Straight Ahead Ministries - Summer Mission Journey 2010

Sally and I wish to thank everyone who supported our Summer Mission by praying for us, by contributing financially and by your words and notes of encouragement. We had the privilege of visiting 8 juvenile lockups - 1 in Arkansas, 4 in Oklahoma and 3 in Colorado. We had begun the trip with only 6 appointed visits, but God afforded us 2 "extra" stops in Pueblo, CO during our layover to have our car's engine replaced (a blown engine was UNplanned).

The kids we ministered to directly (from 36 kids in Pine Bluff, AR, to 5 - the total number of kids in a very tiny facility in Hooker, OK) were all very appreciative of the Bibles and the copies of A Way Out and Doing Time With God (devotional) that we provided. We also left hundreds of other Bibles and books for those kids who either chose not to meet with us or were unable to. Some kids had read copies of A Way Out that we had left on a prior visit. We delivered a message of Christ's love and hope and spoke to the kids of "being transformed by the renewing of their minds" (Rom 12:2). We encouraged kids to no longer be identified by the labels others (or they themselves) had attached to their lives, but rather to take hold of the Truth that God has a plan for their lives; a plan to prosper them and not to harm them, a plan to give them hope and a future (Jer 29:11). Kids had comments and questions regarding the words of hope that we offered them. Many were also interested in having "Prayer Pals", the pen pals ministry that we offered them.

We met with a number of program directors and were encouraged by their interest in increased ministry opportunities for the kids in their care. We met with the pastors of two churches in Woodward, OK. We presented them with materials and were able to commend them to a receptive administrator of a nearby facility. They were all very appreciative of the materials and encouragement that we offered to the kids.

We had the great pleasure of meeting with several of God's people in the towns we visited. In Arkansas, we were hosted by a wonderful family. While there, I shared our mission and vision with the husband and his men's life group. He and another man will be going to minister in a nearby juvenile facility and incorporating the materials and some ideas that we equipped them with. We met with several more individuals and couples in Oklahoma and Colorado who either are or will we ministering to kids in lockup.

One woman felt that she was an answer to prayer that Sally and I had begun in a small town in Oklahoma we had visited 3 years ago. She had begun to feel God's call at that time and has been ministering to kids and women in a jail there.

There is so much more that we could share, but in an effort to keep this relatively brief, we would be delighted to respond to any questions you have via email or conversations. Please feel free to contact me by phone 860-214-8519 (cell) or by emailing me at rluzietti@straightahead.org.

Again, thank you for your partnership in enabling us to reach hurting kids for Christ.

~Rich and Sally Luzietti