COPE

2010-04-21T12:20:00.007-05:00

Prison Fellowship is conducting their first Texas Out4Life Conference, June 28-30, 2010 in San Antonio. Click here for details.

This conference will address practical barriers to reintegration, cultivate collaborative relationships and begin to develop fitting strategies to reduce recidivism and restore prisoners to their families and communities.

A combination of plenary talks and concentrated workshops will delve into such topics as employment for ex-offenders, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of women prisoners and the importance of establishing networks to meet these and many other needs.

Raptim Travel can save you Time & Money

2010-04-08T11:59:00.009-05:00

Part of COPE's mission is to inform our members and associates of resources useful for their ministries. I have used Raptim International Travel before (most recently for the upcoming COPE UK Conference in Scotland) but have recently become aware of the larger scope of their services.

Raptim can SAVE you, your ministry or church TIME and MONEY on airfare by offering 10-30% off the published rates. Serving those who serve the world has been their goal since 1949. Tickets do not need to be ticketed instantly and have the added benefit of extra baggage allowances for FREE. Cancellation penalties and change fees are greatly reduced - CHECK THEM OUT!

The Man from Macedonia

2010-02-16T17:51:00.005-06:00

From COPE members, Dennis & Debbie Walsh: "Dennis and I have been involved in a project to author an autobiography of Dr. Aaron Johnson. Aaron was the Secretary of the NC Department of Corrections in the late 80’s and the one who went to Prison Fellowship with Richard Payne to ask them to come to NC and do evangelistic programs in all of the 94 prisons. This project took place in 1992 and was called Project

Macedonia

. It was subsequently renamed Starting Line, and then later Operation Starting Line. As we got to know Aaron, we realized that his life was like peeling an onion – there were layers and layers. We felt compelled to find a way to get his story told."

Man From Macedonia: My life of service, struggle, faith and hope

By Rev. Aaron Johnson, with Deb Cleveland

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. Acts 16:9

Born a sharecropper’s son in rural North Carolina, Aaron Johnson has worked all his adult life as a tireless advocate for social justice. He began as a seminary student leading the earliest civil rights movement in his home state and went on to work for economic and social justice and later fight for the humane treatment of prisoners statewide.

In telling his life story, Johnson gives readers an insider’s view of the fight for civil rights in our country over the last sixty years. Told with humility and humor, his story reminds us that one individual—with focus and faith—can effect great change despite repeated hurdles.

As a seminary student at Shaw University in the late 1950s, Johnson is electrified by early nonviolence training with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With fellow students, he helps found the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and participates in the earliest student sit-ins and marches in the nation.

Several years later, North Carolina Governor Dan Moore asks Rev. Johnson to help quiet the unrest boiling across the state after Dr. King’s death. That work brings Johnson face-to-face with members of the Ku Klux Klan and Black Panthers, with vile hatred and deep despair. He finds himself in the middle of the deadly Wilmington riots and the arrest, conviction, and belated pardoning of the Wilmington 10. Through the turbulence, Johnson draws on his enormous skills as a mediator while also testing and strengthening his faith in God.

Later, while working through his Fayetteville, North Carolina, church to bolster housing, employment, and daycare opportunities, Johnson joins the Republican Party—an unusual move for an African American. As a rising voice in local and regional politics, Johnson befriends Ronald Reagan, delivering a prayer at the Republican Convention to nominate Reagan for president and becoming a frequent visitor at the White House. Even Senator Jesse Helms, known for his racial hatred, befriends Aaron Johnson and aids him in an election bid in local politics.

When Republican Governor James Martin names Johnson as North Carolina’s first African American Secretary of Corrections, the minister-advocate begins a whole new chapter. Over seven years of service, he oversees the transformation of the prisons’ healthcare delivery and its treatment of inmates with HIV/AIDS and he institutes innovative programs aimed at rehabilitating prisoners.

A purchasing scandal by several direct hires forces Johnson to resign the state corrections post, but not before making a heartfelt plea to Charles Colson’s national Prison Fellowship ministry. “I am the man from Macedonia, and I’ve come to ask for your help,” he tells the Prison Fellowship board. Grown men, in tears, agree to plan a wide-scale Prison Fellowship revival in ninety-four North Carolina prisons. Operation Starting Line, held in 1992, fulfilled a promise Rev. Johnson made years earlier to death row inmates.

