October-November 2005



"Keep my heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23

I've been asked several times during mission conferences how I manage to do all those things I do. The answer is in a story I heard about a man who went before a judge and was sentenced to 125 years in prison. When the man heard his sentence, he looked at the judge and said, "Your Honor, I know I'm only in my early twenties, but I'll never be able to do 125 years!" To which the judge replied, "Do what you can, son. Do what you can." How do I do all "those things"? I do what I can, and I trust God to do the rest. Having said that, I know it's been a while since you received a newsletter! I apologize for that, and I will make every effort to get a newsletter out to you every two months from this point on. I trust all of you to hold me to it.


The mentoring program at N.C.C.I. (of which I am a part) is aptly named "New Beginnings" and is going well. "New Beginnings" is a based mentoring program. Change has to begin from within, and only the Gospel can do that. Education, housing, job placement, etc., are all good things (and we do provide these services) but are only of value if the inmate has experienced a change from within. If you educate a criminal, and his heart has not been changed by the Word of God; if he hasn't taken full accountability for those actions and repented those actions, then what you have is an educated criminal. As men, we can help to change a person's circumstances, but only God can change the heart. To date, I have a case load of 14 men. Please pray for "New Beginnings."


The Sexual Idolatry classes being taught once a week by me, with the help of several volunteers, at North Central Correctional and Trumbull Correctional are a true blessing. One man told me that out of all the programs he has attended while being incarcerated, this has been, by far, the most helpful. We talk about real issues and how the Bible addresses these issues. We talk about the progressiveness of sin and how to have victory over sin in our lives. We learn to recognize patterns of thought that lead to sin and into a spiral of degradation. We seek to take those thoughts captive and to turn instead to the things of God. We stress that this is only possible when one has a true relationship with Christ. Chaplain Burger of Belmont Correctional has expressed an interest in having this class, and we'll probably begin classes there Feb. 2006. I think this type of discipleship program will have far reaching effects and fits the ministry's goals of changed lives, family restoration, and no more victims. I truly believe through this program we are gaining ground that Hell would have.


In addition, I have increased the number of prisons I'm holding regular church services in (services being held at least three times a year per prison) to accomplish the primary goal of the ministry, and that is to preach the Gospel. I pray, with the emphasis on reentry programs and various other programming, that the prison chaplains do not forget the primary need for all men to hear the Gospel and to be saved! Unless a man has been truly changed by God's grace, through faith in Christ, programming has little or no value. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. That should be, and is, our primary goal.


I continue to do counseling with family members of those incarcerated. I continue to mail out Bible studies and purchase Bibles for those who have requested them. I continue to correspond with those inmates who write. Again, I do what I can. Many of you have asked me about deputation and how my support is coming along. My response is a positive one. In the past three months, we've added seven new support churches. Not all the money is coming in yet, but I'm sure those who have pledged their support will do so. Deputation is different for me than for most missionaries because I am not gathering a set amount of meney and then leaving for the field. I am in the field! When I am in prison, I'm in the field. When I'm at the juvenile homes, I'm in the field. At the Christian Academies, I'm in the field. Even when I'm in the churches presenting my ministry, I'm in the field! I am preaching the Gospel and witnessing hundreds of professions of faith, 40% of which have been made by teenagers! The ministry is far reaching and the ministry is now! John Schmid of Common Ground Ministries has told me to expect a time frame of three years before the ministry is fully established and fully supported. John is the best I know in prison ministry. If it took him three years, I can expect the same. We went full time Jan. 4th, 2004. Lives have been changed. Won't you help?


Larry Skrant

We Care Prison
Crusade
Jan. 8th-12th

Ministry needs: Thanks to Joe Keim for MAP Ministry's donation of Source of Light Ministry Bible study materials, and also to help from New Life Church in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, we have met the needs for the juvenile ministry. What a blessing! Thanks to donations from several individuals, we have been able to buy study Bibles for inmates who have shown a desire to study God's Word. What I am attempting to do in Nov. and Dec. is stay in the field and develop those programs we have most recently established in several prisons. I'll do more deputation in Jan. and Feb. Any donations would be helpful.

O' What a Banquet!


I can't begin to thank everyone who had a part in October's Celebration Banquet, but I do need to acknowledge a few. Thank you Diana Pomeroy. The food was excellent! Thank you Amy Carlson. The table settings and decorations were beautiful! Thank you Angie Arthur and Janine Scandlon for the children's program! Thank you First Baptist Church of Spencer for taking the project on. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing you have been to me! The Lord couldn't have sent me to a better church! Thank you Dan and Nancy, Tom and Midge! Thank you Jon Bouts! Thank you Pastor Terry and Lesley Smith! Thank you guest speaker Richard Rhines! Thank you John Schmid! Thank you Cindy Criss! Thank you George and Mike! Thank you Pastor Mark! Amen!