The Metanoia Minute
Monthly Prayer Requests and Ministry Updates
February 2020
In This Issue:
Greeting • Updates • Prayer Requests • Travel Schedule • Events • Media • About
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Dear Friend,
Welcome to 2020! I know the New Year is already a full month in, but I think it is always good to give that initial greeting! The Metanoia Staff are excited about what God is going to do this year! In January, we brought Steven Howell into the office on a fuller-time schedule. Steven started with us as an intern when he was a student at Covenant College. Since then he has moved up to managing all our mentor facilities. We are hoping to add at least two more sites for him to manage this year.
Steven brings a youthful exuberance and perspective to the office in Chattanooga, as well as a diligence and dedication to our work that has been refreshing to be around. We are thankful to God for his continued service.
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February Updates and Praises
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- As many of you know, we had concerns last year about making our budget. I asked you frequently to pray. Thank you for doing so. The Lord provided all that we had need of last year, for which we are very thankful.
- Metanoia's Board of Directors met this past week and we are thankful for the reports and direction of the ministry.
- In 2019, Metanoia added Regional Directors in NC, SC, TX and TN. We praise God for the work these men are doing in these areas!
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- Please pray for a new work at Lockhart Correctional Institute in Lockhart, TX. This is a women's prison, and we are hoping to train mentors at the end of February and have the first mentors cleared to go in by April 1.
- Please pray about our newest work at Leath Correctional in Greenwood, SC. This, too is a women's facility. Please pray that God will raise up more laborers.
- Please pray that God will grant us discernment and understanding as we look to help TN begin mentoring.
- Please pray for each of our staff: Shelly Marshall: Correspondence Ministry Administrator, Tim McCracken, Regional Director, San Joaquin Valley, Paul Miller, Regional Director, Texas, Tony Rogers, Regional Director, SC, Barry Smith, Regional Director, TN and MINTS Seminary Coordinator, Steven Howell, Mentor Ministry Administrator, Mark Andrews, Regional Director, NC
- Please pray for student longevity in the correspondence ministry. We want to work with students as long as possible.
- Please pray for more mentors at each of our mentor sites. Pray that God will raise up laborers for this ministry.
- Please pray about giving to Metanoia financially. Also pray that God will bring new partners in this work.
- Please pray for each of our mentoring partners, both mentors and mentees. May all of them grow closer to the Lord.
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- 14-16: Greenville, SC. Mentor Training and recruitment.
- 27-March 1: Various Sites, TX: Meetings and Mentor Training and recruitment.
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I thought it might be good for you to be aware of various events that we are scheduling so that you can both pray for us, and attend if you find yourself in the area. Here are the events on the calendar thus far:
- Feb. 29: Christ Presbyterian Church, New Braunfels, TX, Mentor Training
- Mar. 19-21: Orlando, FL, Ligonier National Conference
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MNA-Metanoia Prison Ministries has been blessed with some videos that were produced by Genesis One Productions, with the help of Christ Covenant Church. Andy Caldwell directed, shot and edited the videos, and I think he did a fantastic job. You can watch the videos here: Metanoia Video and Metanoia Video 2. Please let me know what you think. Also, please visit Ligonier.org and watch another video here: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/metanoia-prison-ministries/
If you would like to listen to an interview by Dan Frye of A Rebel's Cause Radio, you can watch or listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSVVOxtDyQM
If you are interested in listening to the radio interview with Pastor Kevin Boling of Knowing the Truth, you can hear it here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=31312142251
If you are interested in listening to the podcast interview with William Hill of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary's Confessing our Hope podcast, it can be heard here: http://www.gpts.edu/podcast/Broadcast7_(Casson).mp3
In 2017 I was interviewed by Eric Nevins, who hosts the podcast, "Halfway There". You can listen to his interview here: http://ericnevins.com/podcast/halfwaythere/037/
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Mark Casson is a husband, father, businessman, author and PCA Ruling Elder who also happens to have spent over 15 years serving a life sentence in California's prison system. He is the Director of Metanoia Prison Ministries and the Director of Prison Ministry for Mission to North America. Mark is a sought-after speaker who has taken the gospel of grace to high schools, college campuses, prisons and churches. He has a passion for mercy ministry to prisoners that is infectious.
His beautiful wife, Raylene has been a school teacher for more than 20 years and has taught in Bolivia, Canada, and the U.S. in both Christian and public schools. Raylene currently works as a first grade teacher in the Hamilton County School District in Chattanooga, TN.
They have two precious daughters. Eliana is 11 years old and has played in CA, NY, FL, MT, UT, OR, ID, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK., TN, SC, HI, WI, GA, SD, WY, AL and MN. She loves her little sister, Joelle, who is 7. Their daddy calls them his beloved rapscallions.
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