CRInsideOutHope.Org

IOHOPE Membership: How to Join Up?

August 20, 2018August 20, 2018
by iohopeadmin

Everyone is welcome, that is if you have some intersecting interest with what the CRInsideOutHope community is trying to accomplish.

You ask: So how do I join up?

It’s easy, just touch the Member’s menu at the upper right of any screen. Touch the link “Register.”

Find the Member Tools menu here:

All registered? Jump into the “Newcomers” Forum and let us know something about yourself. You can also join the other public groups.

See who you might know by following this link to view a list of other members.

Welcome aboard. Let’s get going!

Blog

Merry Christmas CR Insiders!

December 24, 2021December 24, 2021
by iohopeadmin

A very brief and heart-felt greeting from the CRInside Crew.

Notwithstanding all of the difficulty recent times have presented for ministries “inside the gate”, we have much to be grateful for. And much to look forward to.

Half full cracked pots can hold precious cargo!

Has there ever been a more appropriate time to realize that if it’s true that “hurt people hurt people”, it must follow that it takes defective people to help defective people? All our warts and wounds are badges humble servants celebrate.

“I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Paul the Apostle.
II Corinthians 12:9

If you haven’t heard of it, or if it’s been a while since you read it, the “Parable of the Cracked Pot” reminds us that even when we imagine our weaknesses diminish our ministry, God can work through us to accomplish beautiful things. It’s our meditation this Christmas Eve.

Christmas time is very difficult for families that are separated. We can pray for prisoners and their loved ones. Even if we’re still locked out, we can remember them before the Lord. Watering a garden for Jesus with tears of compassion for others in difficulty grows beautiful flowers in the Kingdom of God.

Even cracked pots can hold beautiful things! Enjoy this little story… Merry Christmas!

Parable-of-the-Cracked-Pot Download

Blog

Coming up: Northwest CRI Spirit of Excellence Event

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021
by Kent Whitaker

NW Celebrate Recovery Inside is excited to announce an event in the Portland area.

The first Spirit Of Excellence (SOE) of 2021 & it’s going to be great!

On Saturday, May 15th from 10am to 2:30pm we’ll be having a SOE at the Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 SW Borland Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062. We’re hoping you will get the word out at your community CR groups this week. This event is free & open to anyone interested in attending, no registration is necessary.

We’ve attached a nice flyer which can be copied & placed on your literature tables, please make an announcement during Large Group so those in your group who are interested can make plans to attend.

If you’ve never been to a CRI SOE here’s what to expect.. worship, reports from correctional CR groups, mini-monies, testimonies, teaching about CRI, great fellowship, a free light lunch, more worship, prayer, lots of celebrating our recoveries & awesome connection with others! This is a free event & open to anyone curious about CRI, anyone in a related organization or ministry, newcomers, & of course those of us who are facilitating a CR in jails, prisons, & community CR’s all around the NW.

We’re looking forward to coming together & celebrating our recoveries, our CR & CRI programs, & our Lord Jesus Christ.

Flier for the event: SOE 5-15-21 Download

Rolling Hills Community Church

CRI

It’s called Grace

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020
by Les Alderson

God does for us what we can not do for our selves! It’s called Grace.

Some time back, I was at the county jail volunteering when I ran into this young guy. He shared why he was in jail, and it was tragic. At that point I wish I could have shared some wisdom and “fixed him.” But… it doesn’t work like that. He was hurting and damaged in a way that only God can fix. I left the jail feeling powerless. I did pray for him that night when I got home, asking God to please help him

I was sitting at home the other night when I got a phone call from a friend of mine, asking me if I would go out to our local treatment center and pick someone up and take them to a celebrate recovery meeting. I said yes, and when she told me who it was I was floored, it was the young guy from the jail meeting that I attended a couple of months previously.

So I called him and he got the clearance to go to CR that next night. I picked him up, and we talked on the way to the meeting.

They had a lot in common and shared with each other in a way I could not. Then the meeting started and the topic was Grace. It was the perfect topic and meeting for this young guy to attend, just what he needed.

When we got there I introduced him to a friend of mine that had gone down the same path that he had. They had a lot in common and shared with each other in a way I could not. Then the meeting started and the topic was Grace. It was the perfect topic and meeting for this young guy to attend, just what he needed.

God had orchestrated things, right at the perfect time.

I took him back to the treatment center. After dropping him off at the treatment center, on my way home – I was overwhelmed, wow what a night.

God had orchestrated things, right at the perfect time.

He did hear my prayer two months before, on that night that I had felt so powerless. God does for us what we can not do for our selves! It’s called Grace.

“God does for us what we can not do for our selves! It’s called Grace.”
Les A.

