CLI Served 156 Prisons in July

CLI Served 156 Prisons in July, giving the light and peace of Jesus Christ to the prisoners. We praise God for all the donors and volunteers who participated. We pray an annointing on each and every book and Bible!

They were:

Crowley County Sheriffs Office Ordway CO
Keen Mtn Correctional Center Oakwood VA
Lopez State Jail Edinburg TX
Lopez/Segovia Complex Edinburg TX
Lorain Correctional Institution Grafton OH
Lorenzo Patino Hall of Justice Sacramento CA
Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail Los Angeles CA
Lowell Correctional Inst Annex (Women's) Ocala FL
Lower Buckeye Jail Phoenix AZ
Lower Savannah Pre-Release Center Aiken SC
Lumberton Correctional Institution Lumberton NC
Lunenburg Correctional Center I Victoria VA
Lunenburg Correctional Center II Victoria VA
Luzerne County Correctional Facility Wilkes-Barre PA
Lynn Youth Re-Entry Project Lynn MA
MCI Cedar Junction South Walpole MA
MCI Norfolk Norfolk MA
MCI Shirley Minimum Shirley MA
MRDCC Baltimore MD
Mabel Bassett Correctional Center for Women McLoud OK
MacDougall Correctional Institution Ridgeville SC
MacLaren Youth Corr Facility Woodburn OR
Mack Alford Correctional Center Stringtown OK
Macomb Correctional Center New Haven MI
Macomb County Jail Ministry Mt. Clemens MI
Macon State Prison Oglethorpe GA
Macon Transitional Center Macon GA
Madison Correctional Facility Madison IN
Madison Correctional Inst London OH
Madison Correctional Institution Madison FL
Madison County Detention Center Anderson IN
Madison Work Camp Madison FL
Maine State Prison Warren ME
Man to Man Ministries at San Quentin SP Santa Rosa CA
Manitowoc County Jail Manitowoc WI
Manning Correctional Institution Columbia SC
Marcy Correctional Facility Marcy NY
Marin County Jail San Rafael CA
Marion Adjustment Center Saint Mary KY
Marion Correctional Institution Marion OH
Marion Correctional Institution Marion NC
Marion County Jail Ocala FL
Marion County Jail 11 Indianapolis IN
Marion Regional Juv Det Center Ocala FL
Marion/Walthall Correctional Facility Columbia MS
Mark Lutrell Correctional Center Memphis TN
Mark Stiles Unit Beaumont TX
Marquette Branch Prison Marquette MI
Marshall County Correctional Facility Holly Springs MS
Martin Correctional Institution Indiantown FL
Martin County Jail Stuart FL
Maryland Corr Inst for Women Jessup MD
Maryland Corr Institution - Jessup Jessup MD
Maryland Correctional Training Center Hagerstown MD
Mass. Treatment Center (MASAC) Bridgewater MA
Mat-Su Pretrial Palmer AK
Maury Correctional Institution Hookerton NC
Mayo Correctional Institution Mayo FL
McConnell Prison Beeville TX
McCormick Correctional Institution McCormick SC
McKean County Prison Smithport PA
McPherson Unit (Women's) Newport AR
McRae Correctional Facility McRae GA
Mecklenburg Correctional Center Boydton VA
Mecklenburg County Jail Charlotte NC
Mecklenburg County Jail North Charlotte NC
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Charlotte NC
Medina County Sheriff's Office Medina OH
Medium John J. Moran Facility Cranston RI
Menard Correctional Center Menard IL
Mendocino County Jail Ukiah CA
Mercer County Correctional Center Lambertville NJ
Metro State Prison (Women's) Atlanta GA
Metro Youth Service Center Dorchester MA
Metro-Davidson County Detention Nashville TN
Metropolitan Correctional Center Chicago IL
Metropolitan Transition Center Baltimore MD
Miami Correctional Facility Bunker Hill IN
