Entering the CLI Mission Field

Posted by Anders Skaar Missions Director of CLI

When the staff and volunteers enter CLI, we are entering 1,000 prisons and the thoughts of many hundreds of prison inmates. As we review their Bible studies or answer their letters, these men and women are ministered to by CLI.

While our mission field is by mail, we have the wonderful opportunity to talk about Jesus and witness him change lives for all eternity. And that is an important mission field!


And as we leave CLI, we are entering the world - a vast and wonderful mission field!

Christian Books Change Lives

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

Well, the results are in! Christian books do indeed change lives!

Here at CLI, we get letter after letter telling us how a life was changed by a Bible, by a pamphlet, by a tract, by a page of a Bible!

That's why we are so excited to send Christian materials out to the prisons!

This week the Alabama Baptist newspaper and website carried a mention of CLI. We support about 19 Alabama prisons. As soon as the story broke, we began receiving phone calls from people in Alabama interested in sending their used Christian books to the prisons. Praise the Lord!

Here's the link to the Alabama paper:

Praise God!

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

One of the blessings of working in a ministry is to stand back and watch God's blessings flow. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" - or so goes the Doxology song.

Several weeks ago, CLI approached several state Baptist newspapers to run a "Christian Book Drive" announcement. One of the newspapers was in Texas. Well, I guess we struck oil! - A gusher!


For the last week or two, USP, FedEx and the US Postal Service have been delivering box after box of desperately needed materials like Spanish Bibles to CLI. They all come from a previously unknown donor with a PO box in Texas.

We're not talking a nice donation - we're talking a huge donation!

I smile when I think of all the people CLI serves in the prison who will be blessed by these Bibles and Christian materials! God is good - ALL the time!

Circles of Revival

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI

Revival is God’s intervention into a life or lives of people whereby there is a serious reflection on sin and open confession of sins. The result is a major awareness of God’s presence and holy desire to obey and do His perfect will. With obedience comes testimonies about God and His grace and His wonderful plan of salvation. Thus many are born again and become disciples of Christ.

The words revive and revival have a range of meanings such as to live, make alive again, to repair or make anew. Certainly we want to be renewed to the sense and wonder of God. But how might we do this?

Long ago a saint suggested that one draw a circle and step in to it. Then earnestly and fervently pray for Almighty God to bring revival and begin right in this circle. In other words, don’t worry about other’s sins or renewal, but start with yourself. I have prayed and have actually felt stirrings or embers of renewal. I invite you to join me.

If you make this commitment to God in order for your own heart to be revived, please let me know. Let us band together for a mighty movement of God and look for His glory to fill the land. Let us prepare for a profound sense of the presence of our Holy God and truly experience the Lord Jesus anew!

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? NIV Psalm 85:6

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. NIV Habakkuk 3:2

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." NIV Hosea 6:2

Series: Being a CLI Team Member 4

Posted by Marianne Reynolds - CLI Volunteer

In my time spent at CLI I’ve realized that many people on the outside of the bars think they are free to do as they please with no authority in their lives, while many behind the bars are living free because Jesus Christ set the captives of sin free! They are free as they experience God’s love, joy and peace in their lives as He strengthens and equips them through His Word.

I’ve also realized even more God’s love poured out in my life as I rest in Him and allow Him to work His purposes for me and through me to bloom where He has planted me.

CLI Served 115 Prisons in June

Posted by Anders Skaar - Missions Director of CLI

We were blessed to serve 115 prisons in June. We pray all the wonderful Christian materials will be a great blessing to many for years to come! The are:

