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GEMS -- Helping Missionary Chaplains speak God's Word to men and women who are incarcerated.
Your donations are tax deductible.
GEMS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Or mail a check to this address:
GEMS est. 1990
Gospel Express Ministries South
Newsletter Summer 2020
GEMS is supported by individuals and churches of many denominations.
We count on the prayers and financial donations of those receiving this newsletter.
Thank you for your prayers! To help us financially, click here:
Pictured above is one of our Missionary Chaplains, Ernest Setzler, wearing a mask as he prepares to minister in Lowell Correctional Institution in June. The prisons were open to our Chaplains only a short time, and the number of inmates who could be ministered to at a time were kept very low. Nevertheless, our Chaplains would travel many miles to minister to those very few inmates. Many of our Chaplains are finding resourceful ways to continue to help inmates despite the fact that they are once again not allowed into the prisons. Writing to inmates, sending Bibles, Christian Ministry Tracts, and other items is one way that they are reminding them that they are prayed for, remembered, and loved.
Your donations are tax deductible.
GEMS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Upcoming Events:
Mark your calendars (and pray that we can have) our Auction:
25th Annual Benefit Auction November 14, 2020
Our 25th Annual Auction will be held on November 14, 2020
(Always the 2nd Saturday in November), at the Lighthouse Children's Home, 7771 East Mahan Drive.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM EST
The auction will begin at 9:00 AM EST
Come early to browse and enjoy breakfast!!
If you want to order a specific item, call or text 850-447-2033.
Plan to help us celebrate 25 years of Auctions and 30 years of Prison Ministry!
GEMS was formed in 1990 at the request of Florida Chaplains to assist them with their chaplaincy programs and the counseling of inmates.
13th Annual Benefit Banquet has been cancelled
After much prayer and consideration, due to the unusual and unpredictable circumstances in our present time, GEMS Directors and Advisors have made the disappointing decision to cancel the fall banquet. Please continue to pray about how you may be led to support GEMS financially during this trying time for all of us. We are still fully supporting our eleven Missionary Chaplains, despite the fact that we have now had to cancel two fundraisers this year. We would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider making a financial donation to GEMS. To make a donation online, please click on this link.
You may also send a check to:
Gospel Express Ministries South
P.O. Box 180505
Tallahassee, FL 32318
Your prayers and financial support
are greatly appreciated!
Board of Directors:
|
Justin Brown |
Candice Nissley |
|
Merrill Detweiler |
Mark Peachey |
|
Doug Gingerich |
Patrick Phillips |
|
Monroe Hochstedler |
Kenneth Stoner |
|
Rob Longshore |
|
Advisory Board Members:
|
Jonas Bontrager |
Jackie Kennedy |
|
Lee Hoover |
Richard Sauder |
|
Scot Hudson |
|
At the discretion of the directors, up to 10% of funds received may be contributed to: partnering ministries, supporting ministries, and like-minded prison-related ministries.
GEMS
Gospel Express Ministries South
P.O. Box 180505
Tallahassee, FL 32318
850-562-0986
Email: GEMSprisonministry@gmail.com
Nonprofit organization led by a Board of Directors, Advisory Board & Fundraising Committee.
Primarily serving North Florida Correctional Institutions
Thank you for your prayers and support! To help us financially,click here.
Gospel Express Ministries South
Like us on Facebook!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Past Newsletters:
GEMS est. 1990Gospel Express Ministries South
Newsletter Spring 2020
Prison Outreach
Missionary Chaplain Service Hours this past quarter
|
|
Dec. '19 |
Jan. '20 |
Feb. '20 |
|
Prisons |
38 |
40 |
47 |
|
Hours in Prisons |
310 |
320 |
388 |
|
Inmates Served |
6,773 |
5,977 |
8,951 |
|
Miles Traveled |
10,517 |
13,114 |
10,517 |
Missionary Chaplains
GEMS is supported by individuals and churches of many denominations.
We count on the prayers and financial donations of those receiving this newsletter.
Thank you for your prayers!
A huge Thank You to those of you who donated funds for Bibles!
