RESOURCES

  1. GUIDANCE IN FINDING A GOOD CHURCH
  2. HELPFUL ORGANIZATIONS (12-STEP PROGRAMS)
  3. BOOKS
  4. LINKS TO LOCAL CHRISTIAN SITES AND PRISON MINISTRIES

1. GUIDANCE IN FINDING A GOOD CHURCH

The greatest resource that you have when you find your Loved One in jail, is to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. If your search for help in time of need has not looked to Jesus, you have overlooked the greatest friend and source of help imaginable. Your strength and guidance in time of need can be found in prayer and in the Word of God-the Holy Bible.

If you have never trusted in the Lord before, you can begin this very minute. Click on this link [God’s Plan of Salvation & Scriptural Comforts in Time of Need]. You will never regret turning to Jesus and trusting in Him. In Jesus is found the beginning of a wonderful new life which will bring healing to a broken home, restore a shattered relationship; a guarantee of eternal life. As you trust in Him rather than the things of this world, you will find strength you never knew you had (indeed you didn’t, Jesus gives us that strength as we rely on Him) and you will begin your journey down the road of healing.

The fellowship and support you need as a new Christian (or one who is considering making the greatest decision of their life by saying “yes” to becoming a believer in Christ), is found in the church. But not just any church, there really is a big difference. Some churches, sadly, are nothing more than big beautiful buildings-devoid of the Spirit of God which is what truly makes them a church. A true church is really composed of believers in Christ, it is a body of believers joined together to worship and praise God. Some churches in fact, are dangerous, for they have shifted their focus away from our Lord Jesus and the Word of God, and have begun incorporating elements of false gods and new age religion into their services. Avoid churches such as that and use the following guidelines to find a church that is solidly based on the Word of God and faith in Jesus Christ.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD CHURCH

  1. How does the church treat God’s Word, the Bible? Does everything they do and believe come from the Scriptures, or have they adopted the ways of man to their everlasting shame?
  2. How does the church treat the Son of God, Jesus Christ? Does the church recognize Jesus as God’s sinless Son who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead? If a church is not actively preaching salvation through Jesus, be suspicious. If the church is preaching salvation through good works or church attendance alone, avoid it! Baptism, confirmation, donations, good works or church attendance mean nothing to God, if you have not done the one thing He says we need for salvation-receive His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
  3. How does the church treat God the Father? Does it recognize Him as loving and merciful, yet a just and righteous Father, who is worthy of our adoration and worship? Does the church preach about Heaven and Hell? A church that does not preach about the difficult or unpleasant realities of God’s Word is not doing you any favors, although the emphasis should be on the saving grace that God provides in His Son Jesus.
  4. How do the people in this church treat one another? Are they kind and loving individuals who obviously care for each other and desire to help and encourage each other in walking with God? Loving and caring for one another is the fruit of the tree of true belief in Jesus. Does the church exhibit such fruit, or is it rife with gossip, arrogance and materialism? Be careful of this latter kind of church, for it will not fully contain the Spirit of God. Some churches are just buildings, full of empty shells of people who have never truly given their lives to Christ, devoid of the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God which comes from true faith in Christ alone.

Please visit the [Family Mentoring Program] page for specific churches participating in this program designed to assist the spouses and families of the incarcerated.

THE CHURCH OF THE WORLD--AVOID THIS PLACE!

2.HELPFUL ORGANIZATIONS (12-STEP PROGRAMS):

IN THE FARGO/MOORHEAD AREA

Alcoholics Anonymous Please call for meeting times and locations (701) 235-7335

Alcoholics Anonymous Club House; 1112 3rd Avenue South, Fargo, ND (701) 232-9930

Gamblers Anonymous Please call for meetings times and locations (701) 235-7335

Narcotics Anonymous Please call for meeting times and locations (701) 234-9330

IN THE GRAND FORKS AREA

Alcoholics Anonymous (The AntennA Building) 401 7th Street North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. Phone (701) 772-2952. Dozens of meeting times, and other locations; call for information.

Gamblers Anonymous (The AntennA Building) 401 7th Street North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. 6:00 p.m. Monday and Fridays. Call 795-4850 or 847-2252 for more info.

Narcotics Anonymous (The AntennA Building) 401 7th Street North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. 8:00 p.m. Sundays, upstairs.

Please remember, the higher power in any 12-step program is God alone, and He is good and faithful to help those who call upon His name.

3. BOOKS

The following books are highly recommended reading if your are facing a crisis with your Loved One being in jail, or if you have not yet found salvation in Jesus, or things are just not right in your life, marriage or family.

Holy Bible by numerous authors under the complete divine inspiration of Almighty God. Any traditional translation which is easy for you to understand is okay, although the King James Version is acknowledged by many as being the finest English translation available. Copies of the Holy Bible are available free of charge through the Caring Hearts Jail Ministry. [Requesting Bible study materials.]

Power For Living by Jamie Buckingham. Copies of this book are available free of charge through the Caring Hearts Jail Ministry. [Requesting Bible study materials.]

How to Handle Adversity by Dr. Charles Stanley. An excellent book which explains why God sometimes allows adversity and trouble into our life. With a proper attitude, these adversities can be a tremendous faith builder which will bring you closer to God. Copies of this book are available to be loaned out through this ministry. Please see [How To Contact This Ministry] to request a loaner copy which can be mailed to you at no cost.

4. LINKS TO OTHER AGENCIES, CHRISTIAN SITES AND PRISON MINISTRIES

American Rehabilitation Ministries in Joplin, Missouri [www.arm.org]

Bible Baptist Church in Grand Forks, ND [www.bbcgf.org]

Crossroad Bible Institute (Prison Ministry) in Grandville, Mich. [www.crossroadbible.com]

First Assembley Of God Church in Crookston, MN [www.forministry.com/56716faogc]

Metropolitan Baptist Church in Fargo, ND [www.MBCFargo.org]

Minnesota Department of Corrections [www.corr.state.mn.us]

North Dakota Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation [www.state.nd.us/docr//directory.htm]

Prison Fellowship Ministries in Washington, DC [www.pfm.org]

Temple Baptist Church in Fargo, ND [www.TBCFargo.org]

Please check this site frequently for updates and additions


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