2016 Summary
Matt 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Dear Partners in the Faith,
We thank God for all of you who choose to invest in eternal rather than temporal treasures. Here are a few letters from men whose lives have been impacted through your gifts and prayers. The first letter was from a new student who completed his first two courses: Dear Mr. Plasterer, I thank you for sending me these two Bible study courses. I will continue to study, and I am looking forward to more courses like these. I can feel my faith in Jesus growing. I was a Christian all my life, but it’s not until now that I feel like I am truly beginning to understand the gift God is giving me through His Son. I thank you… Sincerely M…
The next note from a man who has completed many courses was written on the front of his exam for the “God’s Blueprint for your Marriage” course. This study is great it should be given to all people who are thinking about getting married and people who are already married. I wish I had something like this before I was married.
Finally, this note was from an inmate who had been part of a group Bible study but was relocated to a restricted area after an altercation: Dear John Plasterer, First I want to thank you for reaching out and giving me the study of Daniel. It has been music to my ears and a sweet sound to my soul. I thank God for touching your heart to send it to me before I truly needed it. Sorry I’m not in class. I got into a fight with the ruling gang but God has blessed me with this quiet time to study and continue to study the book of Daniel. I was wondering if you had any more books like this on Revelation that would be a help. I thank you yet again, God bless you and keep the faith.
During 2016, 1793 Emmaus Correspondence School courses were assigned and distributed to inmates who requested them. 1454 of the ECS courses were completed by inmates and returned for grading. In addition, I conducted 199 group Bible studies or evangelistic meetings with 1454 men in attendance as well as 49 meetings or classes outside of the jail.
The total expenditure for ministry through Greater Baltimore Jail and Prison Ministries (GBJPM) in 2016 was $9,018.11. The donations to GBJPM in 2016 were $12,389.00. We are grateful for several generous one-time donations as well as banquet income that enabled us to recoup some deficits from prior years. We are also pleased that the Lord has raised up new ministry partners. We are prayerfully considering how best to use the resources entrusted to us, especially ways to increase correspondence enrollment in institutions outside of Baltimore.
Below is a list of a few of the ministries who provided resources to GBJPM in 2016 and the materials they either donated or provided at deep discounts:
The Gideons – High quality Bibles
ROCK Resources – One God One Message book, King of Glory book, and Your Story pamphlet;
Totally Free Ministries- Logos 21 Gospel of John booklets;
Challenge Literature Fellowship – Challenge newspapers;
Biblical Discipleship Ministries – Evolution of a Creationist books;
Mark Cahill Ministries – One Heartbeat Away and other books;
Moments With the Book – Gospel calendars and a wide variety of tracts, literature and booklets;
Our Daily Bread Ministries – Our Daily Bread Booklets;
Keep Believing Ministries – An Anchor for the Soul books.
In addition, hundreds of plastic bookmark magnifiers were purchased and distributed to inmates with poor vision.
John Plasterer
The radio program has been supended but the recordings on this site were produced and aired as weekly two-minute radio broadcasts heard each Monday at 4:30 on WRBS 1230 AM. They reflect the teaching that inmates of the Baltimore City Detention Center hear each week from Chaplain Plasterer. Chaplain Plasterer receives no salary or money from state or local government for this work but is supported entirely by the gifts of God’s people.
2015 Year End Summary
3 John 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
Dear Partners in the Faith,
We thank God for all of you who follow the above admonition and partner with us as fellow workers for the truth. This month I have decided to share two letters from inmates. The first is from a man who just arrived and is requesting assistance. The second is from a man who during the past two and one half years has completed nearly all the ECS studies. Below the letters is a summary of 2015.
Dear Mr. John Plasterer,
I’m an inmate at Central Booking. I am a devout backslider Christian man. I have a Bible, a personal relationship with Christ, however, I really feel alone and I am in need of some heavy study material and communication with some strong brethren. I am very stressed out because of my situations inside and outside of these walls. I find myself being double minded and lacking faith.
My financial status is not very good I cannot afford any books or magazines dealing with Christ and this place has almost no literature except for what you, Mr. Plasterer, provide. I thank you so much for your generosity and service.
Please if possible can you write me back and send some “meat and potatoes” studies or just any about Jesus please. Keep me and my loved ones in prayer. I have a first child on the way and I need to seriously straighten my life up. I’m 31 years old and I am tired of living hell, I want to love life and be a father to my child. I need your help please. Thank you very much.
Greetings Chaplain,
I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed participating in the ECS Bible Study Correspondence program. The study truly helped me understand and grow in the Word of God. These past 31 month has open my eye to the truth about the good news about Jesus Christ. I still have a lot of growing to do. Below are the study booklet I havn’t done. It would be a blessing to receive them. God bless you…
Thank you for your support and prayers that enable me to provide Bibles, books and personal attention to these and hundreds of other men like them each year.
