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2017IN REVIEW

Do you remember what it’s like to ridea roller coaster? The anticipation, theterror, the exhilaration? The sudden turnsand frightened screams and hoping andpraying your car stays on the track? Thatpretty much describes my first year aschair of the Freedom in Christ MinistryCouncil. We chugged up the initial hill, gettingto know our newest Council membersand gathering in Bozeman in February,adopting the goal of “Building aSustainable Future for the Ministry ofFIC.” We got all fired up and were goingfull steam ahead as Pastors Rob andGeorge Karres, our Montana SynodDirector for Evangelical Mission, camehome from a Prison Congregationmeeting at the ELCA office in Chicagoin March with new focus and a plan tobecome self-supporting. Things were looking great as we cameinto Easter, with climbing attendance andspecial arrangements to hold Easterworship, only to hit a blind curve whichmeant it didn’t happen. Our car slowed down as we sought toregather our momentum, only to hitserious financial challenges as we were

moving into summer, the season when mostministries anticipate declining income. Asour reserves dwindled and our expenses didnot, we wondered if we’d make it around thetrack. The Council worked and prayed,generous donors stepped up to the plate,fundraisers were held, expenses werereduced, and we picked up speed, headingdown the hill with raised arms and cries ofjoy and praise in the air. We were even ableto budget for a small cost of living raise forour staff, for the first time in several years!Hallelujah! Through it all, we ministered to the menwho are our reason for being. Faith wasnurtured, prayers were offered, lives werechanged. Thanks be to God who kept us onthe track! Thank to Pastor Rob for hisfaithful ministry in season and out. Thankyou to our Ministry Council members forhanging in there through it all. And thankyou all for your prayers, your gifts and allyou do to make this ministry happen. Wecouldn’t do it without each and every one ofyou.

~ Pastor Melanie Martin-DentChair

Contents:1) From Pastor Rob

2) Beyond the Bars

3) How You Can Help

4) Lent Offerings

5) Kogudus Retreat

6) Ways to Give

7) Our Rockstars

P O Box 617, Anaconda MT 59711

Tel:406.559.6800

PRISON MINISTRY

Freedom in Christ

WINTER 2018

Transforming lives at Montana State Prison throughthe power and presence of Jesus Christ.

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God truly blessed us at Freedom inChrist in 2017! Attendance grew in ourLow Side worship and Bible studygroup, due in great part to the regularinvolvement of our guests andapproved volunteers. A couple ofapproved volunteers, Connie andRoxy, drive over from Bozeman twicea month to participate in worship.Connie accompanies our singing, onthe piano, bringing new songs and oldfavorites to life. Several more folks from Big Sky andDillon, and all around the state, havejoined us, as well, adding sparkle andlife to our services. And when Howieisn’t in attendance, the guys from bothsides are quick to notice and ask if weneed to pray for him, which, a coupletimes, in 2017, we did. I point to our visitors because it isimportant to understand that they -YOU - are the lifeblood of Freedom in

2017 Annual ReportChrist. Just like in worshipingcommunities on the outside, whenguests join us you can feel the elevatedmorale and the presence of the HolySpirit that comes with that. The visibleand real participation of people fromoutside the confines of the prisonmeans the world to your brothers (andsisters) in Christ, inside Montana StatePrison. An exciting new development thatwill play out in 2018 is the newIntensive Treatment Program, housedin what used to be the Treasure StateCorrectional facility (Boot Camp) onthe campus of MSP. This intensivetreatment program will be 90 days inlength and when the participants arefinished, they will be leaving into theoutside world. Freedom in Christ was invited to playan active part in the spiritual lives ofthose in treatment. Myself, along with

retired Presbyterian Pastor, TomGomloa, one of our approvedvolunteers, will be providing spiritualmentorship, leading worship and anystudy opportunities that arise, for theProtestant participants. Fr. JoeFleming will be providing services tothe Roman Catholic inmates there. It was exciting and affirming to be apart of this growing new ministry, andespecially to know that our presence atMSP was a moving factor in thereeven being a spiritual component tothe programing at the center. Pleasekeep us in your prayers as we moveforward. Your generous gifts of time, moneyand prayer support have beeninvaluable in continuing your ministryat Montana State Prison. I beg yourcontinued support.

Besides all the end of year paperwork, we are experiencingchanges at Montana State Prison, (MSP). We are gearing upfor what I have been told by numerous people who are “in theknow” that our numbers are expected to grow,“Exponentially!”

