Stamping for Fruit

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director

One of the easiest jobs that we have at CLI is stamping our address in Christian books, Bibles and tracts. It is also an important job. It is our way of connecting with the men and women in prison.

While they are reading or looking over a book they may see our address and write to us. Our volunteers write back with encouraging comments in the Lord. It is also the way that we connect inmates with our free Bible correspondence study.

The inmates are extremely appreciative of the letters our volunteers send to them. Some of them don’t get letters from anyone else. For Christians, it helps them remain strong in the Lord and for non Christians it opens their hearts to the gospel.

Stamping is great for individuals and also for groups. We have a number of stamps so if you are part of a Christian group give us a call. This is also a great job for youth and youth groups.

CLI on WTRU

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

Today, Kathleen and Eugene were on the radio! They were guests on Steve Noble's "Called to Action" radio program, heard locally in Raleigh from 4-5 PM on station WTRU.

Steve is an excellent host, able to draw out his guests. Kathleen spoke about the upcoming Author-Dinner on October 8th and Eugene spoke about starting the CLI Bible study while in prison. It was a wonderful perspective from an inmate's point of view.

The listeners were thrilled to hear about how God's Word is reaching into the prisons. Here's a link to the podcast:

Today is a great day in Colorado!

I picked up books yesterday at two church campuses and at the distribution center to send some out this week, and all three places were overflowing with books & Bibles.

I’ve packed up 6 boxes already this morning and it looks like I’ve only sorted through about a quarter of the total amount. I’m going to be able to fill all of the rest of the requests that were left over from the last large shipment.

Sarah Timme, Broomfield Colorado

Author Dinner Preview

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director

As Nathan McLeod, CLI board member left the Author Dinner Preview last night, he said, “I’m very proud of you Kathleen.” Since I hadn’t done anything other than give our guests some ideas for volunteering, I said, “Why are you proud of me Nathan?” He said, “You’re starting to give up control.” Ha!

Yes, that is something our board members and I have joked about. However, when they chide me at being a controlling person, I remind them that they are just as controlling as I am. They laugh heartily and agree! As always, it takes one to know one!

Of course we all know that Jesus is the one in charge of CLI, our businesses and our personal lives. To Him be the glory in all things and in all circumstances. And we do give Him glory for our Preview hosts, Bert and Lindy Kelling!

Bert is our Table Sponsor Coordinator. This is a first time volunteer position and he is doing an excellent job! He and Lindy hosted a group of Table Sponsors at the Carolina Country Club with coffee, tea and dessert. He led the meeting by sharing about CLI and tips for inviting guests.

His job includes securing saints to sponsor tables at the CLI Author Dinner October 8th in Raleigh. There is still time if you would like to sponsor a table and help inmates know Christ. $600 to sponsor a table of 10 which includes dinner and $300 for 6. Bert is an orthodontist by day, so please call me at 919 212-8122 if you are led to join our team and sponsor a table this year. We hope you will!

26 Smiling Faces

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

Here they are - all 26 volunteers from the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at NC State University. Part of their charter is to do community service. Last Saturday, CLI was blessed by this joyful and industrious group.

For several hours, they stamped and prepared books and Bibles for shipment to the prisons. They made a serious dent in the back-log.

We praise God for these young ladies!

The First Thing I Read

Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director

Although we get thousands of letters from inmates, sometimes we get a sweet note from one of our mission partners. I’d like to share this letter that we received today with a $250 donation!

“When the CLI newsletter arrives in my mailbox, it’s the first thing I read. It’s wonderful to realize how God is at work through the simple medium of books. That is how I came to know the Lord Jesus as my Savior, so (being blessed with a steady full-time job!) I am pleased to be a part of CLI’s ministry.

Please use the enclosed wherever it’s most needed. May God bless you with a rich harvest.

 Sincerely, Wendy

CLI Served 156 Prisons in August

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

We praise God for all the wonderful Christian books and Bibles we have been able to send to the prisons we serve - all over the US! Our book donors and financial supporters have been very generous! We pray all these materials sent to 156 US prisons will be a great blessing to those behind bars.

