Sharing Hope Ministry 2008 Newsletter 5

DECEMBER 2008ISSUE NO. 48

—PHONE NUMBER—Sharing Hope Ministry

358-7803

—ADDRESS—P.O. Box 19985

Amarillo, Texas 79114

—WEBSITE—www.sharinghopeministry.org

—STAFF—April Riggs, Executive Director

[email protected]

Susan Lewis, Development [email protected]

Leigh Link, Secretary

[email protected]

—STATISTICS—Total Life Recovery Bibles Distributed:

56,515

Total Bible Study Workbooks Distributed: 29,393

—VOLUNTEERS—Pen Pal Volunteers: 9Office Volunteers: 40

Prayer Group Volunteers: 5Stepping Stones Volunteers: 14

Jail Ministry Team Volunteers: 17Special Event Volunteers: 150

—BOARD OF DIRECTORS —Sammye Stark, President

Chris Brady Jim Burgess Brenda Burns Shirley Daniel Dan Hetrick Connie Hodges Becky Logsdon Kyle Powers Jim Shelburne Vonnie White

Newsletter Design Courtesy of

806-622-8399

Sharing Hope Ministry, Inc. has been working closely with representatives from Randall County Sheriff’s Office, area businesses and non-profits who are implementing a new initiative to cut back on the recidivism of our area offenders. This new program will work with offenders from their initial sentencing through their release back into the community. These offenders will be provided mentoring, life skills and job training. The program is designed to empower inmates to make positive changes. Sharing Hope Ministry, Inc. will be providing our Stepping Stones Mentor training to area volunteers who are interested in working with men or women in this program. The new Stepping Stones training is a 20-hour course that will begin in January. Volunteers who attend the mentor training will play a crucial role in helping program participants successfully transition back into our community.

Sharing Hope Ministry has seen the difficulties of re-entry that are experienced by our area ex-offenders. We have witnessed that even those with the deepest commitment to change have endure the hardships of being released ill-equipped to start a life free from drugs and crime. Statistics show that these ex-offenders will return to crime if they are not provided the resources to live a positive and productive life. Anyone interested in applying to be a Stepping Stones mentor for Randall County inmates should contact the Sharing Hope office for an application.

We are encouraging new volunteers to join our online prayer team. Each week, emails will be sent out which give the needs of the women we serve. We provide the postage and material and ask that you provide prayer and a word of encouragement. We use the Sharing Hope Ministry return address and ask that you sign as a volunteer.

Please contact the office or email Leigh at [email protected] to be placed on the prayer list.

On-line Prayer Team

Sharing hopein Collaboration

with randall County Sheriff’S offiCe

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Christmas in October

Christmas in OctoberA GreAt SucceSS!

Thanks to the work of hundreds of volunteers and the generous donations of our sponsors who underwrote all of our expenses, we were able to make over $28,500 that will go towards providing services for the hurting women who are attempt-ing to overcome destructive behavior through a relationship with God.

Over 300 volunteers prayed, headed up committees, worked the event, and provided baked goods and supplies. Many vendors have tithed back to Sharing Hope to show support for our mission. We applaud all who were involved in making this a successful event!

Thank You to Our Christmas In October SponsorsJosephine Anderson Charitable Trust Shirley DanielJohn and Becky Logsdon Brady Dental GroupG4D Limited Gary and Claudia MezelPanhandle Steel Buildings, Inc. George and Bonnie SnellSoaps Laundromats Kin and Vonnie WhiteMarvin and Wilda Willis

In Kind ServicesGraphics by KimSoroptomist ClubWashington Avenue Christian Church Youth GroupWelcome Pardner

A special thank you to all those who donated Christmas in October suppliesand Bake Sale items

Volunteer Committee ChairsCo-Chair: Wanda DevollAdmissions: Rosemary RobinsonBake Sale: Earlene Stiles, Trish BaileyFacility: Dan Hetrick,Finance: Dan HetrickPrayer Team: Dianne SaganRegistration and Hospitality: Mindy BriggsPublicity: Julie MannQuilt Team: Quilters: Pam Hall, Carolyn Holmes, Barbara Gardner, Annette Walkins, and Quilt Chairman Susan SharpSharing Hope Booth: Laura Sims and JoAnn DannerVendor Lounge: Bryon Stiles

And the Winner of theBeautiful Christmas Quilt is…

Terry Medlock!

Some of the wonderful items at theSharing Hope Bake Sale booth

Sharing Hope Booth with volunteer Laura Sims

Jim Burgess, a Sharing Hope Board Member, working hard

at the event.

Quilter Barbara Gardner with raffle winner, Terry Medlock.

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v Women to do data entry for 2 hours each week.

v Husband and wife teams to deliver the hygiene bags to our clients.

v Speaking opportunities~ Let us speak to your women’s club or civic group.

v Volunteers to pray over inmate requests.

