Dear family & friends                                                                                               April 2012                                                                                                                                                                    

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT 

Kids leave corrections only to return...why is that?  It really is very simple. They do not have a positive place to go!  “It’s a long lonely road” to travel on without Jesus. God has given each of us the ministry of reconciliation. He said that we should go and be salt & light. For me and those who have been called to prison ministry it is to befriend, love, mentor, train and disciple these kids...and as we do it is His business to transform lives and change the way these kids think.  

A young man in corrections, with some help from his mentor, wrote this song:

It’s been a long and lonely road I’ve been traveling on. 

Just trying to find a place where I belong.

Shattered dreams and broken souls are all I seem to find.

On this long and lonely road. 

“Who am I” is the question I’ve been asking. 

Thought I’d find my answer in drugs, money, and passion.

But I came to find I still don’t know.

So I’ll just continue my path on this long and lonely road. 

Came crashing down, I hit rock bottom. 

Ended up in jail, broke with a drug problem. 

Wish I could go back to the way things used to be.

Back before I started on this treacherous journey.

For all the things I’ve done, I’ve got nothing to show.

Think it’s time to change my ways and get off this evil road. 

Decided I was ready to change so I looked into the Bible.

It talked about a man named Jesus and his enemy the devil.

Said they’ve been waging war over my soul...

That God sent His only Son to pay my toll.

And if I only accepted Him, He would change the path of my life. 

Put me on a hard, narrow road that would lead to paradise. 

It was a long and lonely road I was traveling on.

But I finally found the place where I belong. 

Shattered dreams and broken souls can all be mended...

On this hard, narrow road. 

I am prayerfully pursuing potential properties for our first Discipleship Home in Maine. A place where these young people will feel like they belong, helping them to “get off this evil road.”  I have also begun a fund raising effort to purchase a home for these kids. Shattered dreams and broken souls can be mended by the One who never changes and faithfully gives good & perfect gifts!  Please prayerfully consider how you can help with this Discipleship Home and email me any thoughts you might have to help raise the funds at:   ken.straightahead@gmail.com 

Additionally, I have $3,500 left of a matching grant that ends next month (May 31, 2012). I raise my own financial support and this money goes directly to me and my family. I am praying that this money will not be lost. Any new donations will be matched and monthly pledges will be multiplied by 12 months and then matched.  Miriam and I so much appreciate your prayers and all you do to support us and the ministry. Donations can be sent to the address below. Please put “Hawley” on the memo line of your check. Now you can find Straight Ahead Ministries Maine on Facebook, like the page and share a post!     

                                                                                                                                                 

P.O. Box 131 • Raymond, ME 04071

Phone: 207-712-2313 • www.straightahead.org 

Gods richest blessings,

Ken Hawley 

March Prayer Letter

      

                                                                                   March 2012                                                                                                          

Dear Friends & Family,                                                                                                                                      

I have met so many young men in lock-up over the last year and am amazed how most (about 95%) of them have no relationship with their fathers. Either their dad has totally checked out or they have never met him. Just the other day a young man broke down in tears as he shared about how much he wished his dad was part of his life. Another young man, who had never met his dad before, told me he learned how to get in touch with him a few years ago and began calling him. His dad would promise to call him back and that he would work it out so they could see each other. This went on for several years while this young man remained hopeful as he continued to reached out to his dad over the phone. Repeatedly he heard the same thing... broken promises, and consequently a broken heart, as his dad never made good on a single promise.     

In the movie Courageous, the message so clearly being made is a battle cry, a charge, for men to step up and take responsibility for their kids and the fatherless. The declaration at the end of the movie really caught my attention. Part of it went like this:

“As a law enforcement officer, I’ve seen first hand the deep hurt and devastation that fatherlessness brings on a child’s life. Our prisons are full of men and women who have lived recklessly after being abandoned by their fathers, wounded by men who should have loved them the most. Many of these children now follow this same pattern of irresponsibility that their fathers did...Some men will hear this and mock it or ignore it. But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God for the position of influence He has given you...There are some men who, regardless of the mistakes we’ve made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did not do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children to do the same...and whenever possible, to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives but who desperately need help and direction... So where are you, men of courage? It’s time to rise up and answer the call God has given you, and to say; I will, I will, I will!” 

Our prisons are truly full of those who have been abandoned by their fathers and there is such deep heartache around this loss. It’s painful to hear their stories and share in their anguish. But what a joy it is to be there for them, loving them to the Lord. To introduce these broken souls to their heavenly Father who faithfully gives good and perfect gifts...to the One who will never leave them or forsake them.

Please pray for the broken hearts of these young people, that they would find hope and joy in the Father of the fatherless and for volunteers to be faithful bearers of the “Good News.”  Miriam and I need and appreciate your prayers and financial support. Without them I couldn’t do what I am so privileged to do! Donations can be made online at www.straightahead.org or by check made out to Straight Ahead Ministries. Please put “Ken Hawley” on the memo line and send to P.O. Box 131 Raymond Maine 04071             We thank you so much!  Ken Hawley  

P.O. Box 131 • Raymond, ME 04071

Phone: 207-518-8113 • Email: khawley@straightahead.org