At our Auction in November, many of you contributed money designated for Bibles. River of Life Church in Crawfordville, FL had contacted us and wanted to donate $250 and 108 Bibles for our Chaplains, and asked if we could raise matching funds at our Auction. Our auction participants quickly donated the requested matching funds, and then contributed additional money. 108 Bibles, which consisted of 12 Spanish Bibles and 96 large print Bibles in KJV, were handed out to our Missionary Chaplains who will take them into prisons where they minister. The additional $750 that was raised, was given to the ministry of one of our Chaplains, Dan Nase of Harvest of Life Ministries, where we knew the money would be spent on Bibles. Dan purchases Spanish Bibles, which he mails to inmates who have written to him requesting a Bible. Every day Dan prepares an average of 10 packages, costing approximately $20 each. Besides a Bible, the package contains a Bible study booklet, and bookmark. Dan states that the money he gets from GEMS each month helps with this expense, and says he, “couldn’t do this without GEMS.” GEMS could not help Dan without your support.
Testimony: Dear Dan Thank you and your ministry partners for sending Bibles to detainees in prison. We do not have Spanish services here nor Spanish Bibles. The “Iglesia del Sol” (Church in the Sun) meets daily in the yard. We read our Bibles, pray and share our testimonies. That is how I was saved in July 2019. I am from Honduras. Our Church here in the detention center consists of brothers from El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua and South America. I want to learn all about my Savior so when I return to my village in three months, I can evangelize my family and share with my friends about the good news of Jesus. I want to ask for a small Bible so that I can carry it around with me and read it when I can. Some brothers here have Bibles you sent and they are grateful for your generosity. We do not have money to send you, but we pray for your ministry everyday and ask God to supply all your needs.
Your donations are tax deductible.
GEMS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Upcoming Events:
Ladies Tea May 2, 2020
Sorry! This event is cancelledDue to the COVID 19 virus pandemic, GEMS had to make the decision to cancel the Ladies Tea fundraiser scheduled in May. However, we have eleven Missionary Chaplains who count on our financial support. Therefore we would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider making a financial donation to GEMS. To make a donation online, please visit our website and you can find a yellow PayPal button on the home page, at the bottom left. You may also send a check in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for your coveted prayers and financial support!
13th Annual Benefit Banquet August 8, 2020
Watch for more information to be coming soon!
25th Annual Benefit Auction November 14, 2020
Our 25th Annual Auction will be held on November 14, 2020
(Always the 2nd Saturday in November), at the Lighthouse Children's Home, 7771 East Mahan Drive.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM EST
The auction will begin at 9:00 AM EST
Come early to browse and enjoy breakfast!!
Plan to help us celebrate 25 years of Auctions and 30 years of Prison Ministry this year!
GEMS was formed in 1990 at the request of Florida Chaplains to assist them with their chaplaincy programs and the counseling of inmates.
STATISTICS YOU SHOULD KNOW
On average, 70% of inmates released return to prison within 5 years of their release. GEMS helps change that. Based on data collected by the Florida Department of Corrections, inmates who participate in at least 10 religious meetings a month have a 26% lower recidivism rate.
Your prayers and financial support are greatly appreciated!
Board of Directors:
|
Justin Brown |
Candice Nissley |
|
Jonn Darbyshire |
Mark Peachey |
|
Merrill Detweiler |
Patrick Phillips |
|
Monroe Hochstedler |
Kenneth Stoner |
|
Rob Longshore |
|
Advisory Board Members:
|
Jonas Bontrager |
Lee Hoover |
|
Doug Gingerich |
Richard Sauder |
At the discretion of the directors, up to 10% of funds received may be contributed to: partnering ministries, supporting ministries, and like-minded prison-related ministries.
GEMS
Gospel Express Ministries South
P.O. Box 180505
Tallahassee, FL 32318
850-562-0986
Email: GEMSprisonministry@gmail.com
Nonprofit organization led by a Board of Directors, Advisory Board & Fundraising Committee.
Primarily serving North Florida Correctional Institutions
Thank you for your prayers and support! To help us financially,click here.
Gospel Express Ministries South
Like us on Facebook:
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
GEMS est. 1990
Gospel Express Ministries South
Newsletter Winter 2020
Prison Outreach
Missionary Chaplain Service Hours this past quarter
|
|
Oct. ‘19 |
Nov. ‘19 |
Dec. ‘19 |
|
Prisons |
36 |
45 |
38 |
|
Hours in Prisons |
279 |
277 |
310 |
|
Inmates Served |
4,427 |
4,665 |
6,773 |
|
Miles Traveled |
10,422 |
10,567 |
10,517 |
Missionary Chaplains
GEMS is supported by individuals and churches of many denominations.