1. FPC Butner Butner NC
2. FCI Jesup Jesup GA
3. FCI Marianna Marianna FL
4. FCI Terminal Island Terminal Island CA
5. FMC Ayer Ayer MA
6. FMC Butner Butner NC
7. FCI Texarkana Texarkana TX
8. FCI2 Florence Florence CO
9. FPC Alderson (Women's) Alderson WV
10. FCI Sheridan Sheridan OR
11. FCI Tucson Tucson AZ
12. FMC Lexington Lexington KY
13. FCI Loretto Loretto PA
14. FCI Safford Safford AZ
15. FCI Greenville (Women's) Greenville IL
16. FCI Pekin Pekin IL
17. FCI Tallahassee (Women's) Tallahassee FL
18. FCI McKean Bradford PA
19. FCI Prison Camp Butner NC
20. FMC Carswell (Women's) Ft. Worth TX
21. Florida State Prison Raiford FL
22. Fairbanks Correctional Center Fairbanks AK
23. Florida Reception and Medical - West Unit Lake Butler FL
24. Floyd County Prison Rome GA
25. Fayette County Jail Fayetteville GA
26. Faith Fellowship Kenner LA
27. Farmington Correctional Center Farmington MO
28. Federal Detention Center SeaTac WA
29. Fayette County Jail Uniontown PA
30. Florida Reception and Medical - Main Unit Lake Butler FL
31. First Avenue Jail Phoenix AZ
32. Ferguson Unit Midway TX
33. Florence Crane Facility Coldwater MI
34. Five Points Correctional Facility Romulus NY
35. Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women Troy VA
36. Farquhar Cattle Ranch Greensboro AL
37. Faulkner County Sheriff's Office Conway AR
38. Ferris School Youth Center Wilmington DE
39. Florida Civil Commitment Ctr Arcadia FL
40. Franklin Correctional Center Bunn NC
41. Gaston Correctional Center Dallas NC
42. Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries Winston-Salem NC
43. Galatia Jail Ministries Galatia IL
44. Franklin Correctional Facility Malone NY
45. Franklin Pre-Release Center for Women Columbus OH
46. Fox Lake Correctional Institution Fox Lake WI
47. Forcht Wade Correctional Center Keithville LA
48. Garner Correctional Inst Newtown CT
49. Formby Unit Plainview TX
50. Gadsden Correctional Facility Quincy FL
51. Gainesville Correctional Institution Gainesville FL
52. Fox Valley Jail Ministries Appleton WI
53. Fountain Correctional Center for Women Rocky Mount NC
54. Garland County Jail Ministry Hot Springs AR
55. Frank Lee Youth Center Deatsville AL
56. Fresno County Jail (Womens) Fresno CA
57. Garza West Unit Beeville TX
58. Frankfort Group Home Frankfort KY
59. Glades Correctional Institution Belle Glade FL
60. Golden Key Prison Ministry Millport NY
61. Green Haven Correctional Facility Stormville NY
62. Georgia Diagnostic Center Jackson GA
63. Goodman Correctional Inst (Women's) Columbia SC
64. Grady County Jail Cairo GA
65. Graham Correctional Center Hillsboro IL
66. Greene Correctional Facility Coxsackie NY
67. Gist State Jail Beaumont TX
68. Genesee County Jail Flint MI
69. Glen Goodman Unit Jasper TX
70. Gates Correctional Institution Niantic CT
71. George Bailey Detention Facility San Diego CA
72. Grace Cottage for Girls Wilmington DE
73. Glenn Dyer Jail Oakland CA
74. Graceville Correctional Facility - GEO Graceville FL
75. Green River Youth Development Center Cromwell KY
76. Goss Secure Treatment Unit Tauton MA
77. Green Residential Community Home Ringwood NJ
78. Glossbrenner SFP San Diego TX
79. Gulf Corr Inst Wewahitchka FL
80. Grimes Unit Newport AR
81. Greensville Correctional Center Jarratt VA
82. Gulf Corr Inst Annex Wewahitchka FL
83. Griffin Regional Youth Detention Center Griffin GA
84. Greenville County Detention Center Greenville SC
85. Greenville Hills Academy Greenville FL
86. Stevens Correctional Center Welch WV
87. Hardeman County Correctional Facility Whiteville TN
88. Henley State Jail Complex (Womens) Dayton TX
89. Hernando County Jail Brooksville FL
90. Hidalgo County Jail Edinburg TX
91. High Desert State Prison Indian Springs NV
92. His Healing Hand Ministries Lakeville PA
93. Hill Detention Center Nashville TN
94. Henrico County Regional Jail Barhamsville VA
95. Holmes Correctional Institution Bonifay FL
96. House of Correction Philadelphia PA
97. High Desert State Prison Susanville CA
98. Hartford Correctional Center Hartford CT
99. Hendry Correctional Institution Immokalee FL
100. Homestead Correctional Institution (Women's) Florida City FL
101. Harrison County Adult Detention Facility Gulfport MS
102. Hiawatha Correctional Facility Kincheloe MI
103. Hamilton Correctional Institution Jasper FL
104. Henderson County Detention Center Henderson KY
105. Henrico County Jail Richmond VA
106. Hancock County Justice Center Findlay OH
107. Heard County Sheriff's Office Franklin GA
108. Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Eagle River AK
109. Hamilton County Jail Noblesville IN
110. Heman G. Stark Youth Corr Facility Chino CA
111. Hancock State Prison Sparta GA
112. Hays State Prison Trion GA
113. Hill Correctional Center Galesburg IL
114. Hobby Unit Marlin TX
115. Harris County Jail Houston TX

Series: Being a CLI Team Member 3

Posted by Lindy Kelling - CLI Volunteer

I am finding it hard to express into words the change I have experienced in myself as well as the imprisoned who have ministered to me as a letter minister. I went in thinking I could change a life for the better. Instead, I have been changed in the heart by those whom the world, for the most part, abandons.

Abandonment can be an entryway for darkness to enter, but the Light always overcomes darkness. As the Light transforms the hearts of those we serve in prison, they can then transform other hearts in their own mission field--within the prison walls, as well as transform us! The Holy Spirit's power at work is evident to the glory of God! I can truly say I have been and am blessed more and more because of the inmate's great love of their Savior for delivering them out of darkness. I consider it an honor to call them my brother and sister in Christ! To God be the Glory for the great things He has done!!

Series: Being a CLI Team Member 2

Having personally spent many years in prison I am very aware of the great impact the printed page has on the life of the incarcerated. Books are a tremendous blessing and the Word of God is Priceless. Prisoners are largely the Forgotten of our society; locked away and out of sight, out of mind. But, they are not forgotten by our Lord. For Jesus Himself said: "What you did to the least of these, you did to me." Matthew 25:40.

It is an honor and a privilege to give back to those what was so freely given to me. Just as the sweetheart told her daddy about throwing the starfish back into the sea: No, but I can save that one!! If one letter brightens one life even for one day, the letter was a huge success. If one life was snatched from the fire life today, it is worth while.

I know inmates are changed by mail because I am living proof. It changed me. I know it has changed me because I continue to return and write letters as time provides. God Bless the forgotten men and women in prison and God Bless those who care enough to give freely of themselves.

Former Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prisoner
# 784825 Leonard E. Lanier
One Who Cares
Hebrews 13:3