Sharing Hope MinistryHas Several Needs:

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR WEB PAGE?Visit us at www.sharinghopeministry.org

Sharing Hope Ministry provides Bibles and Bible studies to women in twenty-eight states! These women are searching for a new life in Christ. Please keep this ministry and the women that we serve in your prayers!

Our expansion is possible through those who support Sharing Hope financially, and by the volunteers that give their time to send each woman a Life Recovery Bible, studies and Christian words of encouragement.

Sharing Hope Ministry, Inc.In Partnership With

Ministries Across The Nation.Sharing Hope Ministry not only provides services to women who are searching for a new life through Christ, but also impacts Christian ministries throughout the nation. These ministries provide members that go into the county jails or prisons to lead Bible studies and faith based recovery pro-grams. These groups provide the Sharing Hope Ministry address for women to request the Life Recovery Bible and specific studies which are then utilized in their community programs. This partnership allows smaller organizations to have a greater impact in their own ministries.

We recently received a letter from a volunteer chaplain from Montgomery County in Conroe, Texas. Barbara C. writes, “Praise to God for the wonderful servants you are to incar-cerated women!! I am a volunteer chaplain in Montgomery County and have had the chance to see so many woman wit-ness to others and use the recovery Bible you have shared with them. There are so many times that my co-leader and I would love to be able to prepare our lessons with help from this Bible and feel it would help us on a deeper level with the inmates. What must I do to get these Bibles? I am praying for you and your ministry.”

Expanding Our BOrdErS!

Sharing Hope Ministry is one of the charities participating in GoodSearch, a new Internet search engine powered by YaHoo!, which donates half of the advertising revenue it earns to charity. Each time you use GoodSearch and desig-nate Sharing Hope Ministry, Inc. as your charity of choice, GoodSearch will donate a portion of the advertising revenue earned from the search to our ministry!

Add GoodSearch to your bookmarks or make it your homep-age to make it easier to use. Also, spread the word to your family and friends to help generate more contributions. GoodSearch estimates each search will raise $0.01 for your designated charity. 100 supporters searching twice a day could generate $730 a year, or 1000 supporters could raise $7,300!

We hope that not only will you use GoodSearch as your main search engine from here on out, but will also pass this mes-sage on to your friends and family. The more people who use this, the more money will go to providing Bibles and bible study material to women incarcerated or residing in Rehabilitation facilities.

Follow these simple steps and Support Sharing Hope Ministry, Inc.:

1. Log on to www.goodsearch.com

2. Type in Sharing Hope Ministry in the “I Support” box

3. Hit Verify

4. Search the internet as you normally would.

Use to Benefit Sharing Hope Minstry!

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Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAmarillo, TexasPermit No. 237

P.O Box 19985Amarillo, Texas 79114

MAIlINg lISTIf you are receiving duplicate

newsletters or would prefer not

to be on our mailing list, please

contact us at:

[email protected]

Sharing Hope Supporters – Sept. – Oct. 2008All The SeasonsWalter and Martha AllisonAmarillo Children’s ClinicLetha BanksJerald and Karlena BarryDonna BishopRon and Cheri BoydMarie BraboyLisa BradshawDoug and Mindy BriggsKeith and Frances ClarkShannon CornellLarry and Dolores CrossShirley DanielPaul and Linda EndresFaith City MinistriesFederal Prison CampFishermen ClassBob and Connie GarrettCandice Gilliam Michael GrahamBen and Bonnie GreenHigh Plains Christian Ministries FoundationScott and Gloria Herrick FoundationHillside Christian ChurchSteve and Stacey HitchcockRon and Connie HodgesGary & Patty HumphreyKen and Janice JohnsonJanet & David KampschroederLinda & Ricke KimuraJeannie Kuhlman

Stewart LabusLamplighters ClassDorothy LeeLone Star Candy Co.Love’s BeadsElizabeth MaddoxMimi’s Candle GardenMargaret MooreTom and Sharon ParrKatrina & Shan PhillipsDave and April RiggsJohn and Laurie RiggsLydia RodiquezMendell SchelinJerry and Joyce SchultzFletcher and Charlotte Smith George and Bonnie SnellLinda StaffordDon and Sammye StarkJanet ThompsonDouglas ToulouseTwo J’s PecansDr. Eddie Warrior - #500832Westcliff Bible ChurchMarvin and Wilda WillisMickey and Judy WilsonJune WilsonWomen of Grace

In Honor of:

Mindy Briggsby Washington Avenue Christian Church

In MeMory of:

Della Brownby June Wilson Donna Cainby Byron and Earlene Stiles Mrs. Dangelmayerby Jerry and Perky Cates Jerry Harpoleby Diamondback Exploration Lois McConnellby Gary and J’Melle Fletcher Betty norrisby John and Diana Tolk Martha rutherfordby Kimerly Rutherford Tressie Taylorby Diamondback Exploration