Hope for the Hopeless

September 2010 Ministry Update

2010-09-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

H4H has been through so many changes since the last update. We are now part of a well-respected ministry here called "OKC Compassion, Inc." led by Pastor Richard Bond, an amazing man of God.

We have spent hours trying to create a housing solution in OKC for registered sex offenders, but to no avail -- yet. But God!

Please pray for us as we seek to solve the "unsolvable" problem (from man's perspective). In the power of El Shaddai, we shall overcome!

Amen.

May 2009 Ministry Update

2009-05-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote an update on H4H for my friend Wayne Bowers at ATSA/SORT and I thought you would benefit from it as well.

(H4H is on the verge of getting some funding but in the meantime, any help you can provide to help cover expenses, such as travel to meetings, etc., would be greatly appreciated. Also, in the reorganization of Heart Menders, we want to clarify that, for now, H4H is not a separate entity, but a subsidiary program of Heart Menders. So donations are definitely tax deductible, but checks need to be made out to Heart Menders, with "Hope for the Hopeless" designated in the memo area."

www.heartmenders.org
www.hope-for-the-hopeless.com

H4H UPDATE

A brief update: I attended the Prisoner Reentry Initiative seminar on "Mentoring" last week in OKC and, in front of a group of about 100 people, the subject of Reentry for RSO's (registered sex offenders) came up. No one seemed to have any answers, so I commandeered the microphone and told them what we are doing at Hope for the Hopeless. I had half a dozen people approach me afterward, including the rep from Oklahoma Access to Recovery, who said they have grant money to pay H4H to help RSO's get reintegrated into society from prison. We are in the process of registering to become one of the main OATR providers.

Also, I am meeting with Scott Martinson of DOC on Monday for lunch. He is the Transition (reentry) Coordinator for OKC. They have wraparound support services available for RSO's and they want to partner with H4H -- we're going to discover how at that meeting. Hopefully, some funding can be obtained to fund the establishment of an community-and-faith-based RSO residential facility for housing and on-going treatment. (I think all of the pieces are in place for this now, except the zoning issue - the NIMBY syndrome.)

Also, I believe the Lord is giving the green light to the PESOS concept (Partnership for Excellence in Sex Offender Supervision), with modifications. Instead of it being an advocacy group for RSO's, I believe it will (initially, at least) be a coalition of faith-based ministries who are involved in reentry that want to help RSO's. There was some consensus and momentum for this concept established at the PRI event. If the OATR funding will get behind this as well, then we're golden. I think we will start meeting monthly in June to hash out the details of the coalition.

Latest Update - Spring Has Sprung!

2009-04-30T11:39:00.001-07:00

Things have been kind of quiet around Hope for the Hopeless since the beginning of the year. Our two major donors both quit giving as of 12/31/08, so we've had limited resources to do stuff with. (Both former donors are still friends and prayer partners, just needed to trim back on their giving in lean times, I suppose.)

In 2009, we have focused on helping a registered sex offender (RSO) who was recently released from prison to re-integrate into society. This has been very rewarding, helping him get settled, a place to live, productive work, etc. He is a former executive with lots of skills, and he is starting his own business back up again (self-employment is the only sure career solution for RSO's) and it all seems to be paying off.

Today, I attended the Prisoner Reentry Initiative seminar on mentoring as a part of the reentry solution and it was excellent. There was a great deal of interest in helping RSO's get reintegrated back into society after prison. Also, there was a connection made to get state funding for providing social services in the community, so that was exciting! Looks like things are picking up - praise the Lord!

Treasures in Cells

2008-07-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Around 2002, a prophetic word was circulating, about how the Lord was going to use ex-felons from prison as leaders in His next wave of outpouring and revival. It was very powerful, but I lost my copy of it. So, finally, I scoured around the Web and found a copy of it (on Charles "Tex" Watson's very cool website) and have re-published it from the H4H website, under Resources/Articles. Click HERE to read the word, "Treasures in Cells".

This word very accurately reflects our beliefs (and experiences) here at H4H, so we are blessed to get to share it with you.

Blessings!

"No Promises" Project Rolls Out

2008-06-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Effective today, June 13, 2008, Hope for the Hopeless rolls out its new "No Promises" program, which is a prisoner re-entry solution for Oklahoma City. "Our goal is to provide ex-felons who are exiting the prison system and coming to OKC essentially homeless with a 'soft' landing rather than a 'hard' one," says Steve Gordon, H4H's director. "We'll do what we can for them, but no promises. But everyone will get a copy of our new 'OKC Faith-Based Social Services Directory. Hopefully, it will be a roadmap to those needing services, that could mean the difference between success or failure." Click HERE for the new "No Promises" brochure.

