Jeremiah Prison Ministry Newsletter
JPM is an outreach of Martinsburg Christian Center, Martinsburg, WV
FEBRUARY 2014
Revs. Tom & Monica
OUR MISSION & VISION
Our Mission – to help men in
prison reach their fullest in the
Lord.
What we do – Ministering to their
spirit, soul and body, though one
on one mentoring as their spiritual
advisor and friend.
How we began – Jeremiah Prison
Ministry began on November 30,
1999, which was birth out of a
bond for a young man that made a
wrong choice in life..
Our Vision – to be able to go into
the prison chapels without the
inmates having to take us off their
visiting list. “We know with God
ALL things ARE Possible!
76 men have been released in 14
years. We still are ministering to
64 inmates in 6 states.
Please make sure to use
our new address when
sending a donation.
Celebrated 14 years of Prison Ministry in 2013
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME – MATT. 25:36B
We are serving Him by serving them! His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 03
Wow What A Winter………………
We have had the snow for February. Tom has shoveled his share and I did what I
could do! We are finally seeing our flower garden. We had a lot of appointments
that we had to reschedule for the month. We are so ready for SPRING…. the birdies
are singing so that is a sign even though Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow!
Health Update…..
I came though my eye surgeries wonderfully! I was able to order my glasses this
week. I still have astigmatisms in both eyes, the IOL only takes care of distance
vision and without glasses my vision is 20/25. I am using Dollar Tree $1.00 glasses
to read and use the computer. I was prolonging the newsletter until I got glasses
but I figured I could try and get it done! Praise the Lord!
Two Juvenile Offenders Previously Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Iowa
Obtain Relief! Kristina Fetters was sentenced to die in prison for a crime at 14 years old.
After the United States Supreme Court banned mandatory life imprisonment without parole
sentences for juveniles like Kristina, she was resentenced last month. Now 33 and suffering
from cancer, Kristina was released from prison last week to hospice care.
Kristina is one of only two girls who were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in
the State of Iowa for an offense that occurred at age 14. Life without parole is the
mandatory sentence in Iowa for first-degree murder, and Kristina was sentenced without
any consideration of her extremely young age or the circumstances that led to the tragic
killing of her aunt, whom she dearly loved.
In 2008, EJI attorneys filed a petition challenging Kristina's sentence as cruel and unusual
punishment that violated the Constitution and Iowa law. In 2010, the United States Supreme
Court in Graham v. Florida held that key differences between children and adults must be
considered in sentencing, and in 2012, the Court in Miller v. Alabama banned mandatory
life-without-parole sentences for children. This summer, the Iowa Supreme Court held that
Miller applies retroactively to cases like Kristina's.
Then, as Kristina was preparing for a new sentencing hearing this fall, she became gravely ill
and was diagnosed with inoperable breast cancer. On November 21, the Polk County District
Court resentenced her to life with possibility of parole and recommended that she be
paroled immediately. On December 3, the parole board granted Kristina parole to a hospice
in Des Moines, where she can be near her family. She was released from prison on
December 10, marking the first release of a person sentenced to life without parole as a
juvenile in Iowa.
The other 14-year-old girl sentenced to die in prison in Iowa, Ruthann Veal, has also received
a new sentence under the Supreme Court's decision in Miller. LIke Kristina's sentence,
Ruthann's sentence was mandatory; the sentencing judge could not consider her young age
or any of the facts about her abusive, dysfunctional family in determining the appropriate
sentence.
EJI attorneys filed a petition to challenge Ruthann's sentence as unconstitutional and argued
that it is cruel and unusual punishment to condemn a young child to die in prison.
(Continued Page 2)
Page 2
Keeping you informed
about the Courts to
change the sentencing
laws for juvenile offender
serving life without
parole. Keep praying it’s
not over yet!
PRAYER CORNER
~Pray for Harvey, Kevin, Mike,
Domingo, Michael, & Richard that
God blesses them financially.
