You will be surprised to hear that on Saturday, September 26, 2015, the YWAP Director went to prison. Tom Berger is the Prison Chaplain at Piedmont Correctional Facility in North Carolina. He was the reason that the YWAP Director went to prison and he was also the reason that they let him out of prison the same day.
What happened inside those prison walls was spectacular! The following posts below were written by Tom and describe what God did on Saturday. God opened doors that no man could open and a team of volunteers became His good neighbors for a day. I was blown away by the fact that everybody in both facilities we visited was cordial, welcoming and appreciative. That's got to be some kind of record to have over 1,300 people all be nice at once. Maybe God had something to do with that.
An abundance of respect was the order of the day. Even though it rained and we had to move the program in to the gym, the inmates had decorated the yard. They cut out wood letters in the shop that spelled, "STOMP THE YARD." These guys really care about themselves and all of the other guys they are locked up with! The line of inmates stretched across the yard as they waited to be served hotdogs, beans, chips, Coca Cola and cookies - lot's of cookies. Volunteers from Central Church of God cooked up a ton of cookies before the event. Orange shirted volunteers covered the prison like a blanket on a cold day in Buffalo (yeah, there was a Buffalo guy there!) If you'd like to know more about Central Church, please visit them. The Church is made up of people who are living out there faith.
http://www.centralnc.org/reach-out/local/jail-and-prison-ministries/prison-outreach-schedules/
Positive events in prisons come along very rarely. Maybe it's time to fan the flames of prison ministry! Thank you, Chaplain Tom Burger, for your Christ-like diligence in demonstrating His love in a more excellent way. Thank you Sharon Burger for your hospitality and love for the Buffalo guy and all the other guys in prison. Your family is an awesome example of a godly family living out the example of two wonderful people who show the love of Jesus to everyone they meet. Jesus loves you and so do we.
Here are Tom's posts about "Stomp The Yard."
"What a blessing to Stomp the Yard with Bob Kuebler. Apollo Drive boys rocked it. Fed 1,300 inmates and staff. Over 1,000 inmates heard the good news of the gospel."
"Stomp the Yard crew grilled 2,640 hotdogs to feed 1,300 prison inmates and staff. The "orange army" of volunteers that came, served, hung out with and loved the inmate population today."
*** Stomp the Yard *** Last Update (Maybe)
"There were some decision cards unaccounted for Saturday afternoon. We actually had 214 men counsel and pray with our volunteers to place their trust in Christ!
We'll never really know all that the Lord did on Saturday. But pretty cool, huh?"
*** Stomp the Yard ***
"I know, it's over and you're probably tired of my updates. But I've got to share this. The prison is upside down over what took place here Saturday.
One particular inmate, Gary, who has been locked up 35+ years just left my office with tears in his eyes. He was one of the hardest men I've ever encountered when I met him a few years ago. But I've walked through some really difficult life things with him (daughter murdered 2 years ago, Leukemia diagnosis over the past year). He and I have gotten close and I have witnessed to him and prayed for him for a few years. Sharon spent a lot of time sharing with Gary at Stomp the Yard. He shared with me this morning that yes he does indeed believe that Jesus is the sinless Son of God who died for our sins and rose again.
I'm wrecked."
BWAP NEWS
Due to BWAP Director Rev. Will Coplin's triple bypass surgery, we would kindly ask that you pray for him. We have decided to postpone and reschedule the BWAP Luncheon. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/721361754665174/
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
JLYASDW.
Youth With A Purpose Inc.
157 Locust Street
Buffalo, New York 14204
716-830-8240
[email protected]
We do appreciate and need your financial help.
You can write a check to YWAP, we are a non-profit 501c3.
Our online BWAP donation site may be found at:
http://www.gofundme.com/w5p6ee4
What happened inside those prison walls was spectacular! The following posts below were written by Tom and describe what God did on Saturday. God opened doors that no man could open and a team of volunteers became His good neighbors for a day. I was blown away by the fact that everybody in both facilities we visited was cordial, welcoming and appreciative. That's got to be some kind of record to have over 1,300 people all be nice at once. Maybe God had something to do with that.
An abundance of respect was the order of the day. Even though it rained and we had to move the program in to the gym, the inmates had decorated the yard. They cut out wood letters in the shop that spelled, "STOMP THE YARD." These guys really care about themselves and all of the other guys they are locked up with! The line of inmates stretched across the yard as they waited to be served hotdogs, beans, chips, Coca Cola and cookies - lot's of cookies. Volunteers from Central Church of God cooked up a ton of cookies before the event. Orange shirted volunteers covered the prison like a blanket on a cold day in Buffalo (yeah, there was a Buffalo guy there!) If you'd like to know more about Central Church, please visit them. The Church is made up of people who are living out there faith.
http://www.centralnc.org/reach-out/local/jail-and-prison-ministries/prison-outreach-schedules/
Positive events in prisons come along very rarely. Maybe it's time to fan the flames of prison ministry! Thank you, Chaplain Tom Burger, for your Christ-like diligence in demonstrating His love in a more excellent way. Thank you Sharon Burger for your hospitality and love for the Buffalo guy and all the other guys in prison. Your family is an awesome example of a godly family living out the example of two wonderful people who show the love of Jesus to everyone they meet. Jesus loves you and so do we.
Here are Tom's posts about "Stomp The Yard."
"What a blessing to Stomp the Yard with Bob Kuebler. Apollo Drive boys rocked it. Fed 1,300 inmates and staff. Over 1,000 inmates heard the good news of the gospel."
"Stomp the Yard crew grilled 2,640 hotdogs to feed 1,300 prison inmates and staff. The "orange army" of volunteers that came, served, hung out with and loved the inmate population today."
*** Stomp the Yard *** Last Update (Maybe)
"There were some decision cards unaccounted for Saturday afternoon. We actually had 214 men counsel and pray with our volunteers to place their trust in Christ!
We'll never really know all that the Lord did on Saturday. But pretty cool, huh?"
*** Stomp the Yard ***
"I know, it's over and you're probably tired of my updates. But I've got to share this. The prison is upside down over what took place here Saturday.
One particular inmate, Gary, who has been locked up 35+ years just left my office with tears in his eyes. He was one of the hardest men I've ever encountered when I met him a few years ago. But I've walked through some really difficult life things with him (daughter murdered 2 years ago, Leukemia diagnosis over the past year). He and I have gotten close and I have witnessed to him and prayed for him for a few years. Sharon spent a lot of time sharing with Gary at Stomp the Yard. He shared with me this morning that yes he does indeed believe that Jesus is the sinless Son of God who died for our sins and rose again.
I'm wrecked."
BWAP NEWS
Due to BWAP Director Rev. Will Coplin's triple bypass surgery, we would kindly ask that you pray for him. We have decided to postpone and reschedule the BWAP Luncheon. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/721361754665174/
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
JLYASDW.
Youth With A Purpose Inc.
157 Locust Street
Buffalo, New York 14204
716-830-8240
[email protected]
We do appreciate and need your financial help.
You can write a check to YWAP, we are a non-profit 501c3.
Our online BWAP donation site may be found at:
http://www.gofundme.com/w5p6ee4
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