The "Homely Houses" Project

2008-05-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

In "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien was a notable character named Elrond, the owner of "The Last Homely House," a large home on the edge of the wilderness, where weary travelers were welcome to stay at no charge. It was a place of peace, warmth, and rest.

The H4H Homely Houses project is a virtual network of hospitality. For emergency housing needs, we have Kingdom Christians who have a spare bedroom and a loving heart to welcome strangers "for a night or two" until they can get to a shelter or other housing ministry.

Contact the H4H help line at (405) 495-HOPE to inquire about this free service. Serious inquiries only. Metro Oklahoma City area only.

"No Promises" Progresses

2008-04-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

H4H welcomes to our staff a former volunteer, our new Assistant Director, Wayne Davis. He is one of the founders of H4H, and a vital part of the ministry. It is so exciting to have him be on staff now, part-time.

His first task is to roll out the "No Promises" program, and he is working hard at it. He has started the new "OKC Faith-Based Ministries Database" and has developed the No Promises Application. Once the No Promises Brochure is complete, we will get some printed up and give them to Slim Crabtree of Hooked On Jesus Prison Ministries, who will then distribute the materials to all of the prison chaplains in the state.

Once the database is complete, we will use it to generate the "OKC Faith-Based Social Services Directory" which will be available online in PDF format. That way, each prison chaplain can download a fresh copy and give it to inmates as they exit the prison system. We will keep it updated continually from now on, the Lord willing.

Check back often for more updates!

Announcing: The "No Promises" Project

2008-03-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Over 8,000 people exit the prison system in Oklahoma each year. About half of these are estimated to come to Oklahoma City specifically. And, by our estimates, about 75% of these (or approximately 3,000) have no one to turn to, nowhere to go.

It's no wonder the rate of recidivism in our state is so high...

So, in our own small way, we are going to start doing something about it. We have constructed a Simple Brochure and a Simple Application which will be distributed to every Prison Chaplain in the state (thanks to our wonderful friend, Slim Crabtree at Hooked On Jesus Prison Ministry.

Any man or woman who will be exiting the prison system to Oklahoma City can apply for help. We may be able to get them a hotel room, or a hot meal, or some level of assistance. But "No Promises" -- we have limited resources, but we serve a Big God.

The main thing that everyone will get is our "Oklahoma City Social Services Directory" that will give them a road map to getting the shelter and services they need to get on their feet after years behind the fence. This will include detailed information on shelters, medical clinics, mental health, food sources, clothing sources, employment services, etc. It may be the key that unlocks the door of successful re-entry for them.

Our goal is to provide everyone possible with a "soft" landing as they exit the prison system, instead of a "hard" one.

Major Website Revisions

2008-02-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

We made a major set of changes to our website today. Please note the new category "Resources".

Also, we met David McBride yesterday for lunch, of Living Faith Ministries, a prisoner-reentry housing and discipleship program here in OKC. He is a senior-level minister to the outcasts of OKC, so his vision was closely aligned with ours here at H4H. He offered much help in learning "how not to do things" that we believe was a divine connection for us and that he will be a strategic resource in the days to come. He is sponsored in part by Crossings Community Church.

Divine Connections Update - Feb. 2008

2008-02-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

We continue to make many strategic connections as we follow the "wind" of the Spirit. Recent ones include:

1. John Easley of Genesis One Network (the most respected prisoner re-entry program in Oklahoma)

2. Ann Toyer, Dept. of Corrections (specializes in sex offender management)

3. Pastor Richard Bond, Pastor of Penn Ave. Church of the Nazarene, and OKC Compassion, Inc.

4. Angela Hite, founder and director of God's Corner Ministries of Noble, OK.

5. Tim Ulrich, founder and director of The Refuge of OKC.

The Father is sending the connections and we stand amazed at His wisdom.

Also, John & Nerinda Franklin of Bethany, OK have joined our early morning prayer leadership group. We are so blessed to have them on board.

Hope for the Hopeless (H4H) Launches Our Blog

2008-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Today we launch our blog that we hope will become the source of constant "press releases" about the progress we are making in reaching the outcasts of Oklahoma City. Be sure to check out the links section for connections to other ministries reaching the poor in the OKC area. And of course, you can always connect to our main website, www.H4Hweb.org.