They are

Arizona State Prison - Safford Safford AZ
Florida Civil Commitment Ctr Arcadia FL
Fulton Reception and Diag Center Fulton MO
Hardee Correctional Inst Bowling Green FL
John B. Connally Unit Kenedy TX
Northern Reg Juv Det Center Wheeling WV
Nueces County Jail Corpus Christi TX
OL Luther Unit Navasota TX
Oahu Community Correctional Ctr Honolulu HI
Oak Ridge Juvenile Detention Center Richmond VA
Oaks Correctional Facility East Lake MI
Oasis Women's Care Center Somerset KY
Odom Correctional Institution Jackson NC
Ogle County Detention Center Oregon IL
Ohio State Penitentiary Youngstown OH
Ojibway Correctional Facility Marenisco MI
Okanogan County Corr Facility Okanogan WA
Okeechobee Correctional Institution Okeechobee FL
Oklahoma State Reformatory Granite OK
Okmulgee County Jail Okmulgee OK
Old Colony Correctional Center Bridgewater MA
Olympic Corrections Center Forks WA
Onondaga County Justice Center Syracuse NY
Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center Orangeburg SC
Oregon State Penitentiary Salem OR
Osborn Correctional Institution Somers CT
Osceola County Corrections Kissimmee FL
Oshkosh Correctional Inst Oshkosh WI
Otisville Correctional Facility Otisville NY
Ottawa Cty Dept Corrections Minneapolis KS
Otter Creek Correctional Center Wheelwright KY
Ouachita River Correctional Unit Malvern AR
PBSO Corrections Administration West Palm Beach FL
Palm Beach Reg Juv Det Center West Palm Beach FL
Palmer Correctional Center Palmer AK
Pam Lychner State Jail Humble TX
Pamlico Correctional Institution Bayboro NC
Park County Jail Fairplay CO
Parker County Jail Weatherford TX
Pasco County Detention Ctr Land of Lakes FL
Pasquotank Correctional Inst-Unit 5 Elizabeth City NC
Pasquotank Correctional Institution Elizabeth City NC
Patuxent Institution Jessup MD
Pelican Bay State Prison Crescent City CA
Pender Correctional Institute Burgaw NC
Peoria ATC Peoria IL
Perry Correctional Institution Pelzer SC
Perry County Jail Marion AL
Perry County Jail Ministry Perryville AR
Philadelphia Alternative Center Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia Detention Center Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia House of Correction Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia Indl Corr Center (Women's) Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia Indl Corr Center Men's Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia Indl Correctional Center Philadelphia PA
Phillips State Prison Buford GA
Pickaway Correctional Institution Orient OH
Piedmont Correctional Institution Salisbury NC
Pierce County Jail Tacoma WA
Pike County Correctional Facility Lords Valley PA
Pima County Detention Facility Tucson AZ
Pine Bluff Unit Pine Bluff AR
Pinellas County Jail Clearwater FL
Pitchess Detention Center - North Castaic CA
Pitt County Detention Center Greenville NC
Pitt Juvenile Detention Center Greenville NC
Plainfield Correctional Facility Plainfield IN
Plane State Jail (Women's) Dayton TX
Pleasant Valley State Prison Coalinga CA
Plymouth County Correctional Facility Plymouth MA
Pocahontas State Correctional Ctr Pocahontas VA
Pocatello Women's Correctional Center Pocatello ID
Polk Correctional Inst Polk City FL
Polk Correctional Institute Butner NC
Polunsky Unit Livingston TX
Pompano Substance Abuse Treatment Center Pompano Beach FL
Poplar Hill Pre-Release Unit Quantico MD
Port Isabel Detention Center Los Fresnos TX
Portsmouth City Jail Portsmouth VA
Potomac Highlands Regional Jail Augusta WV
Powder River Correctional Facility Baker City OR
Prairie Correctional Facility Appleton MN
Preston E. Smith Unit Lamesa TX
Price Daniel Unit Snyder TX
Prisoners of Hope Ministry Austin TX
Pruntytown Correctional Center Grafton WV
Pueblo County Detention Facility Women Pueblo CO
Pugsley Correctional Facility Kingsley MI
Pulaski State Prison (Women's) Hawkinsville GA
Putnam Correctional Institution East Palatka FL
Putnamville Correctional Facility Greencastle IN
Quehanna Boot Camp Karthaus PA
Quincy Annex Correctional Institution Quincy FL
RFK Children's Action Corps Westboro MA
Racine Correctional Inst Sturtevant WI
Raleigh Correctional Ctr (Women's) Raleigh NC
Ramsey Unit Rosharon TX
Randolph Correctional Center Asheboro NC
Randolph County Jail Moberly MO
Rayburn Correctional Center Angie LA
Reception Diagnostic Center Plainfield IN
Red Onion State Prison Pound VA
Reeves County Detention Center Pecos TX
Regional Correctional Center Albuquerque NM
Restitution Center Union Gap WA
Rhode Island Correctional Cranston RI
Rhode Island Training School for Youth Cranston RI
Rich Hill Youth Development Center Rich Hill MO
Richard J. Donovan Corr Facility San Diego CA
Richland Correctional Institution Mansfield OH
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 Cotton Correctional Facility Jackson MI
Robert Presley Detention Ctr Riverside CA
Robertson Unit Abilene TX
Robeson Correctional Center Lumberton NC
Robinson Correctional Center Robinson IL
Robinson Correctional Institution Somers CT
Rockingham County Detention Center Brentwood NH
Rockville Correctional Facility (Women's) Rockville IN
Roederer Correctional Complex La Grange KY
Rogers State Prison Reidsville GA
Ron Jackson State Juv Corr 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
Ryan Correctional Facility Detroit MI
SCI Albion Albion PA
SCI Cambridge Springs (Women's) Cambridge Springs PA
SCI Camp Hill Camp Hill PA
SCI Chester Chester PA
SCI Coal Township Coal Township PA
SCI Dallas Dallas 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
SCI Retreat Hunlock Creek PA
SCI Rockview Bellefonte PA
SFCADF Santa Fe NM
SV State Prison Soledad CA
SWA Dept of Community Corrections Texarkana AR
Sago Palm Re-entry Center Pahokee FL
Salinas Valley State Prison Soledad CA
Sampson Correctional Inst. Clinton NC
San Bernardino County Detention Ctr San Bernardino CA
San Carlos Correctional Facility Pueblo CO

Our Author Dinner Volunteers for 2011

Posted by Anders Skaar - CLI Staff

We praise God for all our volunteers - especially those who are willing to work overtime to put on our annual Author-Dinner-Fundraiser. It is an enormous task to promote the event within the community and then to implement all the details needed to make this special event a roaring success.

Our goal with the fundraiser is that it should be a worship experience also - focused on Jesus Christ.

This week we had our first organizational meeting with a general session and team break-outs. Oh, we also served pizza, which was a big hit!

We praise God for all our volunteers!