Jeremiah Prison Ministry Newsletter

JPM is an outreach of Martinsburg Christian Center, Martinsburg, WV Celebrated 12 years of Prison Ministry in 2011
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME MATT. 25:36B We are serving Him by serving them! His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 8

JULY 2012

Celebrated 27 years on July 20, 2012! WOW!

Tom and I celebrated our 27 wedding anniversary on July 20, 2012. Tom also had his 64 birthday on the same day. I like to call him the old man till my birthday comes around in August and I catch up with him. We had a great day! Tom has been going to the prisons without me on several trips. I am still struggling physically with chronic pain. I finally broke down and went to the doctor and she is trying a couple of meds which is helping some, at least my brain fog is getting better. I have had several blood tests so when I get the remaining results I will keep you all updated, until then continue to pray for my restored health. I am making it with Jesus! Revs. Tom & Monica OUR MISSION & VISION Our Mission to help men in prison reach their fullest in the Lord. What we do Ministering to their spirit, soul and body, though one on one mentoring as their spiritual advisor and friend. How we began Jeremiah Prison Ministry began on November 30, 1999, which was birth out of a bond for a young man that made a wrong choice in life.. Our Vision to be able to go into the prison chapels without the inmates having to take us off their visiting list. We know with God ALL things ARE Possible!
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Inmates are leaving prison..

The last several months we have had inmate released from prison. We ask you to pray for them as times have changed drastically since they were incarcerated. Job market is the biggest challenge for ex-offenders. We try to keep in touch with them, some do and some just move on. Our prayer is they stay out of prison and have a focused life on God.

Transitioning PA Prison Reform In the writing of our last newsletter several days later the Supreme Court ruled is was unconstitutional to give a juvenile offender life in prison without parole. So how will that affect the Department of Corrections in the State of PA and other states? It is now back in each states jurisdiction to change their laws for juvenile offenders. I can not speak for other states but in Pennsylvania first and second degree murder automatically receiving life in prison without parole, it didnt matter what age the offender was, a third degree murder sentence receives twenty years in prison. While the procedure is still not clear, they might receive a new hearing before the sentencing judge or appear before the pardon board, said Michael Bergstrom, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. The PA legislature will need to take a close reading of the ruling and introduce new sentencing guidelines, said state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, who chairs the judiciary committee. The court did not say life sentences are unconstitutional, only that they cannot be mandatory. The Legislature will have to weigh factors like the degree of homicide and if the convicted juvenile was the killer or an accomplice, Greenleaf said. Well work on it this summer, Greenleaf said. Pennsylvania has 373 inmates sentenced to life while they were teenagers, according to the Department of Corrections. Once you include inmates who committed crimes as teens but were sentenced after turning 18, the states juvenile lifer population rises to around 480, said Bill DiMasco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. Personally I have written Senator Greenleaf to keep us updated on the forthcoming decision. We are seeing our prayers being answered. God is faithful! A new inmate.

Please make sure to use our new address when sending a donation.

Last month I had the opportunity to meet our new inmate, Rick Roberts. Ricky came to Christ 5 years ago after watching the movie the Passion. Ricky used to be a leader of a gang in prison but now he has a tender spirit and has nothing on his mind other then serving God. Ricky is a juvenile life offender and the Supreme Court decision will definitely change his sentence. I count it a Joy to know him!
L to R Mike, Tom, Monica & Ricky

Page 2 We are rejoicing in the Supreme Court ruling! We wait patiently for PA to change the sentencing laws for juvenile offender serving life without parole.

Jeremiah & Valerie We are excited for Jeremiah, he has been given outside work clearance and is learning so many new trades. We are counting the days when he will be released! We are looking at 2014 but we are hoping with sentencing changes that he will be considered earlier release too. He is pictured here with his fiance, Valerie. And yes the prison ministry is named after Jeremiah!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

PRAYER CORNER ~Pray for Kevin, Chris, Mike, Domino, Michael, Doug & Richard that God blesses them financially. ~Pray for Lewis, Corey, Bob, Greg, & Eric to receive favor for commutation and retrials. ~Pray for Jeremiah as we continue to believe for a miracle for his release. ~Pray for continued healing for Bob, Larry, & Harvey. Leah remains cancer free and will finish high school in the fall. ~Pray for Andy our grandson, he carries a 4.0 avg at DSU and just returned from China. ~Pray for our family spiritually, physically and financially. ~Pray for my brother, Norman. Pray for Toms brother, John, as he will be starting dialysis. ~Pray for the salvation of the world. Pray for inmates and their families, our Nation, our leaders, our military and their families. ~Pray for prison reform in our nation. ~Pray for Bill our dear friend & his wife Rose for restored health. ~Pray for Dotty & her husband Stan for good health. ~Pray for us for strength and wisdom in all we do, that we remain cancer free and healthy to do Gods work, for our cars to be mechanically sound. You are an Extended Hand and a vital part of this ministry. Together we are making a difference with Jesus Christ, taking life to a dark place! We go because you send us. Thank You so much!

Pastor Toms Preaching Corner WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 21 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The Bible says, As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Youll never go any further in life than the image you have of yourself. Self-esteem is the way you see yourself. Once you are apart of Gods familyYou are a new creature. Old things have passed away. You are the righteousness of God. The enemys plan is To beat you down in life. To discourage you greatly. To make you think you can never accomplish anything. The Bible tells us that God created us in His image. Your sense of esteem cannot be based on your accomplishments or how popular you are. Your selfesteem has to be based on who the Greater One is in your life. No matter what youve done in life, God will never love you less. He made you to be more than a conqueror. The Blood of When you know that God has great plans for your life, there are some Jesus Christ places youll quit going and things you will quit doing. covers the guilt If you will put God first and get the sin out of your life, you can start feeling of your past better about yourself. If youll repent of all your failures and put Him first, and makes you you will begin to raise your self-esteem. worthy. God sees your potential. He knows who youre going to become when you make Him the Lord of your life. If you feel unworthy today, know that we all feel unworthy some times. The Blood of Jesus Christ covers the guilt of your past and makes you worthy. The battle field is in our minds. We must renew our minds with the Word of God everyday. Jesus came to let us know that we are not inferior. We can rise above it all. With His help we can make it. Jesus came to let us know that weve been adopted into the family of God. God loves you, so you can love yourself. You are created in His image. You are the righteousness of God.

Jeremiah Prison Ministry Revs. Tom & Monica Cohee 223 Cameo Dr. 717-352-0080 Fax: 717-352-0392 info@jeremiahprisonministry Were on the Web! www.jeremiahprisonministry.com

To Our Family & Friends We love you!

Your Editor: Rev. Monica Cohee