CBI announces two new prison ministry satellite campuses

Guatemala/S. Africa (MNN) ―There are billions of people who don't know Christ across the world, but there is one consistently-overlooked people group on every continent: prisoners.

Crossroad Bible Institute (CBI) has been reaching out to this group of men and women on society's fringes through a long-held model, proven effective worldwide, in which students are mentored by volunteer instructors native to their countries. Indigenous campus directors oversee their activity, teaching them about Christ and discipling them as they learn.

CBI currently works on all six populated continents and has over 40,000 students learning through their program. On November 15, CBI announced the opening of new satellite campuses in two more nations.

South Africa and Guatemala each will now have their own CBI prison ministry campuses.

CBI Guatemala was launched in partnership with Christian Reformed World Missions and Estrategia de Transformación. The local pastors helping implement the program have established a strong foundation through their prior work with the new students.

CBI International Program Coordinator Cynthia Williams, who visited Guatemala to assist in the campus launch, told CBI, "Through the changed hearts of prisoners, this country could become free from the ravaging violence now dominating the landscape. CBI Guatemala is poised to help bring about that change."

CBI provides people in prison and their families with faith-based reentry education and mentoring for 27 years--assets that could be extremely valuable in Guatemala in particular.

CBI South Africa was initiated by contacts established through CBI's membership with the World Reformed Fellowship, an international organization linking like-minded evangelicals. The campus director visits the students each week to present a message and distribute lessons. Backed by support from prison officials, the program will expand into additional facilities in 2012.

Director Alwyn Bezuidenhout told CBI, "Due to the positive support of the staff of correctional services, local churches, and most of all, the inmates, we see the Lord's blessing on our work."

Dr. H. David Schuringa, CBI President and CEO, stated in a recent press release, "Incarcerated people across the globe have been ignored and under-served. CBI's unique discipleship and mentoring program responds to God's call to remember them, and we plan to continue extending this response worldwide."

With several new openings pending for 2012, CBI's international expansion promises to continue, giving hope to prisoners and unifying diverse cultures with the Gospel message. Learn more about ways you can get involved and even become an instructor with CBI here.

Senate considers bill allowing ex-prisoners to vote

Mission Network News: "USA (MNN) ― Voting is a given right for American citizens, right? Not exactly.

Over a century ago, women began holding conventions and demonstrations to earn their right to vote. African Americans were denied the right to vote for ages, but over 50 years ago, they were granted the right as well. It seems like every legal citizen is now able to vote, but that's not exactly true. So who's not allowed?

Ex-prisoners"

Read more...

Kairos Prison Ministry Expands in 2011

Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is currently spanning into more communities here in the United States and abroad. All of the programs within the ministry have seen continued growth.

Kairos Inside program strategy brings positive and negative leaders of the institution together for a 3 1/2-Day Weekend event after which residents establish small Prayer and Share groups within the institution with the support of the Chaplain.

Kairos Men's Inside will have or already have had organizational meetings for new starts in Delaware, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Oregon, for 2012 Spring and Fall Weekends. We are very excited to welcome these states into the Kairos family. Kairos Inside Women's will expand into Missouri and Pennsylvania, where KI Men's is already in place. Kairos Inside also had new ministry start-ups this year in 7 states that we already serve.


Kairos Outside program strategy demonstrates God's grace and love through Christian support for women who have incarcerated relatives/friends and for former residents who did not have the opportunity to attend a KI while incarcerated. The goals are to provide a safe place; to offer unconditional love and acceptance in a Christian setting; to encourage the sharing of one's life journey; to create an opportunity for a relationship with God; to foster Spiritual growth; and to promote participation in Support Groups.

Four new KO Ministries started in 2011: KO Lubbock, KO Southern Mississippi, KO Alaska and KO Western Pennsylvania. Kairos Outside is looking forward to 2012 with new start-ups in Hawaii and Idaho.

Kairos Torch program strategy is to introduce incarcerated youth to Christian Mentoring. The development of this long-term relationship is key to the success of providing the youth hope and another way to look at their life while inside, along with preparation for going outside and a vision of potential success upon release. Kairos Torch mentors journey with youth in a reflective view of their present life and mentor them towards positive outcomes.
In 2011, Kairos Torch had new start-ups in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and Oklahoma. In Washington, the Kairos Torch Pilot program for Children of Prisoners was very successful.

For more information, call (407) 629-4948 and speak to our Executive Director, John A. Thompson, Jr., or visit the Kairos website at www.kairosprisonministry.org.

Prison Minister and Former Disco Innovator Marty Angelo Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 23, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Marty Angelo, prison minister and former disco music pioneer will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, August 27 at the Legends of Vinyl first annual Muscular Dystrophy charity event. This 16-hour dance music concert will be held in Nutley New Jersey.

"Marty Angelo spent 15 years in the music business prior to going into prison ministry," states Legends of Vinyl co-founder Luis Mario "Flaco" Orellana. "We want to celebrate and honor Marty's accomplishments for not only promoting and sponsoring the music and dance that has inspired hundreds of artists, djs and dancers but also for his years of ministering to prisoners, substance abusers and troubled celebrities."

Marty Angelo produced the popular hustle dance television show Disco Step-by-Step® in 1975 - 1980. He was a charter member the International Disco Dj Record Centre and the co-founder of the Buffalo New York Disco Dj Record Pool. 

London Records national disco promotion man, Billy Smith picked Marty Angelo in 1978 amongst the top 25 most important disco djs in the music business. 

Among his many achievements Angelo managed popular rock bands in the late '60s and early '70s. He received his first professional break from "the late Jimi Hendrix." He hosted an all-disco radio show in the mid-'70s and helped organize the first "World's Largest Disco" in 1979, drawing over 16,000 people. 

Marty Angelo also founded the Hustle Dancers Hall of Fame™, the Disco Dj Hall of Fame™ and the official Disco Dance Music Hall of Fame™. 

Angelo's dance TV show was exhibited in 2004-05 at the Experience Music Project's "Disco: A Decade of Saturday Nights." He also was the associate producer of the VH1 television special "When Disco Ruled the World," the PBS television special "My Music; Get Down Tonight -- the Disco Explosion" and the disco documentary entitled, "Disco: Spinning the Story." 

For the last 30 years Marty Angelo worked in prison ministry and substance abuse counseling. He released an autobiography in 2005 entitled, "Once Life Matters: A New Beginning." 

"This is quite an honor!" remarked, Marty Angelo. "My work in the entertainment business was well over 30 years ago and to be remembered for my contributions back then is truly a humbling experience."

About Legends of Vinyl: 
www.legendsofvinyl.com/muscular-dystrophy 
contact -- Luis Mario "Flaco" Orellana -- 954-979-4493

About Marty Angelo: 
www.martyangelo.com 
contact -- Marty Angelo -- 805-405-8174