Thank You Jesus!

Community

Rejoice Summit 2020 Merch!

July 31, 2020July 31, 2020
by Danny Duchene

Buy direct for your Rejoice Summit CRI Merch!

Taking orders now!

www.crimerch.com

Have a great summit everyone!

CRI

A Brief History: CRInside Growth at an Illinois Prison

March 12, 2020March 14, 2020
by Les Alderson

CRI started at the Pontiac MSU (Medium Security Unit) Prison in 2016. It’s come a long way…

How God is moving in Prison!

It started the first Friday of September 2016. Celebrate Recovery Inside met from 6:30-8:00 PM. I had no idea that it would take off as it has. There were just two of us who started it in the beginning. We now have 8 badged volunteers with three more fellows in the clearance process.

Tony and his wife Lori. Tony facilitates CR Inside at Pontiac MSU.

At present the meeting averages 30 to 40 guys attending through the winter and 20 to 30 in the summer. The exercise yard outside opens in the spring and attendance goes down. When we started, I lead the group for about half a year. I quickly learned that a couple of the inmates had the gift to be up-front leading. At around nine months we prayed-in our first inmate leader, Charles. We nick-named him “Radio Voice.”

At about a year and half we had Scott Kemp (at the time IL CR North Central Director) share his testimony. Doug, a CR worship leader came in also and played his keyboard. Up to that time we were playing video worship. That night Doug was in the middle of the second song when he stopped and walked out into the crowd of the inmates. He approached an inmate named John and asked him to come up and to help him sing. I watched John come alive that night.

A few weeks later I asked him if he would be willing to pick out the songs that we would play each week. Not only did he agree, he asked me if he could bring his keyboard in and play live songs every other week, switching off with the video worship we were doing otherwise. Today he has all the music picked out for two months at a time, making it easy on me to type out the lyrics or download the videos.

John has found his gift and is leading music with a couple other inmates. We now have a worship team of three!

After about 2 years our leader Charles stepped down, but he shared with me that an inmate named Tony could take over. So that night the entire CR group prayed over Tony and he stepped up and started to lead us. He was different than Charles. But in a good way. Tony seems to have a heart for the other inmates more than being up front. I don’t think he knew just how gifted he was when he began.

Under Tony’s leadership several of the men completed the step study. Another group is now doing those lessons. They are doing a great job. A few months ago Tony asked me if I could provide the Advanced Leadership Training Guide for CR. I didn’t see what would happen next coming.

TEAM:

Training Coach
Encourager Coach
Assimilation Coach
Ministry Leader.

Nine weeks ago, Tony grabbed the mic and told us that they now have a TEAM leadership group made up of inmates. Training Coach, Encourager Coach, Assimilation Coach and Ministry Leader. Their names are Tony D., John M., John W., Ivan P., Russell F., John W. and John T.

Two weeks ago Tony came to the meeting with a stack of new CR Study Bibles and gave copies to each of his Team. His wife on the outside bought the Bibles and saw them checked-in through security. I have never seen anything like this in 16 years of prison ministry.

“… ‘look what God is doing, He makes things new, and we are blessed to be in it’ we both smiled at each other.”
Les Alderson

God has been building this CR from the very start and I have sort of stepped back and watch, fanning the flame along the way. I have told Tony several times how gifted he is as a leader. I have often told John our worship leader how much he has helped grow our group and how important worship is in CR. It is so rewarding investing in people. And then watching them invest in others.

The Team tells me they’re seeking revival at the Pontiac MSU Prison. I never in a million years expected what is happening to happen. Even the guards are being touched by what is happening. Tony told me they have a new chaplain and he told Tony that the CR Team will be allowed to conduct a leadership meeting on a separate night. This never happens in Illinois prison!

I went into prison to serve and to give and I have been given back way more! Last week before the meeting started I was standing next to Tony, I told him to just stop and look at the group, I said look what God is doing, He makes things new, and we are blessed to be in it, we both smiled at each other.

The God of the universe who created everything is letting us be a part of the story He is making. This is possible because God said go and I went, even when I didn’t feel I was the right person.

Thank you Jesus.

CRI

YOUTH DETENTION FACILITY TESTIMONY

March 9, 2020March 9, 2020
by Danny Duchene

Thank you to Jennifer Champion in Alabama who shared the following testimony from her CR Inside ministry at her local youth detention facility. I’m praying that this inspires many new Insiders to consider helping at youth corrections facilities.

