SOMEONE CARES PRISON MINISTRY
Quietly Changing Lives
News Letter

Vol. 1999 No. 9
September 1999
Someone Cares is a faith ministry, supported by God's love and your gifts. It is a non- profit corporation; all donations are tax-deductible.


Don & Yvonne McClure
Directors

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD:

We have watched miracle after miracle happen to Yvonne and me and Someone Cares. We have been blessed by the Holy Spirit so very many times. So often each would say, "how are we going to do that?" The doors that have been opened by our love for Jesus and having each of you is monumental. We have dreamed dreams and prayed as each was answered.

When God called us to California through an Avocado seed, we had no idea what he wanted us to do for HIM. Right away Delano Prison opened and we were blessed. Then a Chaplain from Corcoran Prison heard us on V.O.P and called. Could we help him? He was desperate! How, Lord? We had made a commitment to Delano's Chaplain. As always, we went to prayer and God sent the answer. The Chaplain at Delano took a lateral move and we were free again to choose.

What a choice! The Chaplain at Corcoran wants us to train 75 Volunteers to do:
(a) Bible Studies
(b) Preaching
(c) Cell Ministry
(d) Yard Ministry
(e) Remedial reading using the Bible
(f) Small Group counseling
(g) One-to-one counseling. What a challenge in a maximum security facility. We accepted. Where were all these people coming from?

CAMP MEETING!

Even though we could not spare ten days, we needed the rest and made up our minds to have the joy of Christian fellow-ship, preaching, teaching and lot of prayer with thousands of Christians in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We got a space for our R.V. and were ready to go, with the engine running. I went back in house to retrieve a forgotten item and the phone rang. It was Elder Bushnell from our Conference office. He said " I have space for you to set up a booth for ten days." Thank You Jesus!!

We re-packed the R.V. and off we went. When we arrived at Soquel, we were prayed back into California. For years at Camp Meeting Yvonne and I had a replica of a real cell in the corner of a huge audit-orium. This time we were in a nice area. On opening night Elder Bushnell asked Yvonne and me up front he asked how many remembered us from years past. Tears came to my eyes as all the hands went up. God knew why we were bought back here and how HE made it possible.

We set up the booth with material from the past and I had to make a couple of signs of things we needed for NOW.


CORCORAN PRISON:

This is a massive prison and it is laid out with six basic facil-ities within itself. The Chaplain said "Can You get a used Golf Cart?" The reason for that is, if the system is locked down, the only way to go is around and it is a long walk in the Valley's heat. Then he asked for two laptop computers to keep track of all he knew that we were going to do. Then he asked about musical instruments of all kinds. Then came the 75 Volunteers. Well, up went the sign.


IF YOU ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS

So far, we have the possible commitment of one used golf cart, and still need one. We have one laptop computer

666

There was a tattoo on my arm when I first came to prison. I also had a skull and cross bones, and an upside-down cross. I was walking into the cell block at Avenal and heard, "Boy, your parents must be proud of you!?"

Turning, I saw this small lady, as out of place in here as a stretch limo.

"Who are you?" I asked?

"Oh, someone God sent to find you."

"Yeah, sure."

"Really," she said.

I was now in the doorway to my housing unit and she was still there.

"You can't come in here," I said.

"Why?"

"Because this is a prison."

Back she snapped, "For you, not for me! What if I could get you out of here, without all those tatoos that you really don't like but only have for a macho reason?"

"Lady, I'm serving a double life for murder."

"Let's talk," she said.

She and her husband (and let me tell you he is easier than she), had a ministry here. She told me about 777 [representing Christ, and 666 represents Satan] and how these numbers, played well, could get me free. Now, wait a minute, if I bought into this bit about Jesus I could go free?

"No," she said, "but set free." Not only was I lost, but my road dog [street buddy] had joined us. She told us about Jesus and how if we turned our lives over to him anything could happen; how we could have peace and security and a freedom being locked up.

She asked us to meet Don, as he was holding a service soon. What did we have to lose? I went to the Chapel and for the first time in my life I listened to a man talk about Jesus in words I could understand. This guy preached like he was from my street, in my town, in my life. He told about a man who had done all the things I had done and more and Jesus set him free. He walked over to me and said "here is a fool with the brand of Satan on his arm."

He called me a fool and I stood up ready to do him in, but Don said, "foolish as he is, Jesus loves him and so do I." He put his hand on my shoulders and I felt a peace that bought tears to my eyes.

He said "The Bible says come boldly to the throne of Grace if you want freedom, come now."

I came, and so did my road dog and ten other men I did not know. I got to know Don & Yvonne pretty well and got to know Jesus very well. Why is any of this important? Over the last ten years I have studied God's word day and night. My ex-road dog, now brother, and I still hold Bible studies in prison. I was walking toward my cell block and I heard a voice say, "The tattoos are still there, but the old man is gone away."

Yvonne and Don are back. Folks, I write this not for me but for them. They make a differ-ence in here. Some of us would still be killing each other if we hadn't met the Man and his lady, and Jesus.

I have been down twenty- two years and may now get out in another ten. Don & Yvonne do the same for men getting out soon, like I used to be or like I am.

I don't understand when they say "We are paid by God through HIS people." But if you are one of HIS people, help these people help us. Yvonne had a friend change my '666' to musical notes, and my heart to a cup running over. Thanks for letting me run off and God Bless You.

Terry, Child Of The KING.


IS YOUR NAME DON McCLURE?

"Yes, said I."

"I want to thank you for saving my life."

"I'm sorry, I don't know you."

