These are exciting times for Providing Hope Ministries (PHM).  We just had our first prison-wide communion service at Luzerne County Correctional Facility (LCCF). Over 200 men and women attended.  Kathy VanHorn worked with Rick LeSoine and Gary Schrarrer to provide live praise and worship music.  I presented a brief Biblical background on the meaning and symbolism of communion and included who should receive the communion elements.  It was glorious to have the prison inmates and staff members participate in a communion celebration at the Easter season – celebrating the resurrection of our Savior! We were vividly reminded that our Christian faith is tied to the resurrection of Christ.

 

God is blessing the work of LCCF in many ways. He is working through the inmates, staff and chaplains.  We are excited that Providing Hope Ministries will be hiring an Administrative Assistant to facilitate the work and help expand the ministry. God has opened new doors for the LCCF and we are eagerly embracing it and expecting God to do miraculous things. When we reflect on the challenges and hurdles God has helped us overcome in the past, we can confidently trust God to lead us in the future and know that lives will be changed!  “To God be the Glory great things He has done!”

By His Grace,

Chaplain Tom Winiarczyk

 

 

 

 

 

We are grateful that you have chosen to support Providing Hope Ministries and especially the work at Luzerne County Correctional Facility!  We need your faithful prayers to be Jesus with a face to the prison inmates. There are so many hurting and hopeless people. Thank you for bathing this ministry with your prayers.   Here are some specific prayers for March:

 

~ God's blessing in the Holy Spirit for us to minister to those incarcerated in Jesus' name.

~ Prayer for the correctional staff as they work so as to not be hardened by the environment

~ Prayer for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of inmates, staff, chaplains, and volunteers

~ Wisdom in choosing the person God wants in the administrative assistant position

~ God's provision in financial support and prayers

~ More volunteers to serve on the prison ministry board

~ Wisdom to minister to a diverse prison population (Spanish, Muslim, illegal aliens, etc.)

~ God's protection upon the chaplains, staff, volunteers, and inmates

~ More opportunities for ministry to the families of those incarcerated who now have to do without that support

~ More opportunities to connect and ministry to those released from prison (outmates)

 

 

 

A big thanks and our appreciation to the following dentists who donated toothpaste as part of the 2007 Christmas giftbag! This toothpaste was given to inmates at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.  We are grateful for your support!

Dr. Medura, Dallas,Pa.

Dr. Watkins, Dallas, Pa.

Dr. Coslett, Shavertown, Pa.

Dr. Lesniak, Kingston, Pa.

Dr. Fitzpatrick,Kingston, Pa.

 

A lot has happened with PHM during the past year.  It seems almost surreal, somewhat like a whirlwind.  Just one year ago Carol Fronczek and I came aboard to help with the administration of Providing Hope Ministries (PHM).  I really didn’t have a clue as to how much was involved with this ministry.  As we look toward this next year, it’s also good to look back and reflect.  It gives us perspective and shows God’s hand in our ministry.

PHM is only four years old - we’re still a baby ministry!  I remember the original meeting.  A group of men and women committed to prison ministry met at the Hub in the Murray Complex in Wilkes-Barre.  Clair Weaver (no relation) came up from Lebanon. Clair is the Executive Director of Jubilee Ministries.  Jubilee has been a prison ministry for over 30 years and we wanted to model PHM after their program.  They have clothing stores, furniture stores, a café for teens, a construction company, a counseling department and serious aftercare.  These are BIG shoes to fill!

As a group we were gung-ho to accomplish these things here in Wilkes-Barre as quickly as possible.  So where are we four years later?  Just where God wants us to be I believe.  I read a book about staying in God’s will.  It said basically, do what you think you should do according to the Word.  If God doesn’t want you to go there, he will put up a road block.  Stay tuned to God’s voice.

            PHM now has one full time men’s chaplain and two part time women’s chaplains.  We have a bevy of wonderful volunteers who do everything from administration to teaching and preaching to mentoring.  Our volunteers run twelve step Celebrate Recovery meetings, parenting classes and Bible studies. 

We don’t yet have a store or a construction company or a café, however we are working on establishing some serious aftercare.  We are now in a position to hire a part time person to help with administration.

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the heathens seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you 

As we provide God’s Word to our inmates and help them establish a sincere relationship with Jesus Christ, God will provide for our needs and desires.  HE will build up this ministry – to God be the glory!

Pray that we stay focused on the main thing!  Helping our inmates find their way to Jesus and helping them find a supportive home church when they are released.  Pray that God will prepare individuals and churches to step up and mentor these outmates that God loves. 

We thank all of you who support PHM with financial gifts, with your help, with your prayers.  2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  God has a future for PHM, one day at a time.  I’m excited to see where God will lead us.  Alleluia!

 

~  Tilly Weaver

 

Providing Hope Ministries
Vision Statement 

            As our lives are being changed by the power of the Gospel of Christ, we purpose to show the love and hope of God to the economically or emotionally hurting, by helping to meet their physical & spiritual needs regardless of race, color, creed, age, or gender.
            We will provide Christian mentoring and spiritual guidance to those incarcerated, those in after-care programs, and their loved ones, who are committed to seeking reconciliation with God and establishing a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

       Providing Hope Ministries
Core Values

            Giving Hope – When someone seeks to connect with this ministry, we want to communicate the real hope they can have through Jesus Christ.
            Compassionate Mentoring – We will be intentional in giving spiritual guidance and practical training to those who need it. 
            Integrity – We will serve, lead, and model the highest ideals of Christ’s control of our lives in how we handle all the resources of this ministry.
            Christ-centered Leadership – Our leaders will respond to any situation like Jesus would.  This focus will result in the unity of minds and hearts.
            Stewardship – As people give of their time, energy, and resources to this ministry, under God’s leadership, we will be the best stewards of what He gives us.
            Spiritual Dependence – Through ever expanding prayer support, we will seek God’s will and follow Him in faithful service.