Readers of Man from Macedonia will come to know Aaron Johnson as a humble friend and inspiring hero who suspects that God still has a few projects waiting for him on his to-do list.

Special pricing for Prison Ministries

2010-01-28T16:50:00.004-06:00

Special offer: To Own a Dragon by best-selling author, Donald Miller, shares the poignant and meaningful lessons he learned growing up without a dad. Men, women and teen readers will appreciate his candid, truthful insights about the meaning of Father.

NavPress is offering a special price of 75 cents each plus shipping for use in Prison Ministry Outreach only. Contact Bob Yates at 800-504-2924 or bob.yates@navpress.com.

2009-09-08T12:52:00.004-05:00

Bridges of Canada is conducting a 2-day Heartmender: Coming Out of the Shadows Conference November 6 & 7, 2009 at Calvary Church in Charlottetown, PEI.

The breakout sessions deal with: 1) Overcoming life controlling issues; 2) Sexual abuse; 3) Anger; 4) Depression; 5) Suicide; and 6) Grief. These sessions are open to everyone and will help to heal life's hurts and deal with what lies beneath.

For more details or to register online, go to www.bridgesofcanada.com or call Pastor Phil Taylor, Calvary Church at 902-368-1226.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed." Psalms 34:18 NLT

Restorative Justice Seminar

2009-09-06T05:11:00.004-05:00

COPE Member Emmett Solomon and Restorative Justice Ministries Network of Texas presents a one-day seminar Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 1506 W. Main St., Gatesville, Texas 254-865-8495.

Topics include Church's Role in RJ, Victims, Offenders, Aftercare, Jail Ministry, plus an update on Chaplaincy and Legislative Issues. Keynote speaker: Dr. Byron Johnson, Professor of Sociology, Co-director Institute for Studies of Religion, Director on Prosocial Behavior both of Baylor University.

Registration fee $20.00 includes lunch and program materials. Registration form and schedule available at www.rjmntexas.net. Call 936-291-2156 for more information.

Destination Character Mentor Training

2009-09-05T17:58:00.004-05:00

Learn the Process and Purpose of Mentoring - Destination Character Mentor Training. Don Duncan, Founder of Destination Character and President of COPE's Board of Directors teaches the principles of being an effective mentor. These principles can be used in any mentor-mentee relationship. Mentoring is needed is all aspects of life experience: church, prison, assistance after prison, intervention, children, youth and adults.

When: September 12, 2009 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Council Road Baptist Church, 2900 N. Council Rd., Bethany (Oklahoma City) OK
Cost: $25.00 - includes lunch, snacks, a copy of Destination Character, a teacher guidebook, a student workbook and a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

Send name, address, church, phone number and registration fee to : Destination Character, PO Box 850921, Yukon, OK 73085 by September 8. For additional information, contact Don at destinationcharacter@cox.net.

2009-08-31T14:24:00.001-05:00

COPE Benin celebrated their 4th Anniversary on August 22, 2009. The conference mission wascome together as people of one eternal vision; to share ideas and to motivate one another towards the prison ministry focus; and to educate and remind churche...s in the land that prison ministry was mandated by Jesus Christ. More pictures on Facebook.

Celebrating 4 Years in Benin

2009-08-18T14:07:00.001-05:00

COPE Benin celebrates its 4th year with a one-day conference in Cotonou. Speakers include Matthew Okoli, President COPE Benin; Prophete Djibril Adjaho, de la Mission Internationale du Triomphe de L'Evangile, Cotonou; and Pastor Sam Igboka, Freedom Tabernacle, Cotonou.

The purpose of the conference is to come together as people of one eternal vision; share ideas and motivate one another toward the prison ministry focus, and to educate or remind the churches in the land about prison ministry mandate by Jesus Christ. Registration is free. Contact +229 97792587, 95536116, 96197360, or 9633327 to register or for more information.

2009-08-12T15:54:00.005-05:00

Learn the Process and Purpose of Mentoring - Destination Character Mentor Training. Don Duncan, Founder of Destination Character and President of COPE's Board of Directors teaches the principles of being an effective mentor. These principles can be used in any mentor-mentee relationship. Mentoring is needed is all aspects of life experience: church, prison, assistance after prison, intervention, children, youth and adults.