The former Treasure State Correctional Center has beenclosed and will be used as a Residential Treatment Facility.Participants slated to be at the center specifically requestedmy involvement, so, by mid-December I will be providingSpiritual Services for Christian residents there, in a rotationwith two clergy, also from Deer Lodge. Some shuffling around has occurred at the RAC resulting inmoving Wednesday’s High Side study from 1420 (2:20-3:20)to 1300 (1:00 -2:00) which is the same as our Tuesday LowSide group. This was done to better facilitate the expectedburgeoning increase in numbers. So, what does this all mean for Freedom in Christ? It meansthat the pastor (ME!) will have an intensified schedule, atleast for a few months until we see how things are going toshake out. So I am asking for your support, spiritually,prayerfully and financially, to keep things running smoothlyhere at Montana State Prison.

And while this fuller schedule means fewer opportunitiesfor me to travel and share fellowship and stories with you, Istill very much look forward to visiting with all of you, andcovet your active participation in the extended community ofour ministry.

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

Grace and Peace,Pastor Rob Nedbalek

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Beyond the Bars, a podcast produced by Freedom in Christ Prison Ministry (FIC)will begin its broadcast in January 2018. In our first show we talk about the historyof Freedom in Christ with guest Pastor Chris Flohr of St. Paul Lutheran Church inMissoula, Montana. Co-hosts Bea Rosenleaf and Pastor Rob Nedbalek will explore issues facingcriminal and social justice and what’s going on with FIC once a month. Our firstrecording had some technical issues with echoing and we may need to re-record itso it may be a bit late getting published. Be watching for an announcement when itis available for listening. We will send an email, post to Facebook and our websitewhen it’s available. Be watching!

2017 saw several individuals andcongregations helping Freedom inChrist holding fundraisers in theirlocal areas. This was so exciting forus! St Paul Lutheran in Missoula helda pasty sale, Pella Lutheran in Sidneyhosted a community musical concertspearheaded by Pastors MelanieMartin-Dent and Alvina Olstead.Hope Lutheran in Bozeman andseveral other congregationsthroughout Montana held specialcollections for us at worship services.We LOVE you all for your efforts! We know that times are tough andmoney is tight. FIC survives becauseof you. That’s the bottom line -- weneed you to survive. When times gettough you dig deeper and fill ourcoffers up! Thank you!

Did you know there may be otherways you can help us financially thatwon’t cost more than maybe a couplehours of your time? You can organize a fundraiser! Geta group of friends to help out, ormaybe your congregation. Here’ssome ideas:

▪ Local music concert▪ Fundraiser on Facebook▪ Do a Go Fund Me Page▪ Pasty/Bake Sale▪ Car Wash (good project for a

youth group)▪ Golf Tournament▪ Pot Luck dinner▪ Bowling Tournament▪ Raffle▪ Lenten Offering

These are just a few ideas. We recently learned that some localbreweries host fundraising eveningsfor non-profits. Local Pizza Huts andPizza Ranch restaurants also offernon-profit nights. We are more than happy to helpwith your event by providingbrochures, recent newsletter, or otherinformation. If it’s nearby where aCouncil member lives, we may evenbe able to have him or her attend,depending on schedules. Bea orPastor Rob may be able to attendalso, depending on location andschedules. You would be responsiblefor organizing the event andpublicizing it to your local area. We’re excited to see what you cando to help!

How Can You Help?

Beyond the Bars Podcast

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Connecting the 12 Steps with theirBiblical Roots

LOW SIDE – Friday, April 13 – Sun-day, April 15 2018

No religious preference.

Via our website - http://www.ficprisonministry.comGo to our website and click on the Donate Now page in the menu. There you will find how you canhelp. We have our general, undesignated, gifts or various projects/funds that can use some financialsupport. Our payment gateway is PayPal, a secure and safe way to give! You can even sign up forreoccurring payments on a monthly, semi-annual or annual schedule. Easy-peasy! No check writingor mailing!

Sign up for Electronic Fund TransfersContact Bea if you are interested in having automatic deductions from your checking or savingsaccount. She can send you the form to sign up. These donations are processed by Vanco Payments,who specialize in faith-based organizations and non-profits electronic payments.

Good ‘Ole Snail MailOf course, you can still write a check and mail it to us! Our mailing address is:PO Box 617, Anaconda, MT 59711.

We try to make giving to Freedom in Christ easy with lots of options! Here are several methods youcan choose from to make gifts to us.

Did you know we have many ways in which to give?

Thrivent Choice, State Employee’s Charitable GivingYou can also choose Freedom in Christ Prison Ministry as your charity through Thrivent Choice. Checkout their website: https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-choice/.If you are a State employee, we participate in your Charitable Giving program. The next campaignbegins in September. Be watching!

