WINTER
He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.
Job 37:6-7 (NLT)
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THE WHY
(EXERPT) Given how many people have been incarcerated, there is shockingly little conversation about the impact on their families. When a person is imprisoned, their family usually carries a tremendous burden, but they have been forgotten in the apparent rush toward more punitive policies, and a permanent focus on the prisoner and the offense. Children experience ambiguous loss when a parent is incarcerated; the parent is not permanently gone, but is missing from the child’s daily experience, and the parent’s identity and family role have been significantly altered. The impacts may be felt by spouses, partners, parents, siblings and cousins, and can extend beyond the family into the community. The impact on families may be financial, social or emotional.
First published: 15 January 2020, https://socialwork.uic.edu/news-stories/mass-incarceration-punishing-the-families/
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Ohio Recidivism Rate
31.45%
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COMMUNITY IMPACT
  
 
Since January, 2023, we have impacted 21 people through our twice monthly Support Groups, Welcome Home Bags, Resources, and Website prayer requests. Our partnership continues with Dion Crockett, the Reentry Program Director at St. Vincent DePaul (SVDP) were we get to provide Welcome Home Bags for returning neighbors. Also, it was a blessing to "get to serve" families with gifts for Christmas through local nonprofits Ladies of Leadership-OH and Opportunities People's Justice Leaders. Finally, we wrapped up the year with our Christmas Giveaways Support Group where we dressed up in our Christmas gear, played games, and of course GAVE AWAY GIFTS AND PRIZES!
A journey to healing is a path walked by FAITH in Christ, to gain true FREEDOM and experience abundant LIFE.
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On January 14 Faith Freedom Life hosted and sponsored a day at Art of Becoming (AOB), facilitated by Maggie Beckjord, for support group participants. AOB is a visual journaling/art therapy experience that takes you on a journey of self discovery in pursuit of inner healing while learning the answer to the question "Who Am I?" Faith Freedom Life will host and sponsor a day at AOB in the summer and fall. More details TBD.
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On February 21 Dion Crockett, Director of Reentry at St. Vincent DePaul will join support group as a guest speaker. He will share ways SVDP's program supports returning neighbors upon their return home from incarceration.
On April 28-30 the second annual Women's Rejuvenation Retreat will take place and is designed to support formerly incarcerated women and/or those who support incarcerated loved ones. It is a time of refreshing for the mind, body, and soul with an experience of respite, fellowship, healthy activities, and guest speakers.
 
On June 27 my mentor, Lucretia Bowman, will join support group as a guest speaker to speak to us about healing and wholeness. Lucretia is the author of Breaking the Cycle of Self Abuse, Vice President of Recovery Services at City Gospel Mission, and Founder of HAVING THE COURAGE TO CHANGE, which are transitional housing facilities for men and women struggling with life altering issues. |
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Anyone impacted by the world of incarceration is welcome to join our support groups. Follow us at Faith Freedom Life on Facebook and IG for support group Zoom link information and event dates. Also, visit our YouTube channel to hear the Support Group Video Recaps and more. Don't forget to subscribe, like, share, and comment.
We need your support via monetary or in-kind donations. Please visit www.faithfreedomlife.org/donate for more information about ways to donate, items needed, how your donations will be used, and how we honor and recognize our individual/corporate sponsors. THANK YOU in advance for your support. |
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A Message to Our Donors
Look at what God has done!
Faith Freedom Life would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all our supporters who have provided monetary and in-kind donations. You help make us successful. We look forward to working with you all in the years to come. TOGETHER, we can provide support services to those in need while coming alongside people in their life’s journey.
2023 Donors
Lee and Angela McLaughlin, Abby Minton,
Attorney Bernard and Mary Smith
**Thank you to all the donors and Facebook Fundraiser contributors who wish to remain anonymous**
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