Danny Duchene
CR Inside
National Director

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:37-38

Testimony from Alabama

I must tell you about the awesome thing that happened yesterday! Last night at church, we were getting ready for 4-hour discipleship training class. I was downstairs when I heard the door open upstairs. Our pastor went upstairs and then came downstairs and called out my name. It seems a young Hispanic man came to the church looking for “the tall white woman.” Pastor knew he was looking for me. It was Henry. Henry was in one of the CRI groups at juvey. His story is riddled with so much sorrow, anger, and pain. We saw each other and ran to each just like you see in the movies and hugged! I introduced him to everyone and my husband and I got his phone number and gave him ours. Even today, my husband has already talked to him and prayed with him. He was there with his guardian to attend worship at the new Hispanic church that uses our facilities on Sunday night. It was their first time attending. Henry said when he got there, he recognized the name of our church and knew he had to find me. Praise God! If Henry is the only one that we ever reached or Jesus at juvey then our time there was well spent!
Jennifer Champion

CRI

CR Inside One Day in Tallahassee, FL

February 13, 2020February 13, 2020
by John Brennan

Celebrate Recovery Inside will be conducting A training session in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, February 22, 2020 and you are invited!

the event is for those who would like to serve in Prison Ministry as well as those who may already be serving, including: volunteers, Chaplains, Wardens, Local CR Ministry teams, AA, NA, Salvation Army and those who would like to serve in County Jails as well.

Danny Duchene, the National Director for Celebrate Recoveey Inside Prison’s and Jails will be sharing his story of transformation. Prison Fellowship will also be Presenting along with Angel Tree representatives.
Please consider joining us and passing along the information To your contact lists.

To reserve a spot for you and your group, please use the following link:

https://criseregion2020.eventbrite.com

See you in Tallahassee!!

Community

First-Time One Day CRI Training In Illinois Seeds CRI…

January 13, 2020January 13, 2020
by Les Alderson

First of its kind CRI One Day Training Meeting. Reproduced in other CRI Regions going forward?
Reported by Les Alderson. CRI State Rep. Illinois.

On October 12, 2019 we had a one day CR Inside Training at the First Assembly of God Church in Normal, IL. This was the first time this type of event has been held in the central United States.

We had training all day, along with a guest speaker who was on the inside and is now on the outside and on the leadership team at his CR home group.

There were over 130 people in attendance, including volunteers. It was good to get everyone together in one spot to educate and train current and future volunteers. Several jail chaplains also attended, as well as a number people come from surrounding states.

Five CRI State Reps, from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Michigan participated. National CRI Director Danny Duchene shared his Testimony. The model we used is patterned after a CR One Day.

Registration was handled through Eventbrite, just like other CR training events or CR Summits. Cost included continental breakfast and lunch.

I want to especially mention how much Saddle Back staff assisted us, they were a big help. Saddleback staff printed up the CRI work books just like other CR training events. It’s our hope the same components will be leveraged do in other regions.

Special Guests:

Danny Duchene, National Director
Scott Kemp, CR North Central Director
John Brennan, CRI North Central Lea
Roy Davis Jr., Our Satisfied Customer CRI Testimony
Marry Johnson Illinois Prison Fellowship Field Director
Angle Tree Representatives
Broken Chains Representatives
CRI State Reps

Community

Central Oregon Celebrates 2019

December 26, 2019December 26, 2019
by Scott Patterson

As 2019 comes to a close, it was exciting to see these gentlemen graduate Step Study. Several have already signed up for our next one to assist newcomers.

Others may be transitioning back to the community, and those coming to Central Oregon have an even bigger blessing. We have purchased our Transitional Home and will be opening the doors in the Spring. Join us in prayer for The Gentle Lion’s Den in Redmond, Oregon.

May this New Year bring you and yours Peace, Joy, and Happiness in Jesus Name…

The volunteers: Scott Patterson and Doug Jalbert. The guests in the pics are ministry leaders: Armida Sastre-Patterson, Community C.R. State Rep Sharon Weldin, guests Mark & Kelli Wolford.

Blog

Call for CRI News

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019
by iohopeadmin

CRInsideOutHope is ready to publish information from CRI’s throughout the ministry. If you’d like to celebrate milestones or any other aspect of service in your area, we’d like to hear about it. Asking the list of followers of the CRInsideOutHope blog for prayerful backup? Powerful!

News from any CRI site is welcome, photos are okay if those in it have given permission for their image to be posted. Anyone with CRI bonafides can send content to this email address:

Editor@CRInsideOutHope.org.

Here is a link to the editorial guidelines … I think you’ll find them pretty easy…

Editorial Guidelines

If you use another parties’ material, you might want to familiarize yourself with basic copyright rules… most of what we do is in creative commons.

Copyrights: Waiver and Release Info

Thank you for your service!