Below is the annual summary of the Lord’s provision and our stewardship for 2015. Your investment in this ministry is a tribute to God’s love and is bearing much fruit for His glory.
- 3100 (approximately) Bibles and New Testaments were distributed to inmates in Central Booking.
- 4000 (approx.) Gospels of John were distributed in the receiving area were inmates are quickly released.
- 4800 (approx. 1200 per quarter) Our Daily Bread devotional booklets were distributed.
Along with these, there were thousands of pamphlets and photocopies of my own Bible studies distributed.
Hundreds of books were distributed–donated or purchased at deep discounts from a variety of ministries such as:
ROCK resources – One God One Message book;
Totally Free – Logos 21 Gospel of John booklets;
Biblical Discipleship Ministries – Evolution of a Creationist books;
Moments With the Book – Gospel calendars and a wide variety of tracts, literature and booklets;
Our Daily Bread Ministries – Our Daily Bread Booklets;
Keep Believing Ministries – An Anchor for the Soul books.
Hundreds of plastic bookmark magnifiers were distributed to inmates with poor vision.
2581 Emmaus Correspondence School courses were assigned and distributed to inmates who requested them.
1272 of the ECS courses were completed by inmates and returned for grading. I devote about a day per week to the correspondence work but have a lot of other volunteer helpers who prepare materials, grade, and help with administrative aspects of the work.
My own teaching in 2015 included the following:
- 162 Bible studies and evangelistic meetings in the jail with a combined attendance of 1189 men & juveniles
- 42 Church services and Bible classes in settings outside of the jail.
- 47 two-minute radio programs were recorded and broadcast. The radio program ended in November.
2015 was a year of changes in the detention center and city. The flow of inmates into the detention center declined after the allegations of police brutality. The trend of fewer arrests actually began several years earlier with changes in police policy, but arrests are even fewer since the riots. The closing of the main building also affected ministry in the detention center. Prior to the closing, most men were housed in cells, but now most men are housed in dorms. The more constant social interaction between inmates has caused a decline in correspondence studies.
The total expenditure for ministry through Greater Baltimore Jail and Prison Ministries (GBJPM) in 2015 was $11,370.61. The fair market value of the purchased and donated materials would have been at lease 5 times that amount, but the eternal worth of this investment is beyond estimation. The donations to GBJPM in 2015 were $9018.11. We are grateful the ministry had some reserves to cover the difference and look to the Lord to supply what will likely be increased needs in 2016.
Pray also that I will have true wisdom for preparing lessons and messages that will be used of God to transform hearts and lives. Also, pray that I will have discernment as I make decisions about how best to spend my time and ministry resources.
2013 year end summary
… lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35
Dear Partners in the Faith,
When the Apostle Paul received a gift from the saints gathered at Phillipi he said that such gifts were “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” Phillipians 4:18 Thank you for your investments of prayer and support that have sustained us in this past year. Below is a summary of our activities during 2013. While we rejoice in the abundance of activities and materials, we also recognize that the real goal – the glory of God through transformed lives – will only truly be know when we see Christ.
By God’s grace, I was able to lead 200 Bible studies, evangelistic meetings and church services in 2013. The combined total attendance at the meetings conducted in the jail was 1466. In addition, more than 40 two-minute radio messages have been recorded and aired on WRBS 1230 AM. The program air time is each Monday at 4:30 PM EST. Please pray that God will grant me wisdom as I prepare the scripts for this program.
The correspondence work continues to be sustained by volunteers who devote untold hours to preparing materials for distribution, grading exams, and assisting with student database work. I continue to devote about one work day of time per week to leading the correspondence work. I believe this work has great potential for growth.
The following Bibles and literature were provided and distributed to inmates:
- 5000 (approximately) Bibles and New Testaments
- 2374 Emmaus correspondence books; (1511 of these were completed and graded)
- 5000 (approx.) Gospels of John (distributed in receiving area where inmates are often released in a few days)
- 5000 (approx.) Our Daily Bread devotional booklets
Hundreds of plastic bookmark magnifiers (distributed to those with poor vision)
Thousands of Gospel pamphlets and books (donated or purchased from a variety of sources)
Thousands of my own photocopied Bible studies and tracts.
The total income received by Greater Baltimore Jail and Prison Ministries in 2013 was $11,020 The total expenses for the same period were $9439.04 For more detailed information about the Ministry expenses please write to us.
There have been many challenges and adjustments in the work and in our own circumstances in 2013. As always, we look to the Lord for both His direction and provision in 2014. Please pray that we will be sensitive to the Lord’s direction in all things.