Michael Unit Tennessee Colony TX
Michigan Reformatory Ionia MI
Mid-State Correctional Facility Marcy NY
Middlesboro Group Home Middlesboro KY
Middleton Unit Abilene TX
Mill Creek Youth Center Ogden UT
Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center Burley ID
Minnesota Corr Facility - Shakopee Shakopee MN
Minnesota Correctional Facility-Faribault Faribault MN
Minnesota Correctional Facility-Lino Lakes Lino Lakes MN
Minnesota Correctional St. Cloud St. Cloud MN
Mississippi State Penitentiary Parchman MS
Missouri Eastern Correctional Ctr Pacific MO
Moberly Correctional Center Moberly MO
Mobile County Metro Jail Mobile AL
Mohave County Jail Kingman AZ
Monmouth County Correctional Institution Freehold NJ
Monroe County Correctional Facility Stroudsburg PA
Monroe County Jail Rochester NY
Montana State Prison Deer Lodge MT
Montcalm County Jail Stanton MI
Montford Unit Lubbock TX
Montgomery City Youth Center Montgomery City MO
Montgomery Correctional Ctr Jacksonville FL
Morehead Youth Devel Center Morehead KY
Morrison Correctional Inst Hoffman NC
Morrow County Correctional Facility Mansfield OH
Mound Correctional Facility Warehouse Detroit MI
Mountain View Correctional Institution Spruce Pine NC
Mountain View Youth Development Center Charleston ME
Mountainview Youth Corr Facility Annandale NJ
Movimiento Evangelistico Peniel Ocala FL
Mt. Olive Correctional Center Mt. Olive WV
Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility Mt. Pleasant IA
Multnomah County Jail Portland OR
Muscogee Development Campus Midland GA
Muskegon Correctional Facility Muskegon MI
NC Correctional Institution for Women Raleigh NC
NWACCC Admin. Services (Women's) Fayetteville AR
Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Dept Nacogdoches TX
Nash Correctional Institution Nashville NC
Nassau County Corr Facility East Meadow NY
Nassau County Jail Yulee FL
Navajo County Jail Holbrook AZ
Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility Omaha NE
Neuse Correctional Institute Goldsboro NC
Nevada State Prison Carson City NV
New Castle County Detention Center Wilmington DE
New Castle Youth Development Center New Castle PA
New Hampshire Half-Way House Braintree NH
New Hampshire State Prison Concord NH
New Hanover Correctional Center Wilmington NC
New Haven Correctional Center New Haven CT
New Jersey State Prison Trenton NJ
New Life Outreach Ministries Jay OK
New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility Grants NM
New River Correctional Inst Raiford FL
Newberry Correctional Facility Newberry MI
Noble Correctional Institution Caldwell OH
North Branch Correctional Institute Cumberland MD
North Central Correctional Institution Marion OH
North Idaho Correctional Inst Cottonwood ID
North Kern State Prison Delano CA
North Texas State Hospital Wichita Falls TX
North Texas State Hospital-Vernon Vernon TX
Northeast Arkansas Reg Juv Prog Harrisburg AR
Northeast Ohio Correctional Center Youngstown OH
Northern NH Correctional Facility Berlin NH
Northern Nevada Correctional Center Carson City NV
Northern State Correctional Facility Newport VT
Northwest Correctional Complex Tiptonville TN
Northwest Florida Reception Center Chipley FL
Northwest Florida Reception Center Annex Chipley FL
Norton Correctional Facility Norton KS
T. Don Hutto Correctional Center Taylor TX
Tucker Unit Chapel Tucker AR
USP Lompoc Medium I Lompoc CA
Wallens Ridge State Prison Big Stone Gap VA

