Newsletter, Spring 2010, FOR the Least of US

OUTREACH The economic down turn is affecting us all. The challenges are there and the opportunities to display our Christian character seldom have been greater.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’(Matt 22)


Our ministry, For the Least Of Us, is blessed. Charitable giving in the form of financial and material contributions from the Church and from stewards of the needy continue to be faithful and our outreach undiminished.

As a consequence of our last Board meeting, Pam and I contacted several non- profit and County-wide agencies to learn how allied service agencies are fulfilling client needs. Feeding one’s family with healthy selections looms heavily in these days of austerity. Last week we went bulk shopping, stopping mainly at COSTCO, perhaps America’s most recognizable convenience store. Listed are the main items we picked up and delivered to several of our families. They’re listed under the categories of food preferences, household supplies, and hygiene provisions.

Fresh vegetables Toilet paper Dish washer soap


Eggs Soap/soap pads Laundry detergent


Milk Tooth brush Paper towels


Peanut Butter Tooth paste


Chicken/turkey Diapers


Hamburger Hairbrushes, combs


Tuna Furniture polish


Rice/beans/pasta


Cheese


Potatoes


Frozen foods


Bread/Butter


Rice/beans/pasta


Mayonnaise


Salt/sugar

Making house calls was eye opening, one young mom with two children under 3, had but a few dollars available to carry her family through the next 3 weeks. Our petty cash fund consequently came in handy.

MEETINGS Parolees, those inmates with good behavior records, conditionally released from prison before their sentence is complete, must attend the monthly PACT meeting held at Salinas Valley Community Church. Upwards of 120 men and women listen to approximately 20 service groups – non profits, such as the Salvation Army, Second Chance Youth Project, Turning Point, Celebrate Recovery, One Stop, The Bridge Restoration, VA, AA, Housing Resources Center, Mobile Clinic, Shelter Outreach, Serenity House, Sun Street, Victory Mission, and Monterey County Legal Aid. Each tells about their resources dedicated to ease the parolees back into their community. Their provisions include food, clothing, shelter, job training, rehab (alcohol, drugs), counseling, literacy, bus tokens, and a lot more.

Pam and I were invited. I detailed the mission of For the Least of Us.

To identify, actively nurture, and support families of an incarcerated member


To link with active prison ministries and organizations towards:

Reconciling families


Transforming hearts


Assisting in the provision of skills and services sufficient to help break the revolving door of recidivism


Welcoming the whole family, as members back into our community and church

I spoke of peace, prosperity, and the promise, afforded by a relation with Christ. Pam and I encouraged the brothers and sisters to find refuge in a welcoming church hopefully one with an active prison fellowship and one with bible study. Their attention was piqued when I described my own fall from the illusionary treasures of the world to the real treasures of His kingdom.

Afterwards, 3 young men approached our station - each a Christian who were eager to reestablish connections with a church. One regretted that a recent letter to his pastor had at yet been answered. At his request I pledged to contact the pastor directly to share our good impressions about this earnest father of 9 year old twin boys. Another of the 3 visitors shared his concern of being unable to support his mate and their small child. Each desperately wanted a job, any job, as a means to function as an important financial contributor.

We are most impressed with the non-profit agencies, so directly and compassionately active in reaching out to restore those caught up in the criminal justice system: youth with broken families, the weak, reaching out for support in all the wrong places, the heavily burdened families left behind, and those coming out on reentry with small prospects of making it back – without Christ and a transformed heart, and meaningful support from the foundational base, the church.

In His service Bill and Pam Ziering Ziering@pacbell.net 831-250-7921

“For The Least Of Us, Inc.” is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profits Faith- Based, Christ-centered prison ministry (EIN 26-1361229, DLN 17053351309017). It is guided by the precepts of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Website: http//www.fortheleastofus.com , Blog: fortheleastofus.blogspot.com

Contributions are fully tax deductible and may be sent to For The Least Of Us, Inc, 26033 Mesa Drive, Carmel, CA. 93923