When: August 29, 2009 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. lunch on your own
Where: Southern Heights Baptist Church, 1412 S. Dille, El Reno, OK
Cost: $10.00

Send name, address, church, phone number and registration fee to : Destination Character, PO Box 850921, Yukon, OK 73085 by August 24. For additional information, contact Don at dduncan5@cox.net or call 405-795-9252.

Free Webinar - Facebook: Successful Strategies to Boost Donations and Engage Constituents

2009-08-10T17:38:00.003-05:00

COPE member Debbie Walsh, Child Evangelism Fellowship, sent us the following information: Free webinar, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - "Facebook: Successful Strategies to Boost Donations and Engage Constituents" 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM EDT. Brought to you by www.CharityHowTo.com. CharityHowTo provides Step-By-Step Video Training Guides and Educational Webinars for Nonprofits. Space limited, register on their website.

From Gang Leader to Godly Leader

2009-07-17T11:06:00.010-05:00

COPE Member, Henry SoRelle (From Pain to Joy Ministries) recently participated in Dr. Gene Getz's Renewal Radio program. From Gang Leader to Godly Leader - Behind Bars features the story of Alonzo "Big D" Dixon, a Texas inmate serving a 45-year sentence. Alonzo met Jesus through Henry's ministry and today he writes articles and poems that are distributed to other inmates and chaplains through From Pain to Joy Ministries. Listen to the July 6 - July 10, 2009, 5-day, 15 minute daily broadcasts or download the podcasts at www.renewalradio.org.

2009-07-14T13:21:00.008-05:00

Job opportunity - A cook is needed at the House Where Jesus Shines - a residential facility for men coming out of prison located near Waco, Texas. This salaried position includes room and board. Duties include cooking for 50 people, ordering food, etc. and other duties needed. They are interviewing applicants, initially, by phone at 254-723-6892 or 254-715-5563.

Thanks, Javier

2009-07-07T14:07:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Javier Mendoza of Worldwide Voice in the Wilderness for the social networking training session!

Comics by Christian Inmates

2009-06-22T15:46:00.004-05:00

We recently received the following information: Christian inmates will have an opportunity to create a mini-comic of their own testimony to reach their fellow inmates and at-risk youth who are in danger of ending up in prisons. Chaplains, prison ministry workers or family members are invited to recommend a Christian inmate and submit examples of their drawing and storytelling abilities. More information can be found at here.

2009-06-19T11:39:00.007-05:00

Only 2 weeks left for Tyndale House Publishers' (see April 21 entry - Lessons from San Quentin) special time-limited offer to prison ministries:Lessons from San Quentin by Bill Dallas in a special ministry softcover edition, for only $2.25 net per copy. Lessons is the story of Bill Dallas, whose criminal activities as a real estate developer earned him a felony conviction and time in San Quentin where God met him and radically transformed his life.

For additional ordering information, contact Special Sales Representative Kevin Clarke, Tyndale House at kevinclarke@tyndale.com or call him at 800-323-9400x 5498.

2009-06-11T13:30:00.008-05:00

COPE is on Facebook! Here is another way to keep you informed about COPE, our members, news and activities.

Lessons from San Quentin

2009-04-21T18:31:00.013-05:00

Tyndale House Publishers (see April 10 entry - COPE Member Signs Contract) is offering a special time-limited offer to prison ministries: Lessons from San Quentin by Bill Dallas in a special ministry softcover edition, for only $2.25 net per copy. Lessons is the story of Bill Dallas, whose criminal activities as a real estate developer earned him a felony conviction and time in San Quentin where God met him and radically transformed his life.

Upon release from prison, Bill founded the Church Communication Network (CCN), the largest provider of satellite-based training for churches in the world. In Lessons, he shares how God taught him critical life-lessons from the unlikeliest of sources: the lifers of San Quentin who befriended and mentored him.

This ideal resource for prison ministry has been released in hardcover but a summer 2009 print run is planned for a special softcover prison ministry edition which will include an intro page by Bill Dallas and an evangelistic decision page. Orders must be received by June 30, 2009.

For additional ordering information, contact Special Sales Representative Kevin Clarke, Tyndale House at kevinclarke@tyndale.com or call him at 800-323-9400x 5498.

COPE Member Tony Loeffler sings

2009-04-16T15:56:00.010-05:00

The Tony Loeffler Band (Solid Rock Ministry) with special guest Larry Howard (Larry Howard Ministries) performed a six concert tour in the panhandle of Florida where many inmates responded to the claims of Jesus Christ. Here is a video clip from one of their concerts. Both Tony and Larry COPE members.

COPE Member Signs Contract with Tyndale

2009-04-10T14:54:00.030-05:00

Jim Pence, author, artist, singer, prison evangelist and COPE member, is currently writing his second book for Tyndale House. Terror by Night is the true story of Terry Caffey, a man who lost everything and journeyed to the edge of despair, only to find a loving, merciful, sovereign God waiting for him. This amazing story of God's grace and care for those who are desperately hurting will be published this fall.

Jim and Terry will share their testimony at COPE's 2009 International Conference in Dallas, September 22-25, 2009. You don't want to miss the story of God linked their lives in a way that only God can.

Nonprofit and Organizational Links added

2009-04-02T16:07:00.007-05:00

A new web resources category has been add to the LINKS page on COPE's website - Nonprofit and Organizational Resources. Topics include tax information for charities and nonprofits; a leadership forum for charities, foundations and corporate giving programs; the national clearinghouse of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States and more.

Current COPE Newsletter

2009-02-23T17:37:00.007-06:00

Check out our current newslette r for up-to-date information about COPE's Board of Directors, upcoming events and ways you can support COPE.

Musings and Insights from a Texas inmate

2009-02-09T13:35:00.012-06:00

The following is from the musings and insights of a twenty-something man inside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice System. He sends his journal entries to family members who post them to a blog. He has given COPE permission to post his thoughts.

Tonight at Bible study I felt very aloof. The teacher kept referring to manly pride and how handling problems over to Christ makes them go away. I've never really had a problem with pride in the way he was talking about it and any problem that I've ever handed over was never solved instantly. Part of the reason I'm here is because I thought God would take the problem. Instead, it kept haunting me until I was confronted and had help and support.

I don't like when Christianity is offered and presented as a quick fix to life's problems, at least the big ones. There are a few guys here that came to christianity with those expectations and have since become discouraged and fallen away. The evangelism that orginally brought the guys to Christ was true, but overly optimistic, and as a result, they are more hardened now than they were before. How tragic!

COPE Connects

2009-02-06T18:03:00.006-06:00

Rhonda Arias, Oil of Joy for Mourning, COPE Member since early last year writes in her recent newsletter "...my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God who allowed me to attend the Southwest Regional COPE Conference in Orlando, Florida, this past November... I became a member of this international organization last year because I began to sense the time to expand abortion recovery in prisons beyond our Texas borders had come...I met Carol Hayes (at the conference) ...who is as eager as I am to spread the good news of forgiveness to Florida's incarcerated women. We'll be training in the spring and hope to institute the program within the year..."

2009-02-02T17:33:00.008-06:00

Ann Edenfield-Sweet, Executive Director and Founder of Wings Ministry and COPE Member sent in the following:

I just got off the phone with Pablo Diaz of Guideposts Magazine. I had no idea he had written a story about the Southeastern Correctional Institute in Lancaster, Ohio and the sweaters made by the prisoners for our Wings Party! Since this party in 2006, the prisoners have made sweaters for each of the following years' Christmas parties and they have a goal of making 5,000 for Guideposts "Knit for Kids". Because of the positive impact on the adult prisoners in Lancaster, the new director for the juvenile facilities in Ohio is encouraging knitting and crocheting in all eight juvenile facilities in Ohio and Guideposts recently shipped a whole pallet of yarn to the facilities! It is amazing how God works in such unusual, yet powerful ways!

Read more about the SCI Wings party here. For information about a Wings party for inmates and thier kids, contact Ann at annedenfield@wingsministry.org or call 505-291-6412.

School for Correctional Ministries

2009-01-14T14:31:00.007-06:00

Announcing the formation of The School for Correctional Ministries with both residential and online courses that are fully accredited by Wheaton College for professional and volunteer correctional ministry workers. Applications are now being accepted. Increase your ministry skills and effectiveness while maintaining your ministry and personal life. For further information, visit online at www.bgcprisonministries.com or call 630-752-5727.

