A Middle School Christian Book Drive

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

We love it when people do Christian book drives for CLI. We have been supported by almost 200 churches who have done book drives. The directions are on our website.

But it's always a special blessing when Christian books come from a new source. We've been blessed by Boy Scout troops (Eagle projects) but until today, never a middle school.

Trenton Butterworth of the Worthington Christian Middle School in Westerville Ohio collected 39 Christian books in his book drive. Then he shipped them in two boxes to CLI and enclosed a check for $20!

His enclosed letter said, "In these boxes are books we collected at our school for your book drive. We pray they will reach many people for Christ."

I think the Lord is smiling down on Trenton and thinking as we are, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

The CLI Photos are Available Online

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

The photos are online from the CLI author dinner!

We praise God for our loyal photographer, Gregory Johnson. Gregory has taken the photos of the Author-Dinner since...? (Lots of them!)

Check out the link here.

Hope you were able to come this year. Paul Tsasa (pictured above) gave a remarkable testimony of how God used his time in prison!

CLI Welcomes the Hogstrom Family

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI staff

It's always a blessing to see a family in action. Today we were blessed to have a family volunteer team sorting and stamping lots of Spanish Bibles. They did a great job!

Here at CLI we have many different sorts of volunteer teams - church teams, school teams, youth groups, individual volunteers and yes, families too!

We praise God for all the helping hands He sends us. Through the work of our volunteers, thousands are blessed in the prisons!

A Humble Plea

Posted by Jeremy Watson - CLI Staff

Inmates often send us poetry or song lyrics praising the Lord despite their circumstances. In the following poem, Jennifer at the County Jail in Tarboro, NC, eloquently cries out to God for forgiveness and revival:

“Lord, I am guilty
Of so many things
I fear the punishment
Your judgment brings
There’s nothing I can do
To overcome what I’ve done
In turning away
I disrespected your Son
I long to return!
I’m both knocking and seeking
Please answer me, Father,
Though I haven’t been pleasing!
I repent! I repent!
As I drown in my sorrow
And I live in a cage
Fearing tomorrow
I can’t take it back
I can’t make it go away
I come to you now
With my head hung in shame!
Father, forgive me
For the commandments I’ve broken
For every word of praise
That I haven’t spoken!
I know I’m unworthy
I feel it in my bones
But I crave the love
That I used to know!
Fill me up
And take me back!
Replace in me, Father,
Whatever I lack!
I’m a pathetic beggar
Trying to be better
In Jesus’ name forever

Amen,
Your Sinner Jen”

New Decisions for Christ

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI staff

We praise God for all decisions for Christ in the prisons.

Recent decisions were:
Lorraine Hamilton, OH
Michael Perry, FL
Adrian Palestine, TX
Paul Gettysburg, PA
Raymond Somerset, PA
Angela Quincy, FL
Sergio Palestine, TX
Yannick Wasco, CA
Jason New Haven, CT
Sandy Stroudsburg, PA
Pedro Muskegon, MI
Burley Overton, TX
Steven Chino, CA
Brian Glennville, GA

CLI Reaches 183 Prisons in September

Posted by Anders Skaar at CLI

In September, we had the pleasure of sending wonderful Christian books and Bibles to 183 prisons and youth centers. They were especially pleased to receive many Spanish Bibles - the most requested and least donated item.

We praise God for His constant provision to CLI and our ongoing ability to pass these blessings on to those in so desperate need.

The institutions we served were:

Bibb County Correctional Brent AL
Dayton Correctional Institution Dayton OH
NC Correctional Institution for Women Raleigh NC
Ohio State Penitentiary Youngstown OH
Return Ministries Concord NC
Rhode Island Correctional Cranston RI
Rhode Island Training School for Youth Cranston RI
Rich Hill Youth Development Center Rich Hill MO
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility San Diego CA
Richland Correctional Institution Mansfield OH
Ridgeland Correctional Institution Ridgeland SC
River Correctional Center Ferriday LA
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution Nashville TN
Rivers Correctional Institution Winton NC
Riverside Correctional Facility Philadelphia PA
Riverside Juvenile Hall Riverside CA
Riverview Correctional Facility Ogdensburg NY
Robert Presley Detention Ctr Riverside CA
Robinson Correctional Institution Somers CT
Rockingham County Detention Center Brentwood NH
Rockville Correctional Facility (Women's) Rockville IN
Roederer Correctional Complex La Grange KY
Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex Brownwood TX
Rowan County Detention Center Rockwell NC
Roxbury Correctional Institution Hagerstown MD
Ruben Torres Unit Hondo TX
Rutherford Correctional Center Spindale NC
Rutherford County Detention Facility Rutherfordton NC
Salinas Valley State Prison Soledad CA
Samarkand Youth Development Center Eagle Springs NC
San Bernardino County Detention Center San Bernardino CA
San Carlos Correctional Facility Pueblo CO
San Diego Correctional Facility San Diego CA
San Luis Obispo County Jail San Luis Obispo CA
Sanford Correctional Center Sanford NC
Santa Barbara County Jail Santa Barbara CA
Santa Rosa City Jail Milton FL
Santa Rosa Correctional Institution Milton FL
Sarasota County Jail Sarasota FL
SCI Albion Albion PA
SCI Cambridge Springs (Women's) Cambridge Springs PA
SCI Camp Hill Camp Hill PA
SCI Frackville Frackville PA
SCI Greene Waynesburg PA
SCI Greensburg Greensburg PA
SCI Houtzdale Houtzdale PA
SCI Mahanoy Frackville PA
SCI Muncy Muncy PA
SCI Pine Grove Indiana PA
SCI Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
SCI Retreat Hunlock Creek PA
SCI Rockview Bellefonte PA
Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility Delaware OH
Scotland Correctional Institution Laurinburg NC
Sequoyah County Jail Sallisaw OK
SFCADF Santa Fe NM
Shasta County Jail Redding CA
Shawnee Correctional Center Vienna IL
Shawnee County Detention Facility Topeka KS
Shelby County Jail Memphis TN
Sierra Conservation Center Jamestown CA
Silverdale Detention Facilities Chattanooga TN
Snake River Correctional Institution Ontario OR
Snohomish County Corrections Everett WA
Snowden Youth Cottage for Boys Wilmington DE
Solano County Detention Facility Fairfield CA
Somerset County Detention Center Westover MD
Somerset County Jail Madison ME
South Central Correctional Center Clifton TN
South Dakota State Penitentiary Sioux Falls SD
South FL Reception Center: South Unit Doral FL
South Idaho Correctional Inst Boise ID
South Mississippi Correctional Institution Leakesville MS
South Woods State Prison Bridgeton NJ
Southampton Work Center Capron VA
Southeast Arkansas Comm Correction Center Pine Bluff AR
Southeast Correctional Center Charleston MO
Southeastern Correctional Institution Lancaster OH
Southeastern Correctional Ministry Hampton VA
Southern Correctional Institution Troy NC
Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center North Las Vegas NV
Southern Regional Jail Beaver WV
Southwest Juvenile Hall Murrieta CA
Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center Manitou OK
Souza-Baranowski Corr Center Shirley MA
Spalding County Correctional Institution Griffin GA
Spartanburg County Detention Facility Spartanburg SC
Spring Creek Correctional Center Seward AK
St. Brides Correctional Center Chesapeake VA
St. Johns Detention Center St. Augustine FL
St. Joseph County Jail South Bend IN
St. Louis Correctional Facility Saint Louis MI
St. Louis County Justice Center Clayton MO
St. Lucie County Correctional Facility Fort Pierce FL
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office St. Martinville LA
State Correctional Institution - Somerset Somerset PA
State Regional Correctional Facility at Mercer Mercer PA
Stateville Correctional Center Joliet IL
Sterling Correctional Facility Sterling CO
Stevens Correctional Center Welch WV
Stevenson Correctional Institution Columbia SC
Stevenson House Detention Center Milford DE
Stonewall Jackson Youth Devel Center Concord NC
Strafford County Dept of Corr Dover NH
Suffolk County Correctional Facility Riverhead NY
Sullivan Correctional Facility Fallsburg NY
Sumter Youth Devel Campus Americus GA
Sussex Correctional Institution Georgetown DE
Sussex I State Prison Waverly VA
Sussex II State Prison Waverly VA
SWA Dept of Community Corrections Texarkana AR
T. Don Hutto Correctional Center Taylor TX
T. R. Havins State Jail Brownwood TX
Taberg Residential Center Taberg NY
Taconic Correctional Facility Bedford Hills NY
Taft Correctional Institution Taft CA
Tallahatchie Correctional Facility Tutwiler MS
Tar Roanoke Prison Ministry Nashville NC
Tarrant County Sheriff's Department Fort Worth TX
Taycheedah Correctional Institution (Women's) Fond du Lac WI
Taylor CI Work Camp Perry FL
Taylor Correctional Inst Annex Perry FL
Taylor Correctional Institution Perry FL
TDCJ Hamilton Unit Bryan TX
TDCJ Hospital Galveston Galveston TX
TDCJ Jester III Richmond TX
TDCJ Jester IV Richmond TX
TDCJ Woodman Unit Gatesville TX
Teen Challenge of Central Florida Sanford FL
Telford Unit - CID New Boston TX
The Redeemed Evangelical Mission Katy TX
The Way Out Prison Ministry Akron OH
Tillery Correctional Center Tillery NC
Toledo Correctional Institution Toledo OH
Tomoka Correctional Institution Daytona Beach FL
Torrance County Detention Center Estancia NM
Towers Jail North Phoenix AZ
Towers Jail South Phoenix AZ
Travis County State Jail Austin TX
Trumbull Correctional Institution Leavittsburg OH
Turbeville Correctional Institute Turbeville SC
Twin Towers II Correctional (Women's) Los Angeles CA
Twin Towers II Correctional Facility Los Angeles CA
Two Rivers Correctional Institution Umatilla OR
Tyger River Correctional Institution Enoree SC
Tyrrell Prison Work Farm Columbia NC
Ulster Correctional Facility Napanoch NY
Union Correctional Inst-All Souls Chapel Raiford FL
United States Disciplinary Barracks Fort Leavenworth KS
Upstate Correctional Facility Malone NY
USP Allenwood White Deer PA
USP Big Sandy Inez KY
USP Leavenworth Leavenworth KS
USP Terre Haute Terre Haute IN
Val Verde Correctional Facility Del Rio TX
Van Wert County Jail Van Wert OH
Varner Unit Gould AR
Ventura County Sheriff Dept Ventura CA
Vermillion County Jail Division Newport IN
Vernon Bain Center Bronx NY
Vicki Douglas Juvenile Center Martinsburg WV
Virginia Beach Correctional Center Virginia Beach VA
Volusia County Division of Corrections Daytona Beach FL
Volusia Halfway House Daytona Beach FL
Wake Correctional Center Raleigh NC
Wake Regional Juvenile Detention Center Raleigh NC
Wakulla Correctional Institution Crawfordville FL
Waldo County Sheriff's Office Jackson ME
Walker State Prison Rock Spring GA
Wallace Pack Unit Navasota TX
Wallkill Correctional Facility Wallkill NY
Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility Walnut Grove MS
Walton Correctional Institution Defuniak Springs FL
Walworth County Jail Elkhorn WI
Ward County Jail Minot ND
Ware State Prison Waycross GA
Warren Correctional Institution Manson NC
Washington Correctional Facility Comstock NY
Washington Correctional Inst Chipley FL
Washington Correctional Institute Angie LA
Washington County Jail Machias ME
WE Sears Youth Center Poplar Bluff MO
Willoughby Youth House Bedford TX

