Our class was canceled today for security reasons. So now with some extra time on our hands, here is a long overdue update for #FreedomFromWithin
As of last week, 12 classes with about 350 total students across three prisons are in session.
Last week we also launched our first Bilingual Foundations For Life class in the Dixon Correctional Center. It is hard for the Spanish speaking population to find programs that focus on life skills.
The class was translated, as we don't speak Spanish. We think the first class went very well because there were a lot of emotionally filled guys coming up to us at the end of the class saying something like ".....muchas gracias!"
You guys are amazing!
Bummer on the cancel, SWEET on the Spanish class!!
It's been a great year for Freedom From Within. Thank you to all of our supporters who make Freedom From Within possible inside prison.
If you haven't seen it, check out our End Of Year Newsletter
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Sign up for our newsletter at www.freedomfromwithin.org
#freedomfromwithin
Preaching a One Word sermon tomorrow at Sheridan Correctional Center. What One Word, if consistently lifted up in prayer throughout 2020 could make next year the best year ever? For me, this is my 5th year doing this exercise. 2016 - Ollin, 2017 - Balance, 2018 - Trust, 2019 - Multiply and for 2020 my one word is "Partnerships." God's plan is so much better when we all come together. What's your One Word for 2020?
#freedomfromwithin.org
Holiness
Surrender !
Presence
Well...since u won't be here today, 2020 word for 7 mountains church unveiled today is "transference".
"The First Time I Went to Prison"
Justin Ahrens who was one of our guests last month for the Shark Tank event at the Dixon Correctional Center reflects on his first visit to prison. #freedomfromwithin.org
ow.ly/vZAg50xFL6Y
The First Time I Went to Prison: Part 1
ow.ly
This is part one of a series of reflections from a day I spent at Dixon Correctional Facility in Dixon, Illinois. Close your eyes and join me for a moment in imagining a scene .Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, there are prisoners a stirring including a mouse.
You see it was the last Celebrate Recovery night in the Sheridan Correctional Center for the year, so this evening was filled with song and cheer.
The video fireplace was burning bright while the PA system made crackling sounds all night.
Then before the end, we all shared as men.
Singing Silent Night with paper candlelight.
Though the fire was fake, the reflection on Jesus was real. their behavior was warm and grateful knowing their Saviour is here.
#freedomfromwithin.org
Jeremy Leman! I think you should know about this!
Congratulations goes to the 55 men at the Sheridan Correctional Center!
Yesturday, we celebrated graduation from our Foundations For Life class. part of our Transformational Rhythms program. During this ceremony, each graduate shared their Personal Mission Statement. Nothing pumps me up more than watching first hand the growth from a broken prisoner to a healthy man presenting their life's mission statement in front of their peers.
Most of these guys will be released shortly and I am confident, their future is bright. #freedomfromwithin.org
Sue Parrish and Cliff Parrish so it again! Fifty five men are about to return to society, better prepared than ever to improve the world around them. Faith in action!
Oh my goodness!!! This is amazing. <3
Amen Amen Amen!!! Praise God!!!
Congratulation Gentleman
Yes!!
LOVE this! God is so good! We've gotta get together soon, Cliff and Sue!
You guys are awesome!
Kudos to these young men and so much love and gratitude for this exceptional program!
Sheridan Correctional Center was filled with joy tonight as the LampLight Singers, a Victorian Christmas Caroling Quartet surprised the prisoners during their Celebrate Recovery night.
"My heart is full as these beautiful songs bring me back to my childhood."
"This is the first time during my incarceration I have really felt joyful, this was the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for, thank you Lamplight SIngers!" www.https://www.lamplightsingers.com #freedomfromwithin
Lamplight Singers - A Capella Victorian Christmas Carolers - Illinois
www.lamplightsingers.com
Providing authentically-costumed Victorian Christmas Carolers for Christmas parties and Holiday festivals as well as Singing Christmas Cards in Northern ILWow. That’s awesome. I saw them at the Ottawa Christmas parade.
That’s awesome! Praise God!!!
We saw them at the Christmas parade . They are awesome.
Most of our students in prison we talk with desire the opportunity to give back to those hurt by their past.
As I ponder Giving Tuesday, I think of the healing we all receive by giving from a free heart. In week three of our Transformational Rhythms classes, we discuss our personal values by asking, "are your values just desired or are they real and evident in your life?"
As I ponder this day, I am perplexed by how so many who desire to give never give and those imprisoned who desperately want to give, can't. #freedomfromwithin.org
College Behind Bars - Check out this documentary on PBS on Nov 25th and 26th.
