Externally Focused at Watermark

After identifying external focus as a weak area from the 4B Form in January, Sonja McCuen’s community group began serving at Exodus Ministries in June.  Read about the great work that God is doing in and through them at Exodus.    

We began on a Saturday morning and worked about 4 hours.  The guys painted apartments while the gals worked to organize the contributions closet.  The ministry asked us to consider serving the children on Thursday nights while the moms attended a class on financial management.  This began our journey into understanding the why behind the statistic that children of ex-offenders are seven times more likely to be incarcerated.  Many of the children were in foster care while their mothers were imprisoned.  We were shocked to learn that 75% of incarcerated women are mothers with kids under the age of 5.

Each Thursday evening, a team of women headed down to 4630 Munger Avenue to work with the children.  If we had more than two volunteers, the extras worked to organize the contributions closet or cleaned an apartment.  At first, we definitely experienced culture shock.  Rarely did we hear a “thank you”.  Then it occurred to us that this was the heart of serving like Christ served, without appreciation or credit.  We used the Watermark Starting Blocks curriculum to teach a Bible story to the children each week. As the summer progressed and the children saw faces they knew, they smiled, and were delighted to see us.  

The apartment we began painting in June evolved into one we are personally invested in to prepare for a new resident in September.  We coordinated with Roxann Erhart to use the money allocated by Watermark for Exodus to purchase discounted vinyl flooring for two apartments. We are so excited to watch this apartment be transformed.  We’ve used furniture donations available through Exodus, along with many of our own touches to make it a space that a resident will proud to call “home.”

A huge bonus is that it is completely enclosed and safe for children to help.  Each week, we took many of our kids there and they chose one of the younger children to shadow and encourage them to make wise choices.  Our children would tell you it was THEIR ministry!

One of the best parts of the whole experience has been working together as a community group to use our skills and talents for God’s glory.  There are few activities we can be involved in that are more rewarding or more important to the Lord than serving the poor, needy, and/or imprisoned.  Caring about the things God cares about is a beautiful place to be in our individual walks with Christ. 

I’m going to continue at Exodus this fall as a mentor to a new resident.  We walk with them 9-12 months, encouraging, exhorting and practicing the One Anothers of Scripture.  I know the Lord will stretch me further through this process.

 -Sonja McCuen

Hello friends!  Blessings to each of you from the Watermark Prison Ministry.  For anyone interested in working with youth offenders, or anyone interested in sharing Christ with young people, I’d like to make you aware of an opportunity.

 Champions for Life will be holding a Day of Champions at youth detention facilities across the Metroplex on Saturday July 10.  CFL will bring in speakers to share with the youth and have other activities designed to share with them the grace offered through Christ.  You will be assigned to a facility and have the opportunity to lead young people to Christ. 

 We have a number of Watermark members already serving at the Youth Village facility in southeast Dallas.  If you are a little bit hesitant to join them, this event on July 10th would be a great way for you to see the type of environment before making an on-going commitment.  Plus, you won’t be thrown in unprepared since there is a mandatory training session on Friday July 9.

For more info please see  http://www.billglass.org/source/Meetings/cMeetingInfo.cfm?MEETING=D1007A01A  .  The sign-up deadline is Wednesday June 16 so please act quickly!

As you plan your upcoming weekend, don’t forget that we have a work day on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until Noon at Exodus Ministries (4630 Munger Ave).  We will be cleaning and organizing their donation “closets”, which are actually apartments full of clothing and furniture.  You will also have opportunity to tour the site and meet some of the residents and their children.  Come for whatever part of the three hours you can afford.

Roxann Ehrhart is the Watermark member coordinating this event so if you have any questions, please contact her at 214-641-7125 or renewedspirit06@hotmail.com. 

For those of you not familiar with Exodus Ministries, they operate a twenty unit apartment complex.  Twelve single family units are completely furnished to serve resident families (moms released from prison, plus their kids) who stay for up to 12 months and participate in an extensive reentry program.  Residents get to keep the furniture and all accessories when they graduate from the program.  Opportunities exist for Watermark members to prepare apartments for new residents, adopt / mentor a family, and provide Bible Study for the kids.