CLI Author Dinner a Grand Success

Posted by Anders Skaar at CLI

Last night the Christian Library International(CLI) Author Dinner was a great success! Our guest speaker, Paul Tsasas spoke of his sudden and unexpected incarceration and how God used that experience to glorify Himself! We praise Jesus, the Author we were celebrating!

The event was held in the Raleigh Marriott ballroom.

The evening was led in song with a solo by Shenette Jones singing "Amazing Grace". CLI Executive Director Kathleen Skaar followed with a brief history of CLI and a call to Christ.

After dinner, Paul shared his amazing story of incarceration in both Raleigh and Atlanta. By God's grace, he was released just before Christmas and reunited with his wife and small children.

CLI Treasurer, Lanny Bynum gave a financial overview of the ministry and the giving opportunity.

Anders Skaar followed with recognition of the CLI donors, volunteers and prayer warriors.

Shenette Jones closed the program by leading the group in singing, "In Christ Alone".

Cuffed in Prayer

Posted by Jeremy Watson - CLI Staff

Kelly Sambrick and three volunteers from her church youth group stopped by our office today to prepare prayer cuffs for Tuesday night’s Author Dinner Fundraiser. Our prayer cuffs are blue rubber wristbands with a Christian inmate’s name on them. They remind volunteers to pray daily for a specific inmate. Christian inmates desperately need our prayers because their environments usually discourage godly living. If you would like to pray for a Christian inmate, call us at 919-212-8122, visit our Raleigh location, or sign up at the Prayer Cuff Table on Tuesday night. You will receive a free prayer cuff and a letter listing different ways you can pray for Christian inmates.