New Year, New Look, New Outreaches
Over the past 14 years, Disciples 4 Christ has been honored to work with the TDCJ to provide ministry, outreach, and support to those behind bars through crusades, Family Fun Days, Days with Dad, Moments with Mom, and this year will be our 12th Annual Blessing Bag Outreach, providing gifts to 3000 offenders and 1000 TDCJ Officers and Staff.
In the beginning, Founder and President Susan Neyra’s only mission was to go back to the unit and the women she left behind and let them know that there IS life after TDCJ. That there is still a world outside of those gates. One that you can return to as a productive citizen, but you must work on “You” right where you are. If you wait until you get out, then it is too late. Most importantly of all, Susan wanted them to know just how big of a support system they had waiting for them in Jesus.
It didn’t take long for Disciples 4 Christ’s mission to grow and for more units and events to be added to our schedule, and it has been such a wonderful journey. We place a strong focus on teaching offenders the life skills needed on the outside. Last year we were able to host our 1st Career Day, where we were able to teach classes on phone apps and resume building, as well as hold mock interviews. There was also a panel of former offenders who fielded questions about returning home and living a productive life in society. The numbers of lives we have been able to touch, and the numbers we have been touched by, is something we are truly humbled and honored by.
As we most toward 2021 and our 15th year in ministry, it is our goal to continue to serve through faith and provide love, support, and resources for the offenders, officers, and staff of TDCJ. We are looking to add another unit to our schedule in 2021 and are always looking for new volunteers to share in our mission.
We will be beginning the Offender Devotional, where a different offender’s devotional will be highlighted on the D4C website each week. We will also be working and partnering with TDCJ on a Re-Entry Initiative to help educate offenders who are about to be released on the resources (educational, employment, housing) available upon their TDCJ exit.
The past 14 years have been a wonderful, blessed whirlwind. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that God would open-up so many doors and provide so many amazing opportunities for Disciples 4 Christ. The number of people God has helped us bless and the blessings he has given us humbles us to this day. We pray that all those blessings continue to grow.
Amen.
