COUNTY JAIL UPDATE

We had another awesome County Jail service last night!

One of things I am really noticing about these guys who come to the meting is they are really hungry for the things of God. They are so eager to hear and receive the Word. Praise God!

We are really are building some great relationships here at the Jail. This was our fifth meeting and every guy who attended last night has been at previous meetings. I did ask, as I noticed a few guys were missing, one of the brothers said that a few of the guys have moved on to State Prison facilities. So we all prayed and lifted up these guys up who are serving their time at State facilities- trusting God to continue to do his work in their lives.

At last nights meeting there we two of us, myself and Mike Martin, Mike is a brother who has such a passion to serve and minister to the hurting. It was awesome having him with me. Mike spoke on the “Good Samaritan” sharing with the guys the importance of reaching out with mercy and being aware of the hurting right before our eyes. It was a good word and the dialog was great.

I followed up Mike’s message with a message to the guys asking and answering the question, “What is a Disciple of Christ?” I shared from the Word six areas to which we need to examine ourselves and ask ourselves if we really are a disciple of Jesus.

1. Faith in Jesus

2. Continuing in His Word

3. Love One Another

4. Bearing Christian Fruit

5. Denying Ourselves

6. Having an Obedient Heart.

It was good- the guys seemed to really take it to heart. After the meeting we had a great time of prayer and fellowship.

God is definitely doing something in the Elkhart County Jail. Thanks so much for the prayers.

Next Jail meeting is February 9^th.

Thanks for reading and praying! God bless!

~Igy

TEEN CHALLENGE - A GOD CONNECTION

I recently found out that my city, Elkhart, is now privileged and blessed to have a Teen Challenge operating and ministering here locally. Praise God!

Teen Challenge is a 12 -15 month Christian rehabilitation program for men who are 18 years and older. They deal with life controlling problems-drugs and alcohol are the most predominate issues. What I totally love about TC, founded by David Wilkerson, is that Jesus and knowing Him is the key to the program, which will bring a total life transformation! The program has incredible success rate.

It’s awesome they are here in Elkhart. This is kind of funny as they been here for over a year…lol.. But, I just found out and immediately starting praying for them and was inquiring of the Lord about networking with them.

Well, within a week, as myself and a couple brother were leaving the Elkhart County Jail I crossed paths with a couple young ministers who were also leaving the Jail as they had just finished their meeting.

As we introduced ourselves I was floored when the brother, Mark Howell, introduced himself as on staff at the Elkhart Teen Challenge. We embraced and greeted each other. Mark told me how he was praying for people to connect with in regards to evangelism. So we are both excited to see what the Lord has in store.

Yesterday, I was able to visit the Teen Challenge building and meet the Director, Andy Collins, who is an awesome young man- who is devoted to Jesus and is a man on-fire for God with a passion to see people’s lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Please keep Teen Challenge in your prayers. Hopefully we will be seeing more of each other..Amen!

“I need to change, I can’t do it on my own.”

Quick update on the Juvenile Ministry.

This last Friday my Dad and I went to the South Bend Juvenile Correctional Facility to minister to young men who are locked up.

The way it works at the facility is that the “Lifeline meeting” is announced and those desiring to attend are brought to us in a class room that the facility allows us to use.

The number of guys who come to the lifeline meeting vary. During the time we minister there are several “free-time” things that are going on for the guys to be doing: open gym, TV, lift weights, play cards, etc. We have had as many as twenty come to the meeting.

This particular night we had just two young men come to the meeting, but it was an awesome time of ministry. Sometimes with smaller groups the time can be more intimate and personal, which is what was the case here tonight.

One of the young men, named Jose’, was a believer and he was encouraging the other young man, Sidney. Both guys have a few months of the program to go through. My Dad asked Sidney why he came to the meeting. He looked at both of us and plainly said “I need to change, I can’t do it on my own.”

Wow. So true is that. Well, we spent the majority of the time sharing with Sidney that only true lasting change can come through Jesus. We shared why Jesus came, to save his people from their sins.

We were able to lead Sidney to the Lord. It was a glorious thing. Please keep him in your prayers. I’ll be heading back in there next Tuesday…God is good!

Elkhart Jail Ministry this Thursday..please pray...thanks Saints!

God bless!...thanks for reading.

Steve

Chick Tract -Jail/Outreach Testimony

Quick testimony from last Thursday nights jail meeting:

(It was another incredible meeting) .. I noticed a man sitting in the back who looked somewhat familiar. As we talked after the service, he shared how he remembered us from one of our summer outreaches, at that time he was away from God, he was given one of the "Chick tract's" that I always try to pass out. (those of you who don't know what a Chick tract is, it is a comic book style gospel tract with great artwork and a good job of presenting the Gospel)

I think it was the one called "This is my life" or something like that, anyway, he said after he got home he read it and continued to think about his life and the path he was on...

