In-Person Classes at GRC
/Following a pandemic-driven absence, True Freedom returned to Grafton Reintegration Center in April 2021! Bill Holko and Tom Spernoga are again facilitating our “Character Development” class, with Bill also leading “Stepping Up.” These teachers, who missed the friendships and fellowship inside prison, are so glad that in-person classes have resumed. These offerings have always been well-received by participating inmates at Grafton. “Character Development” is based on the Book of Proverbs and meets weekly for one hour. The course runs for 40 weeks, with a different “value” covered each week. Values include attitude, responsibility, productivity, etc. “Stepping Up” meets weekly for 75-minutes and lasts 10 weeks. This course presents a Biblical view of courageous manhood. Today, more than ever, the world needs godly men. It takes supernatural strength to do what is right, no matter the cost. We praise God for inmates’ positive response to “Stepping Up.” Three graduates of this course have even signed up to take it again! Here are some inmate reviews:
C. E. White relates, “True Freedom’s programs here at GRC are the light needed, guiding the way to freedom, both spiritually and occupationally. Incarceration can be a place of darkness and lost hope. I have found True Freedom’s classes keep me in the light. May God continue to bless and keep Mike Swiger and the entire True Freedom staff.”
Frederick White adds, “I have been part of True Freedom Ministries in some form or another for the past seven years. Over the course of the past 32 years, I have seen many ministries come and go and none compare to the spiritual honesty and integrity of True Freedom. True Freedom is my family. We worship together. We laugh together. And when Brother Gary Koly went home to be with the Lord, we mourned together. The pandemic took a lot away from all of us, but one thing that could not be taken is the love and compassion we share through the classes offered through True Freedom Ministries. My joy is full now that they are back!”
From John Madison, “Due to the pandemic, this is the third time I have signed up to take this class. The reason that I decided to continue taking the class is because of the atmosphere the class presents. Most of the classes facilitated by volunteers seem to be centered around the experiences of the incarcerated. In this particular class, the instructor participates by sharing his life. In this environment it is very important for a person to be able to share his soul with a person of normalcy.”
Andre Taylor commented, “Stepping Up is a great class that has the perfect facilitator, Mr. Bill, the 72-year-old young guy whose passion is to get you to understand the logic of the program the truest way possible, to just be yourself. We all enjoy this program. This may be the most realistic program I ever took.”
God is touching many souls with His love, and we praise Him for you, our True Freedom partners, without whom this work would not be possible. Despite pandemic conditions, you did not lose heart but continued to walk alongside us as we leveraged technology to bring hope to the hopeless. We are so excited to be back inside prison again. Thank you for standing with us, even through hard times.
Would you prayerfully consider making a monthly or one-time gift to help us meet and fulfill the mission to which God has called us?
https://www.truefreedomministries.com/donate
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