In Memory - Leola Hoekstra 1919-2009

2009-01-12T15:07:00.007-06:00

Leola Hoekstra, wife of the late Chaplain Ray, went home to be with her Lord on January 10, 2009 in Plano, Texas. Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Thursday, January 15, 2009 in Restland Funeral Home, Greenville Ave. and Restland Rd., Dallas, TX 972-238-7111. Service will be 12:30 pm, Friday, January 16, 2009 at Restland Wildwood Chapel.

Leola Hoekstra was born September 27, 1919 in Roe, Arkansas. She was married to Chaplain Ray Hoekstra who founded International Prison Ministry in 1972. Chaplain Ray continued as IPM Director until he went home to be with the Lord on November 20, 1997, at the age of 84.

For decades Chaplain Ray and Leola made thousands of ministry visits into prisons across America and the former Soviet Union. They also printed and distributed free Bibles, life-changing testimony books and Christian study books to prisoners who requested them.

Chaplain Ray, who was referred to by many as the grandfather of prison ministry in America was converted to faith in Christ by an ex-offender who shared the gospel with him on a cattle ranch. The power of that one testimony put a desire in Chaplain Ray's heart to share life-changing stories of ex-offenders to anyone who would listen.

Today IPM, under the leadership of Chaplain Ray's son, Bob, continues to carry on the ministry to which Ray and Leola dedicated their lives.

Don Duncan: Newly-Elected President, COPE Board of Directors

2009-01-05T18:02:00.007-06:00

COPE is excited to announce that our Board of Directors recently elected Don Duncan as Board President. Don has been part of COPE for the past 3 years and brings a fresh excitement for COPE's purpose and mission. He has served as chaplain in prisons in Oklahoma including Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, the female maximum security prison in McCloud. He has also served as Head Chaplain for the State of Oklahoma and as the Oklahoma Field Director for Prison Fellowship. He is the pastor of a local church and continues to minister in prisons. Don and his wife, Caleta, have six children and five grandchildren and live near Oklahoma City.

Johnny Moffitt, President of COPE's Board of Directors for the past 7 years, is one of COPE's founders and is the only one still living here on earth. He is also the founder and president of Worldwide Voice in the Wilderness located in Dallas, Texas. Johnny recently resigned as President but will continue to serve on COPE's Board as Treasurer. We are delighted that he will continue to share his wisdom and experience with us.

Africa Prison Ministry Conference

2008-12-10T13:46:00.008-06:00

Words can not describe our time in Uganda - it was fantastic, anointed, historical, etc, etc. COPE Uganda hosted this historic event at St. Andrews church in Kampala, Uganda, last week and they did a great job. Conference participants came from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia and the United States.

Speakers included Dr. Nsaba Buturo, Minister of State, Ethics & Integrity, Uganda; Dr. Denson Nyabwana, Director, Uganda Prison Health Services; Don Duncan, the President of COPE's Board of Directors, Manuel Cordero, Assembly of God's Correctional Ministries Representative; Daniel Gebreselassie, Justice for All, Ethiopia, Dr. John Doodo, President, COPE Ghana and Jean Knapp, COPE Board Member.

COPE Orlando Regional Conference

2008-11-28T12:57:00.004-06:00

I'd love to write more about our great conference in Orlando last week but with only six days between arriving back in Texas and leaving again for the COPE Africa Conference in Uganda next week (plus Thanksgiving in the middle), I just don't have time. So for now I'll say it was great and will write more in mid-December when I've gotten over jet lag.

If you were not able to attend one of our Regional Conferences this year, you missed a great time of fellowship, encouragement, training, networking and most importantly, a time of spiritual renewal. So now is the time to mark your calendar for our 25th Anniversary Celebration and International Conference, September 24-27,2009, in Dallas, Texas. It will be a grand celebration of what the Lord has done with a glimpse at what's ahead.

Bible 101 - a free 11 hour course that will help you grasp the main messge of the Bible

2008-10-31T12:47:00.007-05:00

It's been called "the greatest story ever told." Now the central message of the Bible is brought to life in this FREE eleven-hour online video series. This self-paced course has been adapted from the popular award winning DVD series - The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. Brought to you by COPE Member GoodSeed International.