In prison, I needed someone to tell me that God was real. Robert didn’t just say it, he showed me. – Harry McDonald

Robert Green: A couple of years ago, I scored very low on caring for the poor and less fortunate on my Spiritual Growth Assessment. In the past, I worked with a homeless ministry; but, once we had kids I became too busy. By the summer of 2008, my youngest son had graduated, and I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do with my extra time. I talked about it with my community of friends and was directed to Richard Smith, who helps run a transitional house for released prisoners at Cornerstone Baptist Church in South Dallas. He informed me of the great need for outreach and mentoring to prisoners and ex-offenders in our community. Later, I completed some training and was on my way to volunteering with the prison ministry.

Harry McDonald: Although I spent a lot of time ‘out in left field,’ rejecting God and doing what I wanted to do, I didn’t think I would end up in prison. I have never been a thief. I served six years in the US Army. I owned my own business. I was a married man with a family. However, after several incidents of driving while intoxicated and being found guilty of assault with bodily injury, I was incarcerated.

When I got to prison, I went to every kind of worship service I could find, met with the chapel clerk and survived okay. But, when I was transferred to Dawson State Jail in Dallas, I was in limbo. I didn’t know where I would go next; how long I would be there; or, what I would do when I got out of prison. I wondered where God was, and my struggling faith in God waivered.

Robert: I was a little nervous walking into the Dawson unit for the first time. I thought Harry and I might not have anything in common. But, he’s only five years younger than I am; we’re both from Texas; and, we have many similar life experiences. We had a connection the first time we hung out, and our love for Christ was the common factor.

Harry: It was amazing that I was ‘in the pen’ trying to get out, and guys like Robert were trying to get in and witness to convicts. He spent his valuable time helping me, and we built an instant friendship. Truthfully, I had been a stubborn red head all my life and never had a mentor or someone to hold me accountable. It also surprised me to learn that a guy like Robert had accountability in his life too, and that seemed like a whole different kind of lifestyle to me.

Robert: I learned very quickly how well many men in prison knew Scripture. Many men spend time reading God’s Word while they’re incarcerated; it is definitely Romans 8:28 in action. Harry and I talked about God’s promises, and I sent him Scripture in the letters I wrote him. I saw how something as small as a note of encouragement could be used to change someone’s life.

Harry: You wouldn’t believe what a letter means to a guy in prison. Many men don’t get letters, and some have never heard that they matter to God or anyone else. When I received one particular letter from Robert, I was on the brink of falling apart. I was looking forward to getting out when suddenly, I was faced with a restraining order by my ex-wife and more time without my kids. Robert’s note reminded me that a trial could either destroy me or make me stronger, and the only way I could be stronger was with Christ.

Robert: When I decided to start serving in prison outreach, I had no idea what God had in store. In fact, one of the first things Harry asked when we met was, “What’s in this for you?” I told him I wanted nothing, but that the love of Christ compelled me to be there. Going forward, we had many great conversations, and over time, our relationship moved from mentor to friend. Harry is a believer whose faith is growing, and he’s someone I want to hang out with. Our friendship reinforces my belief that you often get much more out of anything God calls you into. God’s shovel is always bigger than mine.

Harry: There are many people in the system who are looking for hope. Getting out seems like a fearful thing because ties have been broken and there’s nowhere to go. That’s where I was. In prison, I needed someone to tell me that God was real. Robert didn’t just say it, he showed me. The day I was released from prison, I wondered if anyone would be there. Robert was there, and it was like God saying, “I have not forgotten you.” After that, other Christians stepped in and offered transitional housing and mentoring – even a computer where I and many others could work on resumes and search for jobs. God gave me a group of folks who love me and wish the best for my future. This has given me a strong desire to give in service to the Lord and let all of this be to His glory!