Jeremiah Prison Ministry Newsletter
JPM is an outreach of Martinsburg Christian Center, Martinsburg, WV
NOVEMBER 2015
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 –It hasn’t changed but
security has and won’t allow us to
go into the Chapels. So we
continue to do one on one to God
Be The Glory!
91 men have been released in 16
years. We still are ministering to
60 inmates in 4 states.
Celebrating 16 years of Prison Ministry in 2015
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 15, ISSUE 12
OCTOBER WENT BY FAST AND IT’S NOW NOVEMBER!
I love the fall time of the year. The tree colors are so vibrant, of
course the leaves fall off and there is work to do. We don’t have
any trees in our yard but the neighbors do so we get their leaves. I
also love the weather as we get a few warm days of weather with
cool nights. I could live with that all year round but the cycle of
seasons was given to us by God. I do pray that we don’t have a lot
of snow for the winter but we will enjoy the days ahead as they are
precious.
This month we are celebrating 16 years in prison ministry and we
want to thank you for making that possible. Our prison ministry is
one on one to the inmate while they are in prison. We do minimal
aftercare and refer inmates to other ministries that can assist them
with a home plan and finding a job.
October 22nd we had the opportunity to attend the graduation of an
inmate, Ricky Roberts at Camp Hill SCI, which was held in the
Chapel. He received his high school diploma. There were many
inmates at the graduation that received diplomas and certifications
in various programs from high school diplomas, graphic arts, hvac,
etc. Its great seeing the inmates wanting to improve their talents
and education so when they leave prison they have skills to get
jobs.
JUVENILE LIFER TO HAVE HIS CASE HEARD by SCOTSU
Montgomery v. Louisiana The U.S. Supreme Court heard the argument on 10/13/15. In the
Louisiana case, Henry Montgomery asks that Miller v. Alabama be applied retroactively to him.
Montgomery, who has been in prison since 1963, is serving a mandatory life sentence for the
murder of an East Baton Rouge deputy sheriff. The Court set aside seventy-five minutes to
explore Montgomery v. Louisiana, testing who can benefit from a 2012 ruling sharply curbing
judges’ power to sentence youths convicted of murder to life without parole. But the Justices
were far more fascinated with whether they even have the authority to decide that issue in
Henry Montgomery’s case. Indeed, the sentencing issue did not get serious attention until the
lengthened argument was about half over, and frequently got put aside even after that. The
Justice Department sent Deputy Solicitor General Michael R. Dreeben, its most experienced
criminal-law expert, to argue that the Court should rule on the retroactivity issue, and decide it
in favor of inmates like Montgomery. In short, the more the lawyers and the Justices talked,
the more it seemed that the Court would have to spend most of its energy in deliberating
whether it could decide, than in how to decide. There are approximately 2,570 JLWOP in the
US. It will take several months before the SCOTUS makes a decision.
We thank you for your support and prayers for these sustain us!
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 Jeremiah & Val, Harvey,
Kevin, Mike, & Richard that God
continues to bless them spiritually &
financially.
~Pray for Larry, Ricky, Lewis, Corey,
Bob, Greg, Eric, Dan & Nathan to
receive favor for commutation, retrials
& parole.
~Pray for continued healing for Bob &
Larry. God is moving!
~Pray for Harvey, he had a mini-
stroke.
~Pray for our granddaughter, Leah,
she has chronic migraines & fibro.
Leah remains CANCER FREE! PTL
~Pray for Andy, our grandson finds a
better job.
~Pray for Dale our son-in-law, he has
melanoma skin cancer. He will be
having surgery in Dec.
~Pray for all our families- spiritually,
physically and financially.
~Pray for my brother, Norman
Pray for Tom’s mother, Virginia.
~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!
We traveled 13,546 miles in 2014!
Jeremiah Prison Ministry
Revs. Tom & Monica Cohee
223 Cameo Dr.
Fayetteville, PA 17222
717-352-0080 (o) (f)
info@jeremiahprisonministry.com
We’re on the Web!
www.jeremiahprisonministry.com
Your Editor: Rev. Monica Cohee
PASTOR TOM’S PREACHING CORNER
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Jonah 2:1, 5, 9-10 NKJV Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from
the fish’s belly…The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep
closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head…But I will
sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have
vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it
vomited Jonah onto dry land.
James said that the tongue is like the rudder of a ship.
It will guide you to victory or defeat. Death and Life are in the power of the tongue.
God wants us to have so much faith in Him that we put on an attitude of gratitude
no matter what we are going through.
The apostle Paul knew how easy it would be for us to forget our blessings.
He continually encouraged us to be thankful no matter what we are going through.
There’s something about an attitude of gratitude that will increase your faith.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
God takes it personal when you murmur and complain.
He calls it an evil report. He calls complaining, doubt and unbelief.
You may not be able to change the situation you are going through.
When you put on an attitude of gratitude, you will have strength to get through it.
Paul said be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
God wants you to quit worrying and pray with thanksgiving. He wants you to trust
Him.
Heaven’s gates will be closed to you as long as you are complaining.
You can’t wait any longer to change what you’re saying. You have to put on an
attitude of gratitude today.
The next time you are tempted to complain, God tells us to find something to be
thankful for.
If you want the windows of heaven to open up in your life, then quit complaining.
Put on an attitude of gratitude.
What are you grateful for today?
There’s something about an attitude of gratitude…
That keeps you going. That causes abundance to flow towards you. That causes God
to help you.
Be careful what you say because you can stop God’s plan.
Negative confessions can stop the work of God. Jesus said that you will be justified
or condemned by your words.
Don’t wait until God moves before you are thankful.
Be thankful now! Thank Him for the things He has already done.
I enjoy all of Pastor Tom’s messages but this one really touched me! We too are
human and when we go through journeys they can get heavy at times. I have a
tendency to take these journeys that I can’t fix personally and it creates stress for
me which is not healthy. I keep forgetting I serve a BIG God that has it all under
control. In the natural it doesn’t look that way but I have to learn even at the age of
67 to lean on God. I am so thankful that I serve God and He allows me to see my
flaws and loves me with all my flaws.
I’m thankful that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to the Cross to die for my sins
and set me free when I accepted him as my Savior.