. I am a born again believer and would be very happy to share Jesus with an inmate. I am a former foreign missionary as well.

Please let me know how I can help.

[WayneB]

Mercy,

I checked out your website and was impressed. Great ministry... just a letter to many of the folks incarcerated can make a huge difference.

Weekly, I visit the local jail and conduct teaching/worship services for about 60 men. There is a form on the website for an inmate to sign up for correspondence. I intend to make copies and pass them out to the men. The form asked for a donation / stamps. Can they get on the list without a donation? They don't have the money. In fact, I provide them writing materials, stamped envelopes and pens already so they can correspond with their families.

Blessings,

Wayne

[WayneB]

I do hope more men will step up to the plate and be willing to be a friend and witness to another male. Many men never had father figures in their lives and this has made the problem worse. Boys need strong, mature, father figures to guide them. Many come from single parent homes and lack any real male direction and guidance.

Cats, you hit the nail on the head.

Every Mother's Day and Father's Day I provide cards to the inmates to send to their Mothers and Fathers respectively. Last year, I provided 100 Mother's Day cards to 50 inmates and had requests for more. I had requests for only 3 Father's Day cards. See a problem?

Most of these men got on the wrong track because they didn't have a strong male influence in their lives. Get involved guys...you will be blessed!!!

Blessings,

Wayne

[GymRose]

GymRose, we have pen pals from all over the world writing, quite a few in Australia. It takes a little longer but works fine, it is good to have two letters going back and forth, that way you write your pen pal about twice a month, which is recommended.

And if someone needs to, they can send their letters by E-mail to CPP volunteer Lee, in USA to mail.

We have inmates from all over too, right now, most are in Africa and Thailand.

Hope you will decide to join with us!!

OK so where do we start!

I'd love to get involved in this and although Hubby says he'll find it hard time wise I'm sure he'll eventually write with me. But he is more than happy for me to go ahead.

[Guest mercy777]

Thanks!!

I have been having trouble getting to this forum, page wouldn't open.

I am happy you want to participate!! The easiest way is to go to the web site: http://christian-penpals.com

and click on "Write Prisoner" there is a form there to fill out, then we make a file card with your information for our records and E-mail all the information you need, address, info on the pen pal, guidelines for writing.

(On Comments - put any specifications you want, such as a female.)

I also agree with you on the men, the father role, all that is so often missing. But when they had a mean, abusive father, many are afraid of the men and won't write to them. But that's not the reason we have women writing men, younger guys , is that the men just do not, for whatever reason, want to be pen pals. We have a few who write several of the guys and doing a terrific job.

Wayne, you are thinking like the rest, people think the inmates need this service/ministry, and we are promoted/shared inside. But not outside. You can imagine the result. We have a waiting time of over a year for them to get a Christian pen pal. That makes it hard because a lot can happen in that year. (I do appreciate you Wayne, that's fine to give them the forms, just tell them it's a slow process)

Still, God is blessing, lives are being transformed, it's a great way to share the Gospel and love of Jesus. I hope you might also share this ministry in your churches, or any Christian you know. The need is great!!

Thanks so much!

God bless you,

mercy