Reaching Many with the Gospel
February 2024
Reaching Many with the Gospel with the Hopes of Reaching Many More.
Way back in the day, when I first became a part of the FUMI team of volunteers, we were able to split up and visit multiple yards simultaneously. That was over 20 years ago. We have recently been able to facilitate seminars in two yards simultaneously. Now when we go into NKSP, we go into two of the three reception yards at the same time and preach to at least two (and sometimes three) groups of men. When a volunteer receives clearance to go into a state prison, he or she requires an escort. The escort can be a chaplain or a volunteer who has a brown card. Only two of us, Tino and I, are brown cardholders. Thankfully, Arcadio and Andy have just been approved to receive state-wide cards as well. This year we have added to our team of volunteers. This includes two young men from my church, Konstantin and Daniel. They have come aboard, and both have committed to go into all the prisons we currently visit. I recently made a concerted effort to reach out to some like-minded churches, sending each a letter of recommendation from my Pastor to go along with my request to visit with their congregation. Three of the nine, Mt. Pleasant Baptist church, Redwood in Castro Valley, and My Redeemer Church in Elk Grove, responded. Thankfully I was able to visit each and found a good number interested in supporting FUMI. Some of the brothers and three sisters from My Redeemer will be joining us in the future, including three sisters who will be joining me and my wife in future visits to the Chowchilla women’s facility. Special thanks to Pastors Jeff Miller, Justin Schroeder, Mike Thomasson, and Rick Gregory.
We are expanding the number of facilities as well. I met with Chaplain Min from Soledad State Prison, and we discussed among other things the importance of teaching sound doctrine. I will be going there to preach before we schedule a weekend seminar.
I also met with Anthony Bell, the director of ministry in the Sacramento main jails and RCCC. The meeting went great. We are of kindred spirits and Lord willing we will be visiting before the end of the year. A few of the men from the church in Elk Grove will be joining us. We have also scheduled a seminar for the New Folsom prison with Chaplain Steward.
Please keep us in your prayers,
God bless.
-TIM WAGONER (FUMI PRESIDENT)
God Squad Orientations and Workshops
Prison Ministry is God’s Heart
“Bringing HOPE and SALVATION”
Matthew 25:37-40
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
They are hungry--needing His Word;
They are Thirsty--needing the Holy Spirit
They are strangers–not knowing God,
They are naked–needing the clothing of the Righteous Christ,
They are sick/dead–in their sins; not knowing Christ,
They are in prison–In Satan’s grasp.
The purpose of God Squad orientations is to equip the volunteer with the full understanding that God does the training Himself, to help non-believers come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
It is a 1-day workshop training
Training is offered 4 times a year
God Squad Salvation Training Material
The goal is to prepare and certify the volunteer to be able to go in and minister in the jail or juvenile hall facilities.
Juvenile Hall and Santa Rita have welcomed Follow Up Ministries, which has proven over many years to be providing for the spiritual care/health programs for both facilities. It has allowed volunteers to come and assist the chaplains with prison ministry teaching and equipping for their spiritual care.
The training materials at FUMI have been developed over the course of many years after consistent searching and studying of the Scriptures. It is our sincere desire that God will continue to use this ministry to edify and increase the usefulness in God’s army of disciples.
Follow Up Ministries builds teams of believers consisting of members from different churches to connect and amplify God’s Word through our prison ministry under the banner of Jesus Christ. Teachings through the orientations are based solely on facts, the Gospel message, and the foundations of the salvation message. The sole purpose of this training is to help prepare the Body of Christ for the process of making disciples by multiplying and reproducing ourselves and passing on the knowledge to others while fulfilling our Lord’s Great Commission.The orientations, Bible studies, and exams reintroduce the volunteer to the salvation message. These teachings also allow the volunteers to reflect on their own personal foundation in Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Testimony of Nathan Barr
Let me begin by saying, God is so good! Even when things are a little rough, God shows His goodness through and through. Getting out of prison after 25 years was an unbelievably wonderful experience! My family and friends were overjoyed. It was great! But then I had to go almost immediately to my transitional home (provided by the state), 3 hours away. This was really hard on my family. But I was determined to make it work. We hit some rough patches but we are finding it to be easier as time goes by. Parole here won't let me go back to visit them until I've done the entire 180 days in transition. I've come to accept that my God has a better plan than me and my family and parole. I trust His plan for my life. As of right now, I've been out about 90 days and in that time I was able to get all of my legal documents (ie: SS card, Driver's License, etc.), enolled in school (Dental Assisting), and got a job. I encourage everyone who is getting out to enroll in a school as soon as possible. There is technology that you need to get familiar with to become employable. But the most important thing I did when I got out was touch bases with my mentors and find a church home. I currently go to a church called North Point. Its not a small church, quite large in fact. But the preaching is SOLID! They have men's and women's Bible studies, a ministry school, CR, and a bunch of other ministries that help people learn and live out the Word of God. I am impressed with their ministry so far. So in addition to the fellowship opportunities the church offers, some of us have decided to hold our own Bible Studies as well. We meet every Thursday night. We are currently going through 1 Peter. It is a great time and all my years in prison ministry, fellowship and education are having a profound effect on them. Regular people out here do not know how to read their Bibles! I did not start this Bible study, but now I lead it. Similar to what I did while I was in prison! I love representing Jesus in every area of my life. They know I'm a Christian at school, at work, parole meetings, wherever I go, and in whatever I do. This doesn't mean that I go around singing hymns on the bus! But a frequently asked question I get is, ”why are you so nice to everyone?" I respond by saying, "Jesus is nice. I just follow Him." Today, I am CPR certified, licensed as a radiologist, and about half way to being a RDA. I am on the president's list at school and no one even suspects that I'm fresh out of prison. When they look at me and talk to me they don't even think to ask if I just got out. That's the furthest thing from their minds. I'll just keep following Jesus, praying, studying, and connecting to God's people. And, by His mercy and grace, for a wretch like me, the light of the Holy Spirit will keep shining through. My love will be with you all in Christ Jesus, Amen.
-NATHAN BARR
