Champion Mission Report from Aaron and Tiffany Snow on Juvenile Institution Ministry

It almost sounds mundane; two units, two group gatherings, two Movie Days, and a mentor. That is what happened at the Augusta YDC the first quarter of 2014. Believe me when I say it was monumental. The new PROMISE group not only conducted their second 8-week cycle, but did so without me attending a single session. Is that what I wanted? No, I love seeing our Good Men in action. I was needed with MAN UP University in the other unit. But it went forward anyway. That alone is huge, but hearing how our young men inside the fence are starting to open up and share is the biggest accomplishment. Then the pilot of MAN UP (9 weeks, including the graduation) went well. We had four graduates, though more attended each week. To graduate, you had to attend the majority of the sessions, do the journal pages, and write a one page paper on which session stood out the most and how you plan to MAN UP in 2014. I was present to hear them read not just one page, but two pages on their goals. You can read the entire piece and their essays via our website.

Our Movie Day went amazingly smooth. Tiffany, Todd, and I were able to ministry through media in our two primary units and one additional unit. These events are attended by young men who have been a part of PROMISE, MAN UP, and other religious services. Good behavior is also required to come. I spoke to them about purpose, about forgetting the lies that their past had already sealed their future, that God has plan for each of their lives. Todd also began mentoring in another unit we have yet to engage.He is laying the groundwork for relationships and influence there.

 This next quarter is starting off with a bang. We will begin Living a Life of PROMISE in both of our units with the goal of beginning in a third unit by the end of April. Though we have a mentor in one of the two remaining units, we will be sending someone in to the last one to connect and ministry to the young men at the Augusta YDC. We are planning for a campus speaker in either May or June to come and reach all of the young men in place of one of our Movie Days. We are also laying the groundwork to begin PROMISE at WestCare (an intensive residential program) in Keysville by the end of April.