Yeah, this man did get in trouble with the law and he is in jail..but that is what it took for God to get a hold of him to where he would call out to God and repent...amen.

Since being locked up he has come to know the true God, Jesus Christ and he even told me that he now can laugh at things and smile, he never had any peace and joy before...

Praise God!!.. We serve a real Jesus that changes lives!... Hey, and to think a Gospel chick tract was used to bring some change of thinking to this man!.. Glory to God!!..Keep witnessing Saints!..and don't underestimate a Gospel tract, God uses them....amen..

~Igy

CHRISTMAS OUTREACH PARTY 2011...IT WAS AWESOME!

I just have to testify! The Christmas Outreach Party was totally incredible! The turnout was fantastic as one-hundred and thirty one people from our local area showed up. Many were bused in due to limited transportation for many of the invited families. A big shout of thanks to the servants who drove the bus and their vans to pick people up.

That is really what this Christmas Outreach was all about “servant-hood.” Serving and blessing people who don’t really have much and in no way could pay you back- Jesus was our perfect example of a servant. He came to serve not to be served. Praise His holy name!

The Christmas Outreach was set up banquet style. The people were served a meal and loved on by the teams of ministers who were assigned to each table to care for and help each families.

The Urban Choir ministered in music and did a great job. Brother Larry preached a message on “Christmas-the true meaning.” and afterward led an altar call for prayer and salvation. Several people were prayed for and ministered to. Praise God!

To close the meeting we blessed everyone with a gift.- Every family was blessed with gift card to an area grocery store. The children were blessed with a toy/game and every teen was blessed with a McDonald’s gift card.

Some highlights of the meeting:

Obviously, the people who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior-as several people were prayed for during the altar call. Praise God! Also, many other people were prayed for with personal needs: finances and family issues. Amen! God was touching lives!

One family that attended the Christmas Party-told one of the team, that this was the first time in their life that they have ever been inside a church, of course this opened up the door for some great ministry and they were invited back.

We handed out several new Bibles to people who did not have one.

The Spirit of God was really moving among the people as one little girl who won the free raffle for a Girls bicycle changed her mind about taking it and gave it to another little girl.
Also, a man named Joel who came to the Outreach with his family was so touched by God he asked if he could make an announcement to give away for free, some furniture he had in storage that he wasn’t using. He got several names from people, he is planning on connecting them, as he has a truck and he will bring it to them. Awesome! PTL!

Many of the new people who we met for the first time signed up for rides to Church. One lady who we recently just met, didn’t even know we had a bus ministry, she was overjoyed to hear that the bus was able to pick her and her two little girls up for Church!

In closing, words can not describe everything that went on during this outreach. The Lord moved, the people of God showed the love of Christ and lives were changed.

Below, I posted several pictures, hopefully, you can get a better picture of what went on. It was marvelous, to God be the glory!

A final thanks to all who prayed, gave and served! It was worth it as lives were touched- the kingdom advanced-some great memories were sown into children who may have never seen love in action.

God bless you all – thanks for reading!

Steve Ignowski
Lifeline Outreach Ministries

The Families

Pastor Mark & Crystal Lantz of Christan Center Church greeting the people.

The Food Ministry team did an outstanding job!

The Free Raffles!
This brother received the free Christmas Tree

This little girl received the Girls Bike

This fellow received an awesome new coat

The Urban Choir ministered in song and they were awesome!

Bro. Larry preaching the Word!

Ministry/prayer with people

Blessing the kids with presents!

...that little face says it all!!...God bless!!

WE HAD CHURCH BEING THE CHURCH- IN THE COUNTY JAIL

We had our first jail ministry meeting last night. Wendell, Lance and I went in together and it was an awesome night- very fruitful!

We were in one of the classrooms and the guys were brought to us from their cell blocks.A total of nine guys came. A few of them had Bibles and were happy to meet us.

We started out the meeting just getting into God’s presence. Even though this was a class room-for this night, at this time, it was Gods house. I brought a powerful worship CD and we played two songs on the blood of Jesus. We encouraged the guys to focus on the Lord Jesus, to press into His presence to call out to Him! Jesus! It is He who they need. Amen.

Each of us ministers took a turn to exhort and minister to the men, sharing our testimonies and ministering from the Word as the Lord was directing. It was powerful. Wendell shared a cool illustration of being on a plane that is heading for a crash and the only way to survive would be to jump of with a parachute on, without that parachute you will be destroyed. It was a very simple illustration but as I watched the guys you could see it was registering to them.

Brother Lance shared his story on how he was drawn to Jesus. I noticed the men really listening intently as