I shared with the men tonight that we have a lot of folks that pray for us and them in prison ministry.
I asked them if they were willing to share some prayer requests, so they did. They are listed below. Will you pray for them and they serve the Lord and learn to walk with Jesus Christ? Thank you for your prayers and for your deep interest in the ministry of Prison Outreach of Delaware Inc. |
Field Report:
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution (Y. C. I.)
Joe Kadtke
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution (Y. C. I.)
Joe Kadtke
Letting yOUR LIGHT SHINE IN A DIGITAL WORLD
This world communicates
to one another in a much different way than we used to 20 years ago.
I was at a church not long ago and noticed that I was just about the only person in the congregation carrying a Bible.
When the pastor began to preach, everybody reached into their pockets and pulled out their little gadgets. When Pastor gave the book and chapter you could hear not gold leafed pages flipping in the Black Leather Bound Book, but rather the quiet sound of fingers moving ever so rapidly over their very compact electronic devices.
It’s the kind of thing that makes us older folks wonder what planet we are on?
Now there are those who totally reject modern technology.
I am not one of them. However, I do find myself fighting deep down inside, when people look at me with a blank stare and say
“What?, you don’t have a cell phone”?
Even though I don’t embrace new technology to the very fullest, and enjoy a real conversation with real people eye ball to eyeball as my basic source of communication, I do believe that we should use modern technology wisely and effectively for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
With those thoughts in mind, let me say that one of the most powerful tools for communicating to a lost world is film and photography.
I have a grand passion for video production and photography and have been given a great opportunity to teach others how to effectively share their faith through the use of digital technology.
Our correctional institutions are filled with people from this present generation. These young people, known to be called “@generationers”, have never lived without computers, video games, e-mail, facebook, twitter, ipods, blackberry’s, tablet, iphones, SMS (short Message service or text messaging), Flickr, Hulu, Photo bucket, Netflix, Drop Box, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networking, news groups, blogging, Facebook, My Space, chat rooms, and video conferencing
What we see as the older generation as unusual behavioral habits is normal to them. The older generation can always look at their wrists and tell you the time. The young generation does not usually wear a watch, they just look at their device. The older generation would rather sit on the porch and talk. The younger generation would rather sit on the same porch and text.
How do you catch their interest and use their knowledge to communicate the most profound truth the world will ever hear?
The opportunity came to me about six months ago.
I was granted the privilege to teach a video production class at Young Correctional Institution.
When we first announced the class I was overwhelmed by the letters that I received from men wanting to participate.
I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm. The end result was an amazing opportunity to set an example and give a skill to young people who will go to their churches and aid in the sharing of the message of God’s truth.
Eight students graduated from our first class and we will be starting another in June.
These young men learned how to use the media of video, music and photography in a God honoring way to communicate their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
They studied and learned everything necessary from filming techniques to video post-production and DVD authoring. They studied Biblical truth as applied to media and dealt with issues such as honesty and integrity in film production and media manipulation by agenda based organizations and businesses.
I have even had some men tag along and have had unique opportunities to share the message of Jesus Christ with them.
Below is the final project of two our students.
I was at a church not long ago and noticed that I was just about the only person in the congregation carrying a Bible.
When the pastor began to preach, everybody reached into their pockets and pulled out their little gadgets. When Pastor gave the book and chapter you could hear not gold leafed pages flipping in the Black Leather Bound Book, but rather the quiet sound of fingers moving ever so rapidly over their very compact electronic devices.
It’s the kind of thing that makes us older folks wonder what planet we are on?
Now there are those who totally reject modern technology.
I am not one of them. However, I do find myself fighting deep down inside, when people look at me with a blank stare and say
“What?, you don’t have a cell phone”?
Even though I don’t embrace new technology to the very fullest, and enjoy a real conversation with real people eye ball to eyeball as my basic source of communication, I do believe that we should use modern technology wisely and effectively for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
With those thoughts in mind, let me say that one of the most powerful tools for communicating to a lost world is film and photography.
I have a grand passion for video production and photography and have been given a great opportunity to teach others how to effectively share their faith through the use of digital technology.
Our correctional institutions are filled with people from this present generation. These young people, known to be called “@generationers”, have never lived without computers, video games, e-mail, facebook, twitter, ipods, blackberry’s, tablet, iphones, SMS (short Message service or text messaging), Flickr, Hulu, Photo bucket, Netflix, Drop Box, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networking, news groups, blogging, Facebook, My Space, chat rooms, and video conferencing
What we see as the older generation as unusual behavioral habits is normal to them. The older generation can always look at their wrists and tell you the time. The young generation does not usually wear a watch, they just look at their device. The older generation would rather sit on the porch and talk. The younger generation would rather sit on the same porch and text.
How do you catch their interest and use their knowledge to communicate the most profound truth the world will ever hear?
The opportunity came to me about six months ago.
I was granted the privilege to teach a video production class at Young Correctional Institution.
When we first announced the class I was overwhelmed by the letters that I received from men wanting to participate.
I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm. The end result was an amazing opportunity to set an example and give a skill to young people who will go to their churches and aid in the sharing of the message of God’s truth.
Eight students graduated from our first class and we will be starting another in June.
These young men learned how to use the media of video, music and photography in a God honoring way to communicate their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
They studied and learned everything necessary from filming techniques to video post-production and DVD authoring. They studied Biblical truth as applied to media and dealt with issues such as honesty and integrity in film production and media manipulation by agenda based organizations and businesses.
I have even had some men tag along and have had unique opportunities to share the message of Jesus Christ with them.
Below is the final project of two our students.
oTHER CONCERNS FOR PRAYER

Because movement has been restricted, we have been sending in-house Bible correspondence courses to the men in their living areas. We are taking advantage of the problems that the institution has and using our resources to keep the in-house mail studies going to better equip the saints. It has been frustrating when you think that our opportunities are at our fingertips to help train these men for a better life in the future while at the same time overcrowding restricts their movement. We are still having chapel services however.
Pray that this movement restriction will be lifted.
Keep this concern in your prayers.
Pray that our classes will begin again.
Praise the Lord that my one-on-one ministry has been vital in keeping many of the men focused.
Chaplain Joe Kadtke
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
Pray that this movement restriction will be lifted.
Keep this concern in your prayers.
Pray that our classes will begin again.
Praise the Lord that my one-on-one ministry has been vital in keeping many of the men focused.
Chaplain Joe Kadtke
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution