|
COSICANNA FACILITY May 22nd
Our volunteers will again have the opportunity
to share their faith with several hundred boys (and a unit of girls)
at the TYC facility in Corsicana. This 351 acre complex began in
1889 as an orphanage and is today a secure facility for sentenced
youth with emotional difficulties. Melvin Adams will be on the program
along with former gang leader Lamont Levels. Sign up early for this
important event. TYC Corsicana, 4000 W. 2nd Street, Corsicana, TX
75110 (903 875-3200)
11Th Annual Pennsylvania
Tour April 16th-26th
Don
will speak in churches, juvenile facilities, schools, jails, and
drug programs in over 18 Pennsylvania cities in April. Coordinated
by Wayne Benjamin (Youth Direct Volunteer of the Year 2009) this
will be his eleventh straight year. In addition to sermons and banquet
messages, Don will present his informative Civil War Presentation
in a Civil War museum, his stimulating Writing Seminar in an alternative
school and juvenile detention center, and his Stress Management
Seminar to prison ministry volunteers and leaders. Don will speak
and train as often as five times a day for the nine days of his
tour. Prayers for safe travel, health, and a strong speaking voice
are requested.
Marzelle Hill March 20th
Our
ministry is welcome back to the Marzelle Hill facility in March.
The "Hill" as it is known is a program of the Dallas County
Juvenile System.
There are fifty-four boys for residential transitional care there.
Following a program, volunteers will have the opportunity to talk
in small groups and share their faith. The number of volunteers
will be limited so it is essential that people who sign up are sure
of their commitment. "No shows" would reduce the number
sharing their faith. The "Hill" is located off I 30 at
the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, 2600 Lone Star Drive, Dallas
75212 (214 698-2200)
TARRANT COUNTY FEBRUARY 13TH
Juvenile Detention in Tarrant County, Fort Worth,
Texas has extended an invitation to Youth Direct. Chaplain Mike
Brown is coordinating this event with new staff member Kevin Cook.
More information including directions will be available, soon. Mark
the date in your calendar.
MART JANUARY 23rd
The new year begins with the Texas Reception
Center in Mart (near Waco) from 9am - 3pm we will be with boys who
have just entered the state system and need God's power to heal
anger, overcome depression, renounce drugs, and gang violence.
Performers will include MELVIN
ADAMS and KERON JACKSON. Keron is new
to our ministry. He has a powerful voice and a captivating testimony.

The youth will appreciate
this program and a visit from our volunteers. If this is your first
time, fill out the application (on this web page) and fax to 972
572 8335.
CHICAGO YOUTH EVANGELISM
October 2009
This
was the 9th consecutive year Youth Direct conducted evangelistic
programs in Illinois youth facilities (prisons). 16 volunteers joined
us to share encouragement, Scriptures, prayer, and their faith with
juvenile prisoners. The program included Larry Howard from Georgia
who has recorded 18 albums and performed in 500 prisons. His expert
guitar skills and rich voice blended into a unique style of blues
music that captured their attention. Athletes Yago Williams and
Greg Molchan, members of the Conquerors Strength Team, performed
feats of strength that included tearing phone books, bending a horse
shoe, lifting people holding a bar, and bending a steel bar held
in their teeth. In addition, Yago shared his past which included
being a street fighter, drug dealer, and nightclub bouncer and his
transformation in Christ. Don Smarto shared his testimony and a
new Powerpoint on Making Good Choices. At the end of each program,
Don gave the inmates an opportunity to make a profession of faith
in Jesus and a second prayer to make Jesus the Lord of their life.
In every facility, at each program, a majority of prisoners raised
their hands, for which we praise God!
read more
MCFADDEN
RANCH DECEMBER 5th
Fifty boys at the TYC facility McFadden Ranch in
Roanoke, Texas will have a program and visits from trained volunteers.
Arrival time is 9 am. We will leave the facility at 3 pm. Please
sign up by November 27th or call 972 572-8336 and leave a call back
number.
MART SEPTEMBER 19th
Volunteers
are needed for an event in the TYC facility in Mart, Texas, eastof
Waco. Several hundred boys and girls will attend programs in the
gym. Volunteers will have opportunities to share their faith in
the day rooms. Arrival time is 9 am. At 3:30 pm we will close with
a sharing and prayer time and leave the facility at 4 pm. First
time volunteers are encouraged to attend a training session and
fax a signed application to (972) 572 8335 which can be downloaded
from this web site.
DIRECTIONS: Take I 35 South from the Dallas area to Waco. Turn left
onto Us-84 toward Corsicana for 12 miles. Turn right onto FM 939
for 7 miles. Turn right onto E. Cowan Street and right onto W. Burleson.
The facility address is 116 W. Burleson Rd., Mart, Texas 76664
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.
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!
Don Appointed Chairman
Don was recently appointed Chairman
of the Operation Starting Line Outreach Committee.
The committee will recommend evangelism strategies
for reaching juveniles, women inmates, minority offenders, and families.
Composed of prison ministry leaders from across the country, the
committee meets by phone conference each month. OSL is a collaboration
of over 20 national ministries including Prison Fellowship, Navigators,
International Bible Society, The Billy Graham Organization, and
Campus Crusade.
Youth Direct is a proud member of Operation
Starting Line. For more information about OSL go to the Prison Fellowship
web site.
The recent photo was taken at the Washington
DC meeting in October with Mark Early (President of PF) presiding.
Don is in the second row (fourth from the left).

May 23rd Gainesville
Join us Saturday May 23rd from 9am - 4pm at
Gainesville TYC School.
This will be a great opportunity to share with over 250 boys.
Training to be announced
the week before at Westside Baptist Church and downtown Dallas.
First
time volunteers Fax application to 972-572-8335.

Volunteer of the Year
Wayne
Benjamin is voted our "Most Dedicated Volunteer of 2009".
At age 79, Wayne continues to be active in prison ministry. Last
Fall he drove 2000 miles to be with our team in Chicago.
In the past, Wayne has joined
us in Florida and other states. For the eighth year (April 2009)
Don will speak in churches, schools, jails, and juvenile facilities
in over 15 towns and cities in Pennsylvania.
Each year, Wayne has coordinated
these visits and attended every event. The ministry is so grateful
to Wayne for his dedication. He also coordinates the Lehigh Valley
chapter of Yokefellows Prison Ministry. Wayne is living proof that
there is no retirement from Christian service.
Wayne inspires all that meet
him and work with him. Countless prisoners and juvenile offenders
are saved today because of his leadership, volunteer training, and
evangelism. We applaud Wayne for all he has done for Youth Direct
Ministries. We pray for many more years of partnership.
Jacob Hope, Brillant Drummer, Joins Ministry
Jacob,
known as J-DOG to youth, recently played on programs in Oklahoma
in June and the Dallas Youth Village in August.
The youth were mesmerized
by his skills from Stomp Style on pots & pans to a Buddy Rich
style solo on his elaborate drum set.
He will play at Crocket and
is a welcome addition to our very talented performers. Come hear
him in person!
 |
|
Tony Pack with
Harry McClintok, Chairman of the Board of the Dallas Lighthouse
for the Blind
|
Donation for the Blind
Our Chairman, Tony Pack donated
100 sets of the new Mended by God Audio Book to the Dallas Lighthouse
for the Blind.
The organization expressed
their gratitude and many blind individuals will hear the drama and
inspiration of the story.
The audio book is now available
on Amazon.com and this web
site.
Corsicana, Saturday, February 28th
9am to 3:30pm our volunteers will share with
the boys and girls in the TYC facility in Corsicana, Texas. Performers
include Melvin Adams, Brandon, GRACE Singers and Alan Dee.
45 minutes south of Dallas,
this will be a great day of faith sharing and blessings. New volunteers
need to mail or FAX the 2009
Application. Training locations will be announced. 75 male &
female volunteers are needed.
God will bless you for helping
a young person find a new direction in life!
Blessings at Youth Village
51 volunteers shared with 86 boys at the Dallas
Youth Village August 16th. A new vocal group GRACE did a wonderul
job getting spirits up.
As always, Alan Ward mesmerized
the youth with his illusions, and new performer Jacob Hope was outstanding
with his great percussion skills.
Many boys accepted Christ
as Savior!

Crockett
Over 55 volunteers attended an event at Crockett
State School in November. The superintendent and chaplain joined
us for a group photo.

CHICAGO REPORT
This
was the seventh year Youth Direct shared the Gospel in Chicago area
juvenile prisons. The Lord blessed our efforts and guided us through
storms. Once in Chicago, we were the guests of Awana International
in Streamwood with clean and comfortable rooms. We then criss-crossed
the Chicago area traveling 530 miles in 5 days. Click
here to read the full report.
DENVER REPORT
After
five exciting days in Chicago area juvenile prisons, with 7 hours
at home, I went directly to Denver to go into three facilities as
part of the Operation Starting Line outreach. OSL is a collaboration
of over 25 ministries working together to bring the Gospel to prisoners
across America. Since 2001, Youth Direct has been a full collaborator
conducting events in 62 juvenile facilities in 9 states. The ministry
was in Colorado in 2005. Click here to
read the full report.
Melvin Adams to Perform
Melvin
Adams captured the attention of the youth at Crockett State School
recently.
Melvin's combination of humor
and basketball skills are always a hit with youth.
Over 55 volunteers joined
performers Brandon (Hip Hop Artist), Jacob Hope (Drummer), Alan
Dee (Illusionist), and Don Smarto (sharing his family story).
The hospitality was great
as the superintendent served a lavish meal of grilled chicken, brisket,
and sausage to the volunteers.
Although several units went
into lockdown, many seeds were planted.
In December, a program will
be presented at McFadden Ranch for 55 boys.
White House Supports Faith-Based
Programs
President Bush recently received a 2007 report
on the White House Conference on Prisoner Reentry. Don was a speaker
at that conference (November 2007) on the subject of Juvenile Reentry.
He was introduced as One of Americas front line experts.
The President strongly supports volunteers and faith-based organizations
that work with prisoners and ex-offenders. As Governor of Texas,
he supported faith-based units in Texas prisons

click
here for a complete calendar of events.
|