Many of our students in our Transformational Rhythms program at the Stateville Correctional Center (maximum security prison) are also involved in one of several college degree programs available behind the prison wall. It's been amazing to watch their journey. #freedomfromwithin
www.pbs.org/kenburns/college-behind-bars
College Behind Bars | A Film by Lynn Novick | Ken Burns
www.pbs.org
Explore the transformative power of education through the eyes of a dozen incarcerated men and women trying to earn college degrees – and a chance at new beginnings – from one of the country’s most rigorous prison education programs.Awesome!! Praise God!!!
Wow. That is powerful!
First Place from our Transformational Rhythms Shark Tank in the Dixon Correctional Center was awarded to a prisoner for intrapreneurship (a person whose mission is to develop and innovate value to the betterment of an existing organization.) In this case, the organization is the Department of Corrections.
Mission Statement: To offer a platform providing prisoners with transformative therapeutic rehabilitation through the arts, by developing content that addresses the root cause of incarceration.
Last February during Black History Month, the first play was launched called, "Who Are You?" It was received so well, the play has started to reach outside community theaters.
A recent quote from one of the cast members inside, "I use to just do life and now after 50 years of incarceration I am now living life for the first time"
Congratulations to our first place Shark Tank Intrapreneur, the mission is coming together. Transformative therapeutic rehabilitation is happening inside and out. #freedomfromwithin
Cheering you on!!
That is soooo freaking awesome!!! Praise God!!!
love you guys so much!
The 2nd Place Winner in our Shark Tank event at the Dixon Correctional Center goes to a prisoner who presented the H.V.A.C-R Service. (Heating, Ventilation, Air Condition AND Recovery)
Inspired by his loss of his daughter from a drug overdose. The presentation was full of passion, detailing how H.V.A.C-R Services would provide a pathway towards financial independents, using a franchise model in the HVAC profession with a core value to provide HVAC skills and support to those in Recovery.
The logo is from his Shark Tank presentation. The paw logo is special because it's from his daughter. She used this paw print as her signature on every letter he received from her while he has been incarcerated.
My next post will highlight the 1st place winner who just happens to be serving a life sentence. How does a lifer win the 1st place award? Stay tuned. 🙂 #freedomfromwithin
Eagerly awaiting to hear. This program is fantastic!
After 3 Years, 100s of hours of class time, with countless hours of reading, writing, praying and preparing outside of class, the prisoners at the Dixon Correctional Center are ready for one of their biggest presentations of their life. --SHARK TANK--
Eight men and women, leading some of the most successful businesses in Chicagoland arrived in Dixon, IL to listen to graduates from our Entrepreneurship / Intrapreneurship program. Each student presented their business plan with passion to a full room of their peers and IDOC staff. Presentations were 10 minutes each, followed by hearing from the Sharks offering their wisdom, insight, encouragement and action items. The day was filled with the sounds of cheers of encouragement and the focus silence of respect and learning. Who will the Sharks pick?
I will tell you more in my next post. 🙂 #freedomfromwithin
#inspiring
This is AMAZING!!! God is soooo good!! <3
I cant wait!!
Amazing! God at work.
I LOVE THIS!!
Wow!!! Amazing😊
Across the next 7 days, we will have 157 graduates in the Dixon Correctional Center graduate in one of the 5 classes offered in our Transformational Rhythms Program.
Here is another post from Brian recalling what it was like when he graduated his first Foundations For Life class back in 2017
prisonerexchange.net/foundation-for-life-pt-1/ #freedomfromwithin
prisonerexchange.net
Foundation for Life (FFL) Part one. What makes FFL very effective is the set up. The course runs for sixteen weeks and the participants meet once a week for 2½ hours a day. On the first day of clas…Today at Stateville Correctional Center (maximum security prison) we had our first Foundations For Life graduating class. We handed out custom certificates containing each student's personal Mission Statement and Legacy Statement. Stateville was so impressed with the transformation they witness in our students, they asked us to double the number of classes we offer for the next term. #freedomfromwithin
Hallelujah! God is certainly at work among these brothers in Christ!
Yay God!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Amen!!!
This was written from one of our students who completed our Transformational Rhythms program we teach in prison. Note, Brian completed our program in May 2019 and was a top award winner in our last Shark Tank Event.
prisonerexchange.net/transformation-rhythms/ #freedomfromwithin
prisonerexchange.net
I began my journey through the Transformational Rhythms program in early 2017. I learned about it from a couple of guys I’ve been tight with while traveling through the Illinois prison system…YES!
Amen!!! Praise God!!!
Praise God