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