Why we do what we do

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director

…I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:36

…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40

Jesus tells us that when we serve those in prison, we are serving Him. He cares for the ‘least of these’ and longs for us to reach out with a helping hand. At CLI we reach out in nontraditional and unique ways, but one thing is for sure, we are serving Jesus.

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners… Hebrews 13:3

One of the ways that we remember those in prison is to help them know God through the Bible and Christian books. We also remember them through personal and encouraging letters and Bible studies. These are real and important ways to help inmates make it through the long and lonely days.

You can be instrumental in visiting thousands of inmates with God’s love and good news. Simply join us in prison ministry. You will be stepping out boldly in faith to help the ‘least of these’ and change their lives forever.

Remember we serve the imprisoned in every state!

CLI on the Radio

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

On Friday afternoon, Kathleen and I went to the WTRU studio for a one hour interview with Steve Noble. Steve is well known for his hard hitting questions and his 'cough medicine for the church'.

The interview went very well. Kathleen took the lead being the founder and executive director. She told about CLI's founding and her call to start a Christian library.

A podcast will be available on the WTRU website or Steve Noble's blog. Check it out!

We Praise God for our Young Volunteers

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

What to do on a hot summer's day? Well, volunteer at CLI, of course!

Today we were blessed by teen volunteers Rebecca and Courtney. They came and stamped books all while keeping cool inside CLI. Today, it's 100 degrees outside!

We Praise God for our Volunteers!

Blessed by The Colorado Team

Sorting Books


Packing Books


Great Books!


The Colorado Team

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

What a blessing to have an additional book sorting and packing site. Last Saturday a team of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and packed up wonderful Christian books and Bibles to send to the prisons.

The team included Karen, Liz & Mark and their 2 children, Sandy, Tom and Carolee, Wendy and team leader Sarah. The books were donated (in part) by: First Baptist Church - Savannah, MO, First Baptist Church - Bay St. Louis, MO, Janice, Stacie, April, and Dr. Daffron.

We praise God for these dedicated volunteers to spend their Saturday in His service to bring light to the imprisoned!

The CLI Volunteer Party - July 2011

Posted by Anders SKaar - CLI Staff

Last night we enjoyed great Christian fellowship at the CLI summer volunteer party. It was a pleasure to honor those who give so freely of their time and talents to serve the Lord through CLI.

Our guest speaker, Chaplain Speer, is the head chaplain at Central Prison. They house new inmates and the worst of the worst, plus death row. Ministering to a staff of about 800 and another 800 inmates, he has an impossible task. Plus, North Carolina is cutting many of the chaplains to save costs.

He told us about the wonderful 'Christmas Boxes' that CLI sends his prison. One inmate had requested a book, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Of course he didn't have it. But within days, the CLI 'Christmas Box' arrived with the requested book. Isn't God amazing??

Chaplain Speer placed the book on top of the other books, then asked the inmate to help unpack the box. He screamed with delight to see his book in with the others! God is good!

Here at CLI, we praise God for all our volunteers and all the chaplains around the country who distribute our books, Bibles, and the CLI Bible study!

Here's a poem by one of the inmates that we serve:


Sorrow & Despair

The room is stark, the walls are bare, cold, the echoes insomnulent.
On bent knee, clasped hands, knuckles bare and white.
My mouth agape, the toil and torment, the rivulets of tears stream down.
Why have you forsaken me?
Where is my God? My calling forbidden.
You dash my hopes of becoming a nurse.
Pure and white, as ashes pass.
To give care, to heal the sick, to nurture and to aid.
What could be more noble?
Why, O why in this place have you forsaken me?
Alone.
My title: Forgotten One. Alone. Alone. Alone.
The cavernous vacuum of my soul complete.
Embittered, I meet my charge.
Cocoa hands on my arms, liquid eyes implore—
"I need you.. .I need your help!"
You are my legs, I cannot walk.
You cleanse my body and remove the weariness and filth of the day.
The insurgents which would destroy me.
You clothe me, bring me nourishment.
You share your words and kindnesses,
You warm and soothe my ills with your measured hand,
Skin to skin, pulse to pulse, energy and soothing, calm light.
If not you, who else? I am forgotten.
Alone, supine in darkness I lie and peace descends, an ebbing wave.
For you have not removed my way, you have paved my path.
You have not forsaken me.
Instead I nurse with a different voice,
I nurse your people in your voice.
The road not traveled brought me to here, with you forgotten ones
To nourish and medicate, not with pills and shots
But with loving guidance my hands and soul as scripture tells.
You provided for my dream. I had only to open my eyes to your grace.
I am beloved. I am blessed.
You have made me your nurse and there is no higher calling.
Amen!