He then told me that in 1985, at this same Camp Meeting, he was arrested by Security for having a knife. Instead of calling police they called me. I now remembered and we chatted. I had cut a deal with him-we keep the knife and he attends the youth meetings. He agreed and that was it. But Jesus moved into that young gang member's heart and he is a member of our church in Watsonville today, and we prayed together.


YOU ARE GOING TO HELL AND SO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE

Here I am at Camp Meeting and I get six crackpots. Oh, well, here we go again. I chatted, a Pastor's wife chatted with them, and I saw nothing but hurt. I contacted Security and these cultists were asked to leave. They split up and three got lost in the crowd. The Lord spoke to my heart and I went out to the street to speak to one young man waiting for Security to find the others. I said "your leader is preaching a bad message and it could lead you to hell".

I asked him to meet me at a local Denny's in the morning and I would buy breakfast, he looked like he could use a meal. Praise God he showed up. We talked as we ate and I showed him in God's word were his leader was all wet. He told me he had left home four years ago, not seen or heard form his parents. We had prayer and I gave him my card and went back to Camp Meeting.

About five that afternoon this same man with two well- dressed folks came up to me. He told me after we had prayer and I left, he called his parents and asked them to forgive him. They came and took him home. We prayed together and I invited them back over the weekend, and they all came. One black sheep out of the clutches of Satan.


PRESIDENT OF A PRISON MINISTRY ASSOCIATIONS CALLS

Don, we would like to see if Yvonne and you and Someone Cares can bring together all the Prison Ministry groups out west to work together.

Thank You, Jesus!

With God's direction, and the leading of The Holy Spirit, the open door at Corcoran can help us do this. Never have we trained people for Prison Ministry in prison first. We know of ministries that give training and no one has even gone into prison.

This can all be done with a massive amount of prayer. We ask you to start a prayer group for Someone Cares. If you dont presently support this ministry, please do with a mite or a lot.


MAY HE REST IN PEACE:

My Father-in-law Elder Clyde Groomer passed on July 30. This man of God will be missed, but for all we are about to do, we ask God to give us Clyde's (Yvonnes father) vast experience to draw on. I have most all his sermons and they will again be preached, leading men and women to Christ. Sleep well, Dad. We will join you in Glory soon. Vera Groomer's address is 7513 Golfgate, Lansing, MI 48917

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YVONNE'S CORNER

Such wonderful memories ?from a mountain top exper-ence that Don and I both enjoyed at the Soquel Camp Meeting, listening to all the great speakers and making it apply to our lives ? Returning home with enthusiasm ready to put into practice all we had learned ? Several of the speakers warned us that we never know what the future holds for us from one day to the next. I believe that could even be put into minutes.

One of the many scriptures I was taught as a child growing up was Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.NASB On July 30th at 7:13 a.m. my father, Elder Clyde Groomer, went to sleep until Jesus comes. I have the blessed hope of seeing him when Jesus returns if I do my part and I am ready as he was. I want to thank all of you who sent my Mother a Birthday card, she really did appreciate them so very much. One of my parents' favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40:31; it is also a family favorite. We never know what is ahead for us, Yet our heavenly Father has given us that special promise, "that he will give us no more than we can bear. we must press forward and help finish the task set before us. Maybe some of these might help you as they have helped us. Look at the word growth in this acrostic:

G = Go to God in prayer daily. (John 15:7)
R = Read God's Word daily (Acts 17:11)
O = Obey God, moment by moment (John 14:21)
W = Witness for Christ by your life and your words. Matt.4:19)
T = Trust in the Lord with all your heart
H = Holy Spirit, Allow God to control and empower your daily life (Galatians 5:1617;Acts 1:8)

Our prayer is that this simple small example will empower you to witness for Our Lord daily.

Just a note: Yvonne just returned from Michigan were her dad died, now her mother is in serious condition and she is back in Michigan.

SOLVE THE RIDDLE
God made Adam out of the dust,
But thought it best to make me first;
So I was made before the man,
According to God's Holy plan.
My whole body God made complete
Without arms or hands or feet.
My ways and acts did God control,
But in my body He placed no soul.
A living being I became,
And Adam gave to me a name.
Then from his presence I withdrew,
For this man Adam I never knew.
All my Maker's laws I do obey,
And from these laws I never stray.
Thousands of me go in fear,
But seldom on the earth appear.
Later, for a purpose God did see,
He placed a living soul in me.
But that soul of mine God had to claim,
And from me took it back again.
And when this soul from me had fled,
I was the same as when first made;
Without arms, legs, feet, or soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
My labors are from day to night,
And to men I once furnished light.
Thousands of people both young and old,
Did by my death bright lights behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive;
The Bible and it's teachings I can't believe.
The fear of death doesn't trouble me;
Pure happiness I will never see.
And up in Heaven I can never go,
Nor in the grave or Hell below.
So get your Bible and read with care;
You'll find my name recorded there.

This puzzle was written by a lady in California in 1890 in response to a gentlemen in Philadelphia, who said that he would pay $1,000.00 to anyone who could write a puzzle that he could not solve. He failed to do so, and paid the lady $1,000.00 (a great sum at that time).

The answer is one word, five letters long, and appears only four times in the King James Version of the Bible. An eight-year-old boy figured out the puzzle.


PRAYER LIST

Vera Groomer, Yvonne's mother, is seriously ill. Also the family in their time of parting from loved ones.

Those in prison whom we serve for Jesus, that their hearts will grow strong in their Lord, that others will see how much their beloved Savior loves them.




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