Center for Resocialization
12.02.2010
A brief report and acknowledgements
Dear, Friends
Two months ago we dared to do something practical for ex-convicts
We have started a Project for Resocialization center of ex-deprived of freedom individuals.
The project is financed by European Program. After two months hard work, suffering, many changes, unclear points and clumsy administration we succeed to end the Project and hand it over. Whether shall it be approved or not, would become clear in about a month
We thank God for His wisdom and goodwill. We thank all of you, who were support in prayer and giving in whole struggle. Thank to all of you, who found time to say an encouraging and nice word in that real challenge. We are grateful to people, as well, who came “from somewhere “and took part on that project as if, they do it for their brother.
We are grateful to the jail administration for their unreservedly countenance with those initiative.
That is a new key start for the ex-convicts. Bulgarians say “Show me you friends and will tell you who you are”. The Bible says: “Bad company corrupt good morals”
After serving a sentence and ending a time of punishment all these people have no where to go, no where to live and no one undertake to care for them, and as a result ex-prisoners go back to their previous bad company and in the front of them are opened a known “opportunities for living”
In twenty years period of weekly meetings and working with people in jail I may say it’s a key significance for them, when they come out from prison to find someone who cares, appreciates, loves and believes in them, someone who is able to help them and give directions to them in order to start a new live in changed situation.
It is important that someone be with them till they get on their feet. I can compare it to the family environment
A project we have started is aimed to help 20 people. Within one year every one of them will be provided with place to live, food, spiritual guide, personal mentor, social worker, psychologist, medical care and legal services.
Similarly there will be possibility for the ex-prisoner during that time to be educated on the basic level on the some of most- accessible professions. A licensed certificate will be issued to the people successfully finished the course, for practicing the gained professions.
Be at hand:
There are two key points, where you can be in support with us
•The first one is approval of the Project: For the first time a project with such scale and fullness will be put into effect. It is considered for innovative model, which if succeed, could be drawn on and apply on the other places in Bulgaria
The Project has been done fully professionally.
People with wide experience in working with ex-prisoners, proved dedicated enthusiasts and high professionals are participated in the Project.
•The second key point is financial
A planed budget for accomplishing the Project is 3077€. Into drawing up of the very Project the sum reached to 4615€.Till now we succeed to collect 2051€. We have left to collect still 2564€
It is hard issue to share the second point, but it is necessary. I do believe, what we doing by that giving is God’s deed. The Lord says in Matthew “I was… in prison and you did not look after me…” The Lord’s expectation is that every one of us has a sight of care towards these people. Obviously that is the key for conversion of these hearts. How many ex-convicts personally we had been succeeding to take care of during our live? If we take care of, would we manage to provide them, what such a Project assure – a place to sleep, food, education, care(spiritual, medical, legal )?!....
I am writing it, not to force someone in some way, but in order to be not omitted opportunity for fulfillment of one of the Commandments of Our Lord – “to visit Him by taking care of people in isolated environment of the prison”
At the end of that appeal I would like to thank one more time to every one of you, who gave up and stinted oneself of food in that tough time of economical crisis
My personal opinion
When I am thinking of that possibility, always it occurs to me a picture of the widow, whom a prophet Elijah was “sent to”
The secret of providing for her live was hidden in that, she should knead dough for the prophet and God’ purpose first. That is to say she should fulfill the Scripture
“Be seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well”
Apostle Hristo Kanev
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21.12.2009
Hello friends!
With this present letter I would like to inform you about a unique opportunity, which has come up.
Let me give you a little history, in order to really make you become a part of it.
In 1998, while in prayer, I realized that the will of God for us, as a church, is to take responsibility for people in the Burgas prison. The words with which the Holy Spirit spoke to me were from Mathew 25th chapter: "I was in prison and you did not visit me." This word touched me so strongly (and it is still ringing in me today), that I could not remain indifferent and as a young pastor I spoke with the head of the prison and started weekly visits.
The road this ministry has walked through the years has been varied and sometimes surprising to us. It is a fact though, that we are working with these people regularly on a weekly basis (sometimes up to 4 times a week) for 11 years now. We are there with them and believe that we have been an instrument in God’s hand for their change and their coming nearer to the Lord.
I have been blessed to have a team, which took a great part of the responsibility and tasks that fell on me initially, and so I now have the opportunity to be useful in the ministry, in a more general master plan.