—Sissy Sanders

CLI Prisons Served in June

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

In June we served 156 prisons, including several new ones. They are:

Baten Unit Pampa TX
Cotulla Transfer Facility Cotulla TX
Gadsden Correctional Facility Quincy FL
Glenn Dyer Jail Oakland CA
Gulf Corr Inst Annex Wewahitchka FL
Gurney Transfer Facility Palestine TX
Hamilton Correctional Institution Jasper FL
Hamilton County Jail Noblesville IN
Hancock County Justice Center Findlay OH
Hancock State Prison Sparta GA
Hardeman County Correctional Facility Whiteville TN
Harris County Jail Houston TX
Harrison County Adult Detention Facility Gulfport MS
Hartford Correctional Center Hartford CT
Hays State Prison Trion GA
Heard County Sheriff's Office Franklin GA
Heman G. Stark Youth Corr Facility Chino CA
Henderson County Detention Center Henderson KY
Hendry Correctional Institution Immokalee FL
Henley State Jail Complex (Women's) Dayton TX
Henrico County Jail Henrico VA
Henrico County Regional Jail Barhamsville VA
Hernando Correctional Inst Brooksville FL
Hernando County Jail Brooksville FL
Hiawatha Correctional Facility Kincheloe MI
Hidalgo County Jail Edinburg TX
High Desert State Prison Indian Springs NV
High Desert State Prison Susanville CA
High Point Detention Center High Point NC
Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Eagle River AK
Hill Correctional Center Galesburg IL
Hill Detention Center Nashville TN
Hobby Unit Marlin TX
Holmes Correctional Institution Bonifay FL
Holmes-Humphreys Corrections Center Lexington MS
Homestead Correctional Institution (Women's) Florida City FL
House of Correction Philadelphia PA
Houston County Jail Dothan AL
Houston Processing Center Houston TX
Howard McLeod Correctional Ctr Atoka OK
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution Claymont DE
Howland Detention DYS Southeast Taunton MA
Hudson Correctional Facility Hudson NY
Hudson County Correctional Center Kearny NJ
Huerfano County Jail Walsenburg CO
Hughes Unit Gatesville TX
Huntington Work Release Ctr Huntington WV
Hutchins State Jail Dallas TX
Huttonville Correctional Center Huttonville WV
Hyde Correctional Institution Swan Quarter NC
Idaho Correctional Center Boise ID
Idaho Correctional Institution Orofino ID
Idaho Falls Community Work Center Idaho Falls ID
Idaho State Correctional Institution Boise ID
Illinois River Correctional Ctr Canton IL
Indian River County Jail Vero Beach FL
Indian River Juv Corr Facility Massillon OH
Ionia Maximum Correctional Facility Ionia MI
Iowa Correctional Institution for Women Mitchellville IA
Iowa Medical & Classification Ctr Coralville IA
Iowa State Penitentiary Fort Madison IA
Iowa State Training School Eldora IA
Ironwood State Prison Blythe CA
Jackson Correctional Institution Malone FL
Jackson Correctional Institution Black River Falls WI
Jackson County Correctional Facility Marianna FL
Jackson County Sheriff's Jail Medford OR
James Crabtree Correctional Center Helena OK
James River Correctional Center Jamestown ND
Jefferson City Correctional Facility Jefferson City MO
Jefferson Correctional Institution Monticello FL
Jefferson County Correctional Facility Beaumont TX
Jefferson County Prison - Praise Time Brookville PA
Jefferson Parish Correctional Center Gretna LA
Jess Dunn Correctional Center Taft OK
Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Center Hodgen OK
Joe Ney Unit Hondo TX
John E. Polk Correctional Facility Sanford FL
John Lilley Correctional Center Boley OK
Johnson City Detention Center Johnson City TN
Johnson County Detention Center Olathe KS
Johnson State Prison Wrightsville GA
Johnston Correctional Inst Smithfield NC
Jordan Unit Pampa TX
Joseph Harp Correctional Center Lexington OK
Joy Junction Albuquerque NM
Julia Tutwiler Prison (Women's) Wetumpka AL
Juvenile Correction Center-St. Anthony Idaho Falls ID
Juvenile Medium Security Facility Bordentown NJ
Kane County Jail Batavia IL
Kansas City Rescue Mission Kansas City MO
Kennebec County Sheriff's Office Augusta ME
Kenosha County Detention Center Kenosha WI
Kent County Correctional Facility Grand Rapids MI
Kenton County Jail Cincinnati OH
Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women Peewee Valley KY
Kentucky Correctional Psych Ctr LaGrange KY
Kern Valley State Prison Delano CA
Kern Valley State Prison -B Chapel Delano CA
Kershaw Correctional Institution Kershaw SC
Kettle Moraine Corr Inst Plymouth WI
Kewanee Youth Center Kewanee IL
Kilby Correctional Facility Montgomery AL
Kings County Jail Facility Hanford CA
Kinross Correctional Facility Kincheloe MI
Kirkland Correctional Institution Columbia SC
Kitsaqp County Juvenile Facility Poulsbo WA
Kootenai County Jail Coeur D Alene ID
Krome Service Processing Center Miami FL
Kyle Correctional Center Kyle TX
LaPalma Corr Center/CCA Eloy AZ
LaSalle Correctional Center Olla LA
LaVista Correctional Facility (Women's) Pueblo CO
Lake City Correctional Facility Lake City FL
Lake County Detention Ctr Tavares FL
Lake County Jail/Hill Road Facility Lakeport CA
Lake Erie Correctional Institution Conneaut OH
Lakeside Correctional Unit Michigan City IN
Lakeview Shock Facility Brocton NY
Lancaster County Prison Lancaster PA
Lanesboro Correctional Institution Polkton NC
Laramie County Detention Center Cheyenne WY
Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility Larned KS
Lauderdale County Detention Facility Meridian MS
Laural County Detention Center London KY
Lawtey Correctional Institution Lawtey FL
Lawton Correctional Facility Lawton OK
Lea County Correctional Facility Hobbs NM
Leath Correctional Institution Greenwood SC
Lebanon Correctional Inst Lebanon OH
Lebanon County Prison Lebanon PA
Lee Adjustment Center Beattyville KY
Lee Arrendale State Prison (Women's) Alto GA
Lee Correctional Institution Bishopville SC
Lee State Prison Leesburg GA
Leflore County Criminal Justice Auth Poteau OK
Lemon Creek Correctional Ctr Juneau AK
Lenawee County Jail Adrian MI
Lerdo Detention Facility Bakersfield CA
Levy Forestry Camp Bronson FL
Liberty Correctional / Quincy Annex Quincy FL
Liberty Correctional Institution Bristol FL
Lieber Correctional Institution Ridgeville SC
Limestone County Detention Center Groesbeck TX
Limon Correctional Facility Limon CO
Lincoln Correctional Center Lincoln IL
Lincoln Hills Boys School Irma WI
Lindsey State Jail Jacksboro TX
Livingston Correctional Facility Sonyea NY
Logansport Juvenile Cor Facility Logansport IN
London Correctional Institution London OH
Long Creek Youth Devel Center South Portland ME
Long Pre-Release Center Ludowici GA
Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center Golden CO
Reception Diagnostic Center Plainfield IN
Reeves County Detention Center Pecos TX

We pray they all will be blessed and many will come to Christ!