“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3
Thank you for your continued support! It is because of your prayers and generosity that we can help to meet the deepest needs of the incarcerated.
Friends of Alamance Orange Prison Ministry,
I hope that this letter finds you well and enjoying the final days of summer. As many of you may already know, we’ve finally been cleared to initiate a very scaled-back version of our volunteer program. Two weeks ago, we resumed our Monday night Bible study with Jack Evans and Bryan Black from First Baptist Church in Durham. Jack has been coming to OCC since 1975! Our men have been so happy to see him come back through the gate. We have also welcomed back some of our Yokefellow volunteers. On our first night back, we had fifty-five men in attendance! The Yokefellow ministry has been a tremendous source of help to our men for a lot of years, and I know that these weekly gatherings have been equally fulfilling for resident and volunteer alike. In addition to our Monday and Tuesday volunteer programs, folks from the Humankindness Foundation will begin coming in this month for a weekly meditation class.
In other news, we just wrapped up our second annual “Something to Say” art exhibit in partnership with the Margaret Lane Art Gallery, of Hillsborough. This year’s exhibit featured fourteen original works, along with six poems, all from OCC residents. Many “thanks” go out to the Margaret Lane Art Gallery, and to the folks at Eno Friends Meeting. In addition, we received valuable input and assistance from Humankindness Foundation of Durham, Emancipate NC, Our Children’s Place, and Hillsborough Rotary. To everyone who supported this very worthwhile effort…thank you so much for helping to make it happen!
And finally, it is my joy to announce that, according to my watch, pecan time is nearly upon us! Please see the attached order form for more details. Please be sure to spread the word to anyone who might be interested in purchasing some good ol’ North Carolina pecans from our organization. And don’t forget to purchase a few bags yourself! Proceeds from the pecan sale help us to provide ongoing ministry to the residents and staff of OCC. Thanks again for all of your support!
“Natural and spiritual-who separates those two in art, in morals, or the social drift tears up the bond of nature. But without the spiritual, the natural is impossible. Without the physical, the spiritual is inappreciable.
Earth is crammed with heaven, and every bush afire with God; but only he who sees, takes off his shoes, the rest sit around and pick blackberries.”
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning