Freedom Ministries is growing and The Rev. Tom Bevard is reaching out to the community for help.
The larger building at the ministry’s new location on State Street allows for expansion, according to Bevard. Recent furniture donations have better equipped the ministry to take a new approach to prison mentorship and evangelism.
“Now that we have better facilities we will be looking for a few volunteers to come one or two nights a week and speak with inmates,” he said.
The meetings with inmates, he said, will take place via Skype and last about 30 minutes. Bevard said he is excited about mentoring opportunities using the online app, but needs help from the community to make it successful. The ministry needs computers, either laptops or desktops, in order to implement the program. Bevard said he will be conducting presentations at area churches, but he is also receptive to donations. Mentoring via Skype enables volunteers to meet with prisoners in a safe environment.
“We would love to interview people and see how much interest there is,” he said.
The qualifications are minimal, according to Bevard. One need only possess the ability to talk and listen. A one-day training program at a Kansas prison is required as is a background check.
“We have been blessed and appreciate the community’s help,” he said. “We have been doing this for 18 years because the Lord has blessed us. We feel like a part of the community and want to help as many people as we can.”
Bevard said a lot of inmates have no contact with family members and look forward to having someone to talk to. The demand for face-to-face mentors still exists, he said.
“The state has always, but particularly now that funds have been cut, been looking for people who care about others to go and volunteer for different things, mostly along the line of Bible study and that sort of thing,” he said.
Freedom Ministries has a volunteer team of evangelists who travel to all eight Kansas prisons during the summer. The funding for the nonprofit organization depends on individual and church support. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Rev. Bevard at 620-365-3233.
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