Volume 14 Issue 11 November 2017 GOVERNOR GGRA NOW partnering with GGC NATHAN DEAL in a live community portal of communication for retuning citizens “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you TEAM work at the TOP any wrong or owes you anything, needs your prayers charge it to me.” (Philemon 1) In simple terms, what was GA State Senators of Gwinnett projected for future expansion of Curt Thompson The question that could haunt us if 2 prisons in Georgia, based on P.K. Martin we were defined by the worst thing past history, has been cancelled. Fran Miller we every did would paralyze our No need for them. Dropping the Steve Henson future or even our locations wher- Renee Unterman inmate population from 56,000 ever we went. David Shafer to 51,822 with savings of 264 Gloria Butler Reentry of “returning citizens” back million dollars. GA State House of into society was the very mind set of Paul’s letter to Philemon Representatives Gwinnett Apostle Paul as he was appealing to Scott Holcomb appealing for his “returning Philemon. Onesimus had deserted Dar’shun Kendrick citizen employee” back to him is Philemon dearly becoming useless. Karen Bennett spreading throughout Georgia. But Paul seeing him transformed in Scott Hilton Our government is beginning to Christ, decides “to send him—who Pedro Martin look beyond the criminal prisons is my very heart—back to you.” Brooks Coleman, Jr. and see them as “returning David Clark November 9th, at our annual citizens”. Understanding “All we Brenda Lopez GGRA luncheon 295 attendees at like sheep have strayed off” helps Dewey McCain Georgia Gwinnett College us fully understand the power of Samuel Park Governor, Nathan Deal, introduced the CROSS that gives us all a Buzz Brockway the new Criminal Justice Reform second chance. By God’s grace, Timothy Barr Chuck Efsration Legislation that has helped the world no longer “defines us Joyce Chandler significantly to reduce the by the worst thing we ever did”. Brett Harrell recidivism in Georgia. David Cass Tom Kirby PATH SOIL ROCKY SOIL THORNY SOIL GOOD SOIL Harden heart Doubting heart Greedy heart Obedient heart 1.Practiced witchcraft and 2.People tried talking to me 3. I started worshipping God 4. (not there yet.) evil things. about God and I would laugh and my life wasn’t doing so at them. good so I lost faith. 1. I received Christ and forgot 2. My family desperately 3. Ended up losing 4. Here in incarceration God is Him. Wrong turn due to bad tried bringing me back to everything including the love making a mark on my life. company. church but was too busy of my life. I was broken to Now I see his plans. I am so enjoying sin not realizing the nothing. glad to be alive seeing his way harm ahead. – a warrior of God. 1. I was shot multiple times. 2. Through tribulations 3. I have had scrapes and 4. After incarceration, I times in Iraq, once in and triumphs, I have bruises through the have accepted my gift of America. But was never on eluded the rocky path. thorns of life – lust, drug salvation ready to reap a hard stubborn soil. Slow addition, money lover. harvest in Christ to feed learner. my children. 1.I found myself hardened in 2. I doubted because it 3. I was greedy when I didn’t 4. Here in this place, that has my childhood filled with seemed God wasn’t in my surrender to God, thinking all changed – never alone abuse with my life taken from life. I felt seriously all alone that I knew what I needed with Him. me. for 41 years. and knew what was best. 1. I just didn’t know much of 2. I was just learning through 3. I was just really learning 4. God answered all my anything completely! many doubts. more about myself when prayers and is making a good greedy. man into a much better man while incarcerated. Our mission: to reach the least, the last, and the lost in GOD’S AMAZING GRACE TO REJOICE IN OCTOBER 2017 our generation. The power of the cross Arnuflo Reyes Jonathan Garcia Aaron President transforming the worst of the Dianna Hernandez Octavius Vrney Kirk Abney worst to be the best of the Ryan Adams Charles Paige Julio Dejesus best. Anthony Isha Marty Cain Alonzo Mosley Joel Cardeanas for your faithful support and prayers that keeps us on the front lines of spiritual warfare AMAZING TRANSFER ? in the trinity stages of the criminal system. Bibles removed from our – court halls public schools to be – transferred to our Bible detention center, diversion Colleges for the center, prison work camp Truths of God’s purpose. – reentry of returning citizens .