Dear Supporters, Brethren and Friends,
On the heels of my last report, I promise this one to be more positive.
Our Pando Channel that is available on inmate tablets continues to grow in views. We are closing in on 4 million views and 56,000 subscribers! We continue to get a lot of encouraging feedback on the videos and pod casts and receive regular letters asking Bible questions and wanting further study.
We raised $18,000 last August to pay for our channel for one year. I believe this large sum of money was well spent. We are into our second year and need to raise another $18,000 or $1,500 per month to continue to offer this Bible teaching to inmates all over the US in prisons and jails. It is especially valuable to men in facilities that do not have volunteers from the Lord’s Church going into there. Can you help fund this for next year?
Also, our Pod Cast – Behind and Beyond the Fence costs about $300 per episode to produce. Our goal is to produce two per month. We have focused mainly on me interviewing men that have been out and are faithfully serving God. Their stories are an encouragement to many brothers that will be getting out soon. Also, we have recently been granted tentative approval to record some of our classes and services done inside of prison to add to our Channel. Please consider helping support these efforts.
I was recently asked by the administration at Marion CI to teach a class in the newly formed Re-Entry Dorm. Most prisons in Florida have now started a specific dorm to house men that are about a year from release. The idea is to offer programs specifically geared for release. This is one of those opportunities you take advantage of to help the administration with the hopes that you are shown favor from them in other situations. The classes are taught in the dorm itself – a loud – fans blowing, hot, difficult environment. Most of the men really don’t want to be there but have no choice. It has been a learning experience that has improved over time. At least when the weather cools off, we can turn the fans off!
The rest of the work continues. There are always men to study with and classes to teach. Things have calmed down now at the transition houses. The fall out from the last few months is seemingly over. One of the men involved in the unrighteousness that went on is now at a rehab, one has repented, one is still living in sin and of course one is dead.
The next group will hopefully learn from the tragic mistakes of the ones before them. Love hopes all things. Thank you for the kind notes, emails, calls, etc. I am of all men blessed to have so many in my circle of fellowship and friends that care.
Daryl Townsend