In 1999 I had a meeting with a former inmate, who had come out of prison for his consecutive time. This meeting was obviously prompted by God’s will, because it put a picture in me.
This man (as 98% of all prisoners in Bulgaria), after serving his sentence, had come out, and within a few months, was back in prison again.
Without the proper surroundings, and with outdated and understated professional abilities, with work habits forgotten, with an archaic social adaptation, with no means at all, and in most cases with a shattered family and ashamed of him relatives, a person coming out of prison is doomed to fight battles unknown to most of us. 98% of these people go back to their “safe environment "
The man I met, after his third release from prison, had come across to a different environment. Christians, who worked with him in prison, established a Center for Resocialization. After his 4th release from prison, this man shared how he thought: "If I go back to my old environment, I will be back in jail soon. I want something to change in my life." This man decided to go to the Center for Resocialization.
The Center represented a place where Christians helped a person develop spiritual habits, adapt to the current state of society, develop skills for life. Now some transformed former prisoners work in that center too.
This man had developed himself and had became a preacher, actively helping for the founding and establishing of new churches!
When I heard this, I wanted the same thing in Bulgaria. My prayer to God just burst out: "Send me." For ten years this desire has not subsided.
We are “on this field” and are tasting the bitter fruit of unfinished work with people leaving prison. We see how some of them have the real chance and potential for a change, but we are unable to be any real help to them, not only with preaching ... their pain is really great. If I could, over the past 11 years, work with those with whom I worked in prison, when they got out, even if I could lead only ten people a year at the feet of Jesus, now we would have a Davidic army of 100 men. The relationship between a man in prison and those of us who visit him, is very strong. We become his brother, his father and his friend. Most of these people don’t have anybody else to lean on, who would believe in them for their change and restitution! This is kairos moment, that is indescribable.
During the last year I decided to do whatever is possible. I asked one of the people in my team to take responsibility and start looking for all possible loopholes in order to realize such a center. The church has been paying a salary to that person to take from her time and devote it to just that. I can not describe how much communication we have gone through, with all kinds of institutions on a national and international level. After 9 months, all we had done seemed pointless. The result was that we became aware of the impossibility of making this happen.
Then we decided that either we will have to stop here, or that a law of some kind would have to be enforced in our favor, recommending people like us, who have been working with prisoners, and this would have to become a priority for the EU, Bulgaria, or any superior.
The joyful news is that, just several days ago, we received a letter from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, directed by the Presidency, in which they thank us for our work with prisoners and inform us that the work with prisoners is a priority one and that there is a project we can apply for and absorb the sum of 100 000 Euro, towards working with a number of prisoners.
In a period of 12 months, with this money we can take care of everything concerning sleeping accommodations, food, retraining, etc., in connection with the prisoners coming out of prison.
The deadline for the preparation of all documents and projects is very short.
The draft documentation will cost around 3000 Euro. Around 500 Euro are needed to start the projects and the rest is needed when depositing the documents.
We already started the procedure. The sum of 500 Euro was collected, we signed the contracts and by January 10th 2010 we have to pay the rest of the money for the projects. I decided that e will do whatever we can, but how far we will be able to go – I don’t know. I will not regret for any Euro given towards this direction, because my responsibility is to implement the share of my faith.
The deadline for the completion of all projects and their submission is January 28th 2010.
I think that each of us can fulfill the words of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: "I was in prison and you visited me." Maybe not personally, but with prayer, finances or whatever each one has power to do.
Personally I am very excited. I see that opportunity as a start with a boundless expanse.
Thank you for your time and shared excitement!
Apostle Hristo Kanev
P.S. Here I would like to share a real story.
When I announced the above in the church in Burgas, concerning the opportunity standing in front of us, an elderly lady came to me and the Lord really broke me through her. She told me that 3 months ago, the Lord told her that there will be something that will happen in the Center of Resocialization for the prison and for her to set aside money from a pension she was receiving.
The woman carried 125 Euro with her, which she had set aside, because she waited to hear something about this Center. This was the first money to use to collect the needed 500 Euro.
The story of the widow and two mites appears to have continuation in our days.
My question to myself is: "Where am I?
Find out more about our work in the Burgas prison HERE
See the story of a prisoner changed HERE
Bank account for donations:
Apostolic center "PMRSD"
UNICREDIT BULBANK
IBAN: BG96UNCR96601018606816
BIC: UNCRBGSF
Reason: donation