We count on the prayers and financial donations of those receiving this newsletter.
Thank you for your prayers! To help us financially, click here:
A message from our Chairman of the Board:
Why Prison Ministry?
What motivates someone to do prison ministry? We can all appreciate and understand the visits of a family member to a mother or dad, or the visits to a close friend, but what about the rest of us who do not have relatives or friends in jail or prison. Why should we go?
Like many of us, I spent most of my adult life without thinking seriously about prisoners. Oh yes, I was active in church and other meaningful volunteer ministries, but prison ministry, no way. I never thought about it. And why should I? Driving by a prison might cause me to ask some questions. “How many men or women are there? How many children are without mom or dad? Do some of them have life sentences?" That’s about all.
That changed six years ago when a friend asked me to go with him on a 4-day prison crusade. Well, I did not like the first day at all. I did not like the gate, the razor wire, the inmates lined up like cattle, the slamming doors, the dorms with 72 bunks, the food . . . Lord, get me out of here. The second day was only a little better. Oh why did I give my word to stay all four days?
The third day was completely different. God chose to use me with an inmate. The man invited me to sit on his bunk and talk. That is, he talked and I listened. After hearing his story and his prayer request, I offered a couple of suggestions and we prayed together. He promised to attend a chapel service the next day and, sure enough, he showed up. What a blessing it was to watch as he and God had a conversation. It was that moment that the Lord confirmed with my spirit that prison ministry was right for me. What joy to do what God calls us to do!
Your donations are tax deductible.
GEMS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Upcoming Events:
14th Annual Ladies Tea May 2, 2020
The date is set! The14th Annual Ladies Luncheon & High tea will be May 2, 2020.
Details to follow. Please help us spread the word and share our page.
~Looking forward to this wonderful time of friendships & fellowship~
13th Annual Benefit Banquet August 8, 2020
Watch for more information to be coming soon!
25th Annual Benefit Auction November 14, 2020
Our 25th Annual Auction will be held on November 14, 2020
(Always the 2nd Saturday in November), at the Lighthouse Children's Home, 7771 East Mahan Drive.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM EST
The auction will begin at 9:00 AM EST
Come early to browse and enjoy breakfast!!
Plan to help us celebrate 25 years of Auctions and 30 years of Prison Ministry this year!
GEMS was formed in 1990 at the request of Florida Chaplains to assist them with their chaplaincy programs and the counseling of inmates.
STATISTICS YOU SHOULD KNOW
On average, 70% of inmates released return to prison within 5 years of their release. GEMS helps change that. Based on data collected by the Florida Department of Corrections, inmates who participate in at least 10 religious meetings a month have a 26% lower recidivism rate.
Your prayers and financial support are greatly appreciated!
Board of Directors:
|
Justin Brown |
Candice Nissley |
|
Jonn Darbyshire |
Mark Peachey |
|
Merrill Detweiler |
Patrick Phillips |
|
Monroe Hochstedler |
Kenneth Stoner |
|
Rob Longshore |
|
Advisory Board Members:
|
Jonas Bontrager |
Lee Hoover |
|
Doug Gingerich |
Richard Sauder |
At the discretion of the directors, up to 10% of funds received may be contributed to: partnering ministries, supporting ministries, and like-minded prison-related ministries.
GEMS
Gospel Express Ministries South
P.O. Box 180505
Tallahassee, FL 32318
850-562-0986
Email: GEMSprisonministry@gmail.com
Nonprofit organization led by a Board of Directors, Advisory Board & Fundraising Committee.
Primarily serving North Florida Correctional Institutions
Thank you for your prayers and support! To help us financially, click here.
Gospel Express Ministries South
Visit our Website: and like us on Facebook:
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
GEMS
Gospel Express Ministries South
Newsletter Fall 2019
Prison Outreach
Missionary Chaplain Service Hours this past quarter
|
|
June ‘19 |
July ‘19 |
August ‘19 |
|
Prisons |
37 |
44 |
34 |
|
Hours in Prisons |
326 |
351 |
272 |
|
Inmates Served |
7,680 |
6,248 |
5,165 |
|
Miles Traveled |
12,822 |
15,503 |
12,092 |
Missionary Chaplains