Rick Mathes |
Dear Fellow Christians,
Greetings in the Spirit of our Lord!
I invite you to look over our web site to see how lives have been turned from crime to Christ these last 20 years. And there are some excellent sermon and Bible study notes too!
Our ministry has been threefold:
- Regeneration
- Rehabilitation
- Reintegration
We now manage 6 guest homes with 30 residents in St. Louis and another 70 in our cabins at the Fort Good Shepherd Ranch in Cuba MO. Our staff of 21 includes skilled counselors, pastors and GED instructors that will guide our residents through all the life skills they will need in the free world.
Monday night is Alcolholics Victorious where we use the Good Book instead of the Big book to guide alcoholics and drug addicts through the proven 12-steps to recovery.
Tuesday night residents are encouraged to spend time with their mentor big brother that “has been there, done that.”
Wednesday night we encourage the residents to bless their church with attendance at their prayer meeting or to volunteer to do some work of service for their church.
Thursday night is when all the classes that P & P are taught, all in the Christian context where Jesus is absolutely Lord of the rest of their life.
Friday night is a all ex-offender worship service and once a month we include an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner with guests included.
Saturday is the day for one-on-one counseling with our staff. All our counselors have their Masters Degree and years of experience.
Sunday is their day of worship at the evangelical church of their choice.
Upwards of 8 out of 10 released convicts return to crime within four years. Our nine month aftercare program has reversed this trend and over 8 out of 10 who complete our program, never return again. How does this happen? How can it happen in your community?
Please continue to review this web site and then:
- Email me with any questions you might have.
- Sign up for our monthly email newsletter.
- Visit our guest homes in St. Louis or cabins in Cuba MO.
- Invite me to speak or preach at your church.
- Participate in our Christmas Angel Mission.
- Support us with prayer, volunteer time or donations.
We are a local ministry serving you in your community. Your financial support is a good investment in the Great Commission. We can only do what your check-book will allow so please consider us in your locan missions giving.
Thank you for this consideration and your timely reply.
Press On!
Rick Mathes
Information
Mission Gate Prison Ministry was founded on April Fools Day in 1985. On that day, we became fools for the Lord to confound the wise by doing our best to reverse recidivism. And He did it through us. Conservatively eight our of ten that complete our program, never go back to prison. Our Lord has provided for us through our donors these 25 years and many local prison ministries throughout Missouri and southern Illinois have been inspired to succeed because of our example. We expect that souls will turn from crime to Christ once they have the opportunity to step out of their dispair into the glorious hope provided by Jesus through our proven ministry to alcoholics, drug addicts and ex-felons. All it takes is faith and a committment to step out of the boat with us. So we invite you to walk with us as partners in prayer, volunteer time or financial support so that we might continue to “turn lives from crime to Christ!”
He said, “Whatever you do to these my brethren, even the least of them, you have done it to Me.”
Step through the Mission Gate for an experience you won’t soon forget!