Welcome & Good-byeWe are sad to say good-bye to long-time Council members, Pastor Robert Leaverton, Hugh McWhorter, CPA,

and Dennis McCave. These individuals served selflessly and contributed so much to Freedom in Christ PrisonMinistry. They helped guide the ministry from it’s humble beginnings to where we are now. Throughout theirtime with us, they offered their wisdom, their ideas and their prayers. Thank you so much for all you have givento FIC, we are forever grateful! We will miss working with you. Our new members to the Council are Rev. Connie Campbell-Pearson and Rev. Roxanne Klingensmith. Theyboth come to us from Bozeman and serve the Episcopal community there. And Michael Johns, who is a CertifiedPublic Accountant from Deer Lodge. We are so excited to have you with us and looking forward to working withyou. (Connie and Roxanne have been with us for a little over a year, but we haven’t been able to formallyintroduce them until now! Mike just joined us.)

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Yes! You are our rockstars!Without your generous gifts, wewould not be able to continuebringing the Good News to the menat Montana State Prison. A HUGETHANK YOU to each and every oneof you for your support during 2017.

IndividualsGerald AakerMarian & Dennis AlbrechtMr. AnonymousE. H. AyersSteve BensonDoris BishopDelphia BlumenthalPr. Mike & Dorothy BorgePatricia BuelingDavid & Rebecca BurtBetty BurtnessRevs. Connie Campbell-Pearson & Roxanne KlingensmithMark ChaseDarlene ClarkGary & Carol CockrellRev. Jessica Crist & Grayson TurnbullBarbara DavisB & K DebruyckerRoger & Myrl DebruyckerAnne DobneyJames & Edna DuncanHarold EvresonPr. Chris FlohrMark & Corinne FranksOrville & Vera GrasdockBruce & Bonnie GrimesLorrie GrosfieldRod & Sand HerrickRoxanne HoblittDonald & Adele IdsoJudith & Richard JensenCurtis & Karen JohnsonLiisa JohnsonM. Allen Jonas, MDPr. Greg & Carrol KarlsgodtPrs. George & Carol KarresHarold & Shirlie KlinkerVyrion LarsenGwendolyn LarsonJack LarsonPr. Robert & Susan LeavertonBurton Johnson & Dorothy LeadererPr. Peggy Leuzinger

Our Rockstars!Gary & Kerstin LorenzenGary & Maureen LundmanPrs. Melanie & Ron Martin-DentSarah McGillJanis McRaeHugh McWhorter, CPALeo MillerRonald MuellerSherrie NashPatricia NeissLeslie & Margaret NelsonRobert NilsenMarjorie OlsenPatricia OrhamNancy & Ron OsbornRonald & Marian PaulsonJim PeakDavid PetersHarold PetersonSarah PetersonDawn PettyStephen & Kim PowellWayne PrisKerry RasmussenRandall & Dana ReeveLawrence RomoBea & Howie RosenleafLee RupprechtCharles & Sandy RussRussell & Vicki SamuelsonPr. Stephen SchmidtFranklin & Jean SchoonoverPaul & Susan SeastrandGladys SimondsRee SimonsonD. Gregory SmithCynthia SparingCathleen Speich-FergusonKathy SpritzerJana StatonDavid StenbergDavid StephensGail StephensRolf TunbyJanette TurbakJudy Van Der KaayJudy & Robert VosenRev. Valerie WebsterBarbara WesthoffKim WilkerTom WyniaBrian YoungCongregations & OrganizationsCatholicOur Lady of the Valley - Helena

EpiscopalSt. James - BozemanLutheranAll Saints - Big SkyBethlehem - BillingsMessiah Evangelical - BillingsPeace - BillingsOur Savior - BonnerOur Saviour’s - Box ElderHope Lutheran - BozemanFirst Lutheran - CircleTrinity - Cody, WYBethany - DuttonSt. Paul - FairfieldFirst - GlasgowZion - GlendiveNew Hope - Great FallsOur Savior’s - Great FallsRedeemer - Great FallsMontana Synod - Great FallsFaith - HamiltonFirst - HavreSt. Johns - HelenaJoliet - JolietBethlehem - KalispellNorthridge - KalispellKremlin - KremlinOur Savior’s - LaurelZion - LewistownChrist - LibbyAmerican - LivingstonMalta - MaltaAtonement - MissoulaSt. Paul - MissoulaPlentywood - PlentywoodGood Shepherd - PolsonMessiah - Red LodgeAmerica - RicheySaco - SacoSt. Luke’s American - ShelbyEmmanuel - ShepherdPella - SidneyOur Savior’s - Thompson FallsImmanuel - WestbyWELCAOur Savior’s - Columbia FallsGood Shepherd Women - BillingsNashua Women - NashuaShields River Women -WilsallWomen of the ELCA - GlendiveMethodistGrace United - DillonUnited Methodist Women - Sidney

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FREEDOMIN CHRIST PRISON MINISTRYPO Box 617Anaconda, MT 59711

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-5145621This URL will take you directly to Freedom in Christ’sAmazon Smile account so you don’t have to search forus!An easy way to automatically give to Freedom in Christthrough your purchases! Thanks for your support!!!

Find us on the web:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FICPrisonMinistryWebsite: http://www.ficprisonministry.com