CAPA Conference

2008-10-23T16:52:00.011-05:00

Three hundred ministries, organizations, volunteers and others interested in reentry attended CAPA's (Christian Association for Prison Aftercare) 7th Annual Conference last week in Sacramento, California. Conference participants included COPE members Lisa Cohn, Guardian Angel Family Crisis Center; Jon Cordeiro, New Name Ministries; Anne Edenfield-Sweet, Wings Ministry; Tim May, Ebenezer Outreach Ministry; Gene Purtle, The Keys are at the Cross Prison Ministries; Karen Swanson, Institute for Prison Ministries; and Victoria Walters, Match2 Mentoring.

As exhibitors at the conference, we gave away 150 packets of information containing information on 11 COPE members' products, services, ministries, etc. If you are a COPE member and would like your ministry information included in these packets for distribution at future events, please contact our office at office@copeconnections.org or call 817-684-7870.

Prison Ministry introduced to DTS students in New Zealand

2008-10-10T16:45:00.011-05:00

COPE's Executive Director, Fauhn Schierer, shared the "Why of Prison Ministry" with 19 Discipleship Training School students and staff members from 9 countries during a recent visit to the Pacific Link, a medical missionary ship operated by Marine Reach/YWAM and based in Tauranga, New Zealand.

As a group of young adults "getting to know God" and "making God known" the DTS students were challenged to consider as a people group with their own culture, language and customs, those who society often considers the "least of these".

Only 1 more Regional conference in 2008

2008-10-07T20:14:00.005-05:00

Two of COPE's 2008 Regional Conferences are now part of our history. One is still part of our/your future - join us November 20-22 in Orlando for our last 2008 conference.

You can register online or call the office for details. Speakers include Warden Burl Cain, Angola State Penitentiary, LA; Ron Nikkel, Prison Fellowship International and Johnny Moffitt, President of COPE's Board of Directors.

Workshops include Emotional Baggage, Mentoring, Fundraising, Worship Music and the Arts in Prison and Building an Aftercare/Re-Entry Team.

Kairos celebrates 32 years of ministry

2008-09-06T14:42:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to John Thompson and Kairos Prison Ministry Internationa l on 32 years of ministry. We appreciate all you do to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen.

In Memory of Jesse Mathes and Nick Barbetta

2008-08-28T17:23:00.002-05:00

Prison ministry and COPE recently lost two might men of God. Jesse Mathes and Nick Barbetta went to be with the Lord in June. Jesse, founder and director of Jesus is the Way Prison Ministry, Rantoul, Illinois, was a long time COPE board member. Nick, director of Crossroads Prison Ministry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also served on COPE's board for many years. Both were not only great ministers and servants but great friends to us all.

I will always remember Jesse from two events: one during a COPE trip to Israel and the other at a Florida prison. In Israel about forty of us boarded a boat to sail across the Sea of Galilee. It was a foggy morning but the sun soon came up, burned off the fog and left a gorgeous, sunshiny day. I look across the deck and saw Jesse. Facing the spot where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, with both arms stretched as high as he could reach, tears were streaming down his face. He did not know anyone else was on the boat. He was caught up in worshiping his Lord.

More than 100 of us went to a prison in Florida for 3 days. Jesse was to preach on Saturday night. I saw him in the back of the room during the service and went over to pray for him. A few minutes later he stepped up to preach; there was a tremendous anointing and he preached like a man on fire. Hundreds of prisoner answered the altar call and gave their lives to Christ. Later Jesse told me he'd felt so sick before the service he planned to leave without preaching. But when I prayed his strength returned and his fever left. He was a finisher.

On a very hot day in the summer of 1986, Frank Constantino asked me to go to the airport and pick up Nick Barbetta. Nick was flying into Dallas to be part of the leadership in the 1988 National Prison Invasion. I asked how I would know Nick. Frank said, "Think Rocky Balboa." I did - and walked right up to him. I always thought of Nick as Rocky. He was a loser who became a big winner through the power of God. He even looked like Rocky!

Nick was a tremendous chaplain to the prisoners in the Philadelphia Prison System. He was a faithful friend to me. His battle with Hepatitis C took a tremendous tool on his body and he had to retire from full time ministry, but he was always quick to share Jesus.

Jesse and Nick, two powerful warriors in God's army - two faithful members of COPE and two very special friends. They were as different as day and night yet so much alike in their passion for God. We rejoice that both are out of pain in their bodies and we are saddened by our loss: we are changed by their friendship. We miss the both.

by Johnny Moffitt, President COPE's Board of Directors