Cross\Bars Update NOVEMBER Cross\Bars Update "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" Luke 1:79 NOVEMBER 2009 Dear Co Laborers for Christ, First of all thank you again for your prayers and support to this ministry. It’s hard to believe we are almost at the end of 2009. Let me share some things with you. Our support level has decreased. We have lost support for various reasons; some who have supported us have started their own type of ministries, others due to the economy and churches not growing. Services at some institutions for next year have cut back, places we use to get in four to six times a year have only given us one service others two. At one time, we were in eight different facilities throughout the year, not counting Dodge County Jail and Redgranite Correctional. We are now only in five facilities so far for next year. Why? Here are a couple reasons: chaplains have been changing at some, others want to bring in new volunteers and some of the chaplains are doing some of the services now! Also, they are looking for those who will bring in more of an “Entertainment Gospel”, there are many more “false religions” coming in, so they have to put them in, so they are decreasing what we’ve had. I’m letting you know this because we are up against those who teach that you can lose salvation, baptism is part of salvation, speaking in tongues is also part of a Christian’s walk, and that it doesn’t matter what bible just as long as you have one. I received a letter from an inmate who recently was requesting a different roommate because he was considered a cult, believing you cannot lose your salvation when he showed them verses in another Bible study clearly showing you can’t lose it! (Eph. 1:13, Eph. 4:30) There is a new volunteer at another facility we go to that adds to the gospel that you need salvation plus baptism to be saved. We need your prayers that we can get some more open doors for next year. Just to give you an idea of what is coming in to the institutions here is a list: · Taycheedah - Wiccan group gives out perfume (which is called anointing oil) to the ladies who attend. Some guards are attending the service. · Redgranite - Satan worship, Muslim service and a Sweat Lodge. · Dodge County Jail - Catholic study, Non-Denominational service Sunday morning (men’s group). The groups we have at these places continue to be a blessing each week. At Redgranite we are running between 35-40 men on the Mondays we are there. The studies at the Dodge County Jail on Sunday mornings at j pod (huber) we have had as many as 8 men now coming out. The women's study at the new jail on Sunday morning and Tuesday nights we are running between 8-12 each week. The men’s study on Tuesday nights are having between 22-28 each week. We also see some of these men & women changing their direction of life because of their faithfulness each and every week. One lady who has been at the Dodge County Jail one year is getting released on Nov. 18th, her name is Jessica. Pray for her as we have a plan in place for her when she gets out. We’ll keep you updated on how she is adjusting to not being locked up. I will have her testimony letter in next month’s update. I also met with an inmate after he was released to talk with him about a church. He is on probation now and is settling in the Fond du Lac area. He attended some Bible studies at Redgranite and is from a Catholic background. He is saved now and wants to do some type of ministry work once he is given the okay to do so. His main concern is getting good fellowship and direction. Pray for him as well. In closing, continue to pray for this ministry. We need some help doing Bible studies at a couple places. Right now its men we need for either a Monday night, Tuesday night or Sunday morning. It is time consuming, but it’s worth it when you lead someone to Christ, or see them growing each week as you minister to them. There is also the other side as well when you see those who have been released that are now back in. You just never know what kind of impact you might have on them. Also, pray for our church, we are in the process of getting a building now, so pray about that as well. In Christ, Dennis & Joy Groll ****************************** Ministry Needs: Volunteers to help at Juneau, Support & Meetings, Medical Bills. Calendar of Events Weekly Bible Studies Sunday: Dodge County Jail and Huber Facility Last 2 Mondays of each month: Redgranite Correctional Tuesday: Dodge County Jail Thursday: Dodge County Jail (Spanish study) ****************** November Calendar 1st Redgranite Correctional 22nd Fond du Lac County Jail ******************** December Calendar 6th Redgranite Correctional 27th Taycheedah Correctional Contact Information: Cross\Bars Ministry Chaplain Dennis Groll P.O. Box 1163 Fond du Lac, WI 54936 Phone: (920) 922-3447 Email: dennisgroll@vzw.blackberry.net Sending Church: The Rock Bible Baptist Church Pastor Joseph McGee P.O. Box 303 Theresa, WI 53091 Phone: (920) 488-3200 Email: trbbc@charter.net |