~Pray for Larry, Ricky, Lewis, Corey,
Bob, Greg, & Eric to receive favor for
commutation and retrials.
~Pray for Jeremiah as we continue to
believe for a miracle for his release.
~Pray for continued healing for Bob &
Larry..
~Pray our granddaughter Leah she is
still having migraines. Leah is 18!
~Pray for Andy our grandson, he
carries a 3.96 avg. at DSU. His
wound is doing GREAT!.
~Pray for all our family spiritually,
physically and financially.
~Pray continue to for my brother,
Norman. Pray for Tom’s brother,
John, as he is on dialysis.
~Pray for the salvation of the world.
Pray for inmates and their families,
our Nation, our leaders, our military
and their families.
~Pray for prison reform in our nation.
~Pray for Bill our dear friend & his
wife Rose for good health.
~Pray for Dotty & her husband Stan
for good health.
~Pray for us for strength and wisdom
in all we do, that we remain cancer
free and healthy to do God’s work, for
our cars to be mechanically sound.
You are an Extended Hand
and a vital part of this
ministry. Together we are
making a difference with
Jesus Christ, taking life to
a dark place! We go
because you send us.
Thank You so much!
Jeremiah Prison Ministry
Revs. Tom & Monica Cohee
223 Cameo Dr.
Fayetteville, PA 17222
717-352-0080
Fax: 717-352-0392
info@jeremiahprisonministry.com
We’re on the Web!
www.jeremiahprisonministry.com
Your Editor: Rev. Monica Cohee
Pastor Tom’s Preaching Corner
IT’S TIME TO GROW UP
Romans 8:5-8 NKJV For those who live according to the flesh, set
their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not
subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh
cannot please God.
The Bible says that we wrestle not with flesh and blood. We do have a spiritual
enemy. We must learn to quit acting like carnal Believers.
God wants to see the fruit of the spirit in our lives and each of us to mature in
Christ.
Maturity comes by standing on God’s Word. He wants us to mature in spite of what
our emotions tell us. He wants us to mature even though our flesh tells us to do the
opposite of what is right. It is about obeying the Word.
A carnal Christian lives life according to their feeling. They blame everybody else
but themselves for their problems. They make decisions based on emotions. If you
live your life according to emotions, you will have a miserable life. You will tell
people off when you feel like it. You will ruin relationships.
3rd John 3 says, “Beloved, I pray above all things that you prosper and be in good
health even as your soul prospers.” There are certain blessings that God cannot give
you until you grow up in Christ. God wants to release the gifts of the spirit in your
life.
You will never live a victorious Christian life until you learn to walk by faith and not
by sight. God wants you to walk by faith and not your feelings. Be faithful to one
thing and quit letting your emotions rule you.
When God is working in your life, He will allow you to go through some tough times.
Tough times are to teach you about faith. Tough times can happen in order to
develop your character.
God wants you to grow up and overcome your flesh. He wants you to have a good
attitude and submit to authority. He wants you to be disciplined enough that you
can keep your mouth closed and hold your tongue.
If you are always blaming somebody else for your life, then you are never going to
grow up in Christ.
The enemy wants to mess with your feelings and emotions. He wants you to think
God didn’t hear your prayers. He wants you to think that God doesn’t love you.
It’s time to shake off things that are getting you down and cast all your cares on the
Lord. Quit blaming others for your miserable life. Forget the past and reach for your
future.
It’s time to quit letting your emotions rule your life and keep walking by faith.
It’s time to grow up in Christ!
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Continued from Page 1: On December 9, 2013, Ruthann was resentenced to life with
the possibility of parole. Now 35 years old, Ruthann has served more than 20 years
in prison. Among her rehabilitative programs and activities at the prison, Ruthann
volunteers in the prison hospice unit, where she cares for terminally ill women
including - until her release last week - Kristina Fetters. (Equal Justice Initiative December
16, 2013)