FAITHFUL VOLUNTEER JOINS STAFF

Kevin Cook, a faithful volunteer and Youth Direct Camp counselor joins our staff as Director of Event Logistics. His focus is often on youth with learning disorders and troubled backgrounds. Kevin has been one of Youth Direct's most active volunteers for over six years and was a counselor at two Youth Direct summer camps at Eagle Mountain Lake. He has hit the road running by establishing contact with a new facility in Fort Worth. See his full background on the STAFF page. We welcome, Kevin!

NEW AFTERCARE SEMINAR

Don has created a new seminar Planning Adult & Juvenile Reentry. This dynamic Powerpoint incorporates the latest research and Don's personal travels to view over 200 aftercare programs in 25 states.

He presents model programs in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, California, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas. The seminar presents ideas on ex-offenders keeping jobs, accountability, learning styles, and experiencing community.

Elaborating on the ideas in his books: Keeping Ex-Offenders Free, Faith-Based Mentoring, and Lost & Found, Don gives practical examples of why some juvenile and adult ex-offenders succeed and why others fail.

This is an important presentation for correctional professionals, prison ministries, and churches that mentor and work with ex-offenders.

Don presented this seminar at the Texas Corrections Association Annual Conference in Galveston in June.

Please read OUTLINE, SOURCES, and MODELS.

FREE TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR

As a public service to schools, community groups, PTAs, and churches, Don is offering an important and new Powerpoint seminars The Dangers of Technology. After an enthusiastic reception to this seminar in Pennsylvania, it became obvious that the information in this seminar is essential for parents and grandparents.

The seminar praises the benefits of computers and the Internet but informs parents and youth about dangers with Facebook, You Tube, My Space, The Internet Chat Rooms, and other technologies. The content is approriate for high school and middle school teens and elementary children, too.

Parents are amazed by their understandable ignorance of text abbreviations, public domain issues, and predators schemes. Common sense principles are presented for safe use of computers. Also, Don evaluates inappropriate video games and cell phone abuse.

A secular version for public schools in available. Biblical guidelines are available for churches. This seminar is offered free as a public service from Youth Direct to the community.

You will not be disappointed by this spirited and entertaining, yet informative seminar. To set up a seminar, use the feedback form on this web site. You will receive a timely and prompt response.

RETURN TO COLORADO

Don will give three presentations in Colorado juvenile facilities this summer through Kelly Barlow, a dynamic juvenile prison ministry leader who set up the events in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. The minstry had events in Colorado in 2005 and 2008. The Juvenile Justice System of Colorado has always made Youth Direct feel welcome!

Don shares his story with 10,000 youth each year

8th Visit to Pennsylvania

Don will speak in juvenile and adult prisons, churches, at youth rallies and provide training for ministry professionals in over 15 Pennsylvania cities between April 17th - April 28th.

This is his eighth evangelistic trip to Pennsylvania. Wayne Benjamin coordinates these events.

For exact details check www.yokefellowspa.org.

The Sexual Offender Dilemma
By Don Smarto © 2009

For thirty years, I have closely observed the restoration of criminal offenders. Christians in particular, embrace the power of God to change people who were criminals through the stages of remorse, repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness. People of faith believe all sins can be pardoned and (with the exception of doubting the Holy Spirit's ability to cause that change) they consider no sin is beyond God's mercy and grace.

Now, this is a theological exposition of Biblical truth, but I do not always observe this mercy in the hearts of all people when it comes to sexual offenders. As a society, America does not practice the old axiom: "Time served pays your debt to society". As a matter of fact, the punishment phase continues for sexual offenders after release in the form of banishment, heightened observation, prejudice, mapping, community alerts, and Internet postings.

click here to read more

BOOK WINS AWARD!

The Excellence in Media Award (Angel Award TM) was given to the book Mended by God; The Tony Pack Story. Accepting the 2009 Silver Angel honor was the book's author, Don Smarto.

This is the author's ninth book, and his first book to receive an Excellence in Media Award. The award is reviewed by an expert panel of judges representing The National Association of Broadcasters, American Women in Radio & Television, The Greater Los Angeles Press Club, and The National Association of Family & Community Education.

click here to read more

Bible Studies for Adult and Juvenile Prisoners
By Don Smarto

Bible studies in jails and juvenile facilities are important for discipleship and evangelism for the "almost persuaded". A new Christian needs direction, and a systematic course of study.

"Bible Study" sounds good but I have witnessed prisoners fascinated by the Book of Revelation yet combining the truths of that book with new age philosophy and the prophecy of Nostradamus. The imagery and metaphors are rich but Revelation should be reserved for Bible Study Grad School. Most prisoners were unchurched growing up and are biblically illiterate. They require the basics (Elementary Education) of the Gospel of John, for example. Read more....

In 2009, Lives Will Be Changed!
This year join our dedicated volunteers and impact troubled and lost youth with the power of the Gospel. Fill out the 2009 APPLICATION (on this web site) and check our SCHEDULE. We will provide training.

Want to see a Youth Direct program? Come to our March 6th event in Grand Prairie.

Strengthening Youth & Families Conference
In Austin in November, Don gave a presentation on Helping Youth with Mental illness in the Juvenile Justice System. An article from his presentation can be dowloaded from the web site. This is an important subject and one seen as a stigma and often met with denial. Please read this important article.

Youth Direct Performers

Allan Dee, Melvin Adams, Don Smarto, Brandon, Jacob Hope (L - R)

MENDED BY GOD
Don’s new book MENDED BY GOD is an inspirational story of a near fatal accident and the courage and faith his family demonstrated as they went through a roller coaster of emotions.

Mr. Tony Pack has donated the proceeds of the book to the work of Youth Direct with lost and troubled youth.

Press RESOURCES to obtain a copy using PayPal.

You will not be disappointed.

Visit the archives to learn more about this ministry.

See 2009 Schedule

The new schedule includes many opportunities for our faithful volunteers to join us in 2009. There are great blessings ahead!

Faith-Based Mentoring
This new book by Don Smarto is a practical manual for mentoring troubled and delinquent youth. The book has 51 separate subject headings with applications for adult mentors. The book is 265 pages.

Important features include supplemental training guides, a bibliography, and a profile of an incarcerated Texas youth.

As Don's eighth , it comes from his experiences having mentored 12 young men, each for one year and his observations from years of research and study of programs across America.

There are 1700 mentoring programs in America but few that have a biblical world-view. The author believes that a faith based approach leads to lasting change and suggests that the building of trust and relationships ( which take 1-5 years ) is preferred over short term measurement like reduction in truancy and better grades.

The book is priced at $12.95 each (+ $2.50 shipping and handling). Prison or Youth Ministries receive a discount for a box of twenty books.

ORDERS: Youth Direct
PO Box 764499
Dallas, Texas 75376

CHECKS PAYABLE TO AUTHOR

Order a copy online today!

Billy Graham

Billy Graham has said "Don knows that the answer to America's correctional crisis is by a change of heart in the offender's life. This has been his life's work."

Charles Colson

Charles Colson has endorsed several of Don's books. The founder of Prison Fellowship as called Don "one of America's experts working with incarcerated youth". Youth Direct is a proud member of Operation Starting Line (OSL).

Josh McDowell

Josh serves on the Youth Direct Advisory Board. Josh has said, "Don is an expert when it comes to working with delinquents. His ministry has set the standard for evangelism to youthful offenders."

WRITING SEMINARS

The new writing seminars for incarcerated youth are being received with enthusiasim. Seminars are scheduled for McFadden Ranch and San Saba. Don will read selected writings on his daily radio show Parenting Today’s Youth, 100.7 FM, at 8pm. Invite your friends to listen to our radio ministry.