Paul Beeman

Chaplain Paul Beeman

I will be 65 this year and this is my 23rd address since leaving home at 17 years old and I never thought I would live this long, much less live the Life I do for our  Lord Jesus Christ .
I will touch on that briefly in a little farther down .
I got involved with GEMS about 7 years ago donating Bibles to the Chaplains to give out in North Florida prisons.
I heard a group of the GEMS members 7 years ago on the air one day as I was driving they were in the studios at  WFRF Faith Radio a Christian radio station in Tallahassee. They were talking about what they do in the prison ministry and the yearly auction they hold in November each year. I pulled my car over, called the radio station right then and talked to Merrill Detweiler as he just got off the air. We talked about Bibles and the Auction that I ended up going to that next month and meeting many of the Chaplains.
At that time I was heavily involved with a ministry called "Bibles for Believers" a Bible distribution ministry through River of Life Church in Crawfordville Florida 
I have lived in Crawfordville with my wife of 16 years Tanya and my son Samuel 13  and daughter Alyssa 18 for over 15 years now.
We have attended River of Life for 12 years now. I love Wakulla county and the Big Bend of Florida. We have a house on 5 acres near St Mark's which the Lord has richly blessed us with.
 I have been 16 years sober this year after 35 years of alcohol and drug abuse. Jail, AA, rehabs and will power  didn't cure me. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did!  He totally healed and cured me of the many years the enemy stole!
In 2014 I battled  for my life with stage 4 throat cancer.Crushed!
I sure thought I was done, but the Lord said "no, you're just beginning my child".
 I broke both legs 2021 in a lawn mower accident. Crushed again!
I trusted God to show me His way again and He sure has.
I own my small window washing and maintenance business and live a modest life cleaning and fixing stuff .
We homeschool our son Samuel.
I Joined GEMS in April 2024 and  our Lord Jesus Christ  has opened doors only He can and shut doors only He can. I am blessed to be part of a prison ministry I could never have imagined in my life, 
if I had even tried to imagine one .
My older brother is doing a 15 year bid in a Florida prison with 3 years left as of this writing .
Visiting him is when God started to work on my heart for prison ministry.
I had always tried to stay out of prison 
when I should of been sent to one for things I have done in my past .
And now I am drawn inside the walls by a  force so big and clear I have to listen. God's voice.
I have never been a Bible teacher or preacher .
Now I do both weekly in  North Florida Prisons 
Never ran a Substance abuse group.
Never thought I would sit down for an hour  mentoring sessions with 5 separate men twice a month as they prepare for release and start a new life...I'm blessed to be a part of their lives.
Now I do weekly sessions in prison.
Never been to a Prison Confinement unit  lock up 
But Now I go weekly to pray with the men and give out Bibles and other Christian books and literature.
Never held the keys to FDOC facilitate doors 
Now I do to open the Chapel and class rooms .
To God be the Glory.
I am starting a private transition temporary home for two men a year on my property this year as well as God leads us.
The first man will be here December 2024 .
I will hand pick them from my mentoring groups and give them a place to get a new start and have a church family and support 
system to help them to get on their feet and serve God and our community moving forward .
I thank my Wife Tanya for all her love and support and son Samuel for his support on this as they are  here helping day to day .
Thank You GEMS for putting me on the team .
I want to thank River of Life Church in Crawfordville and the pastors staff and many brothers and sisters that are the body of Christ. Their love and support is such a blessing and they have been a continue to be a most crucial part of my growth in the Lord Christ Jesus.
They are my church family.
Most of all I thank you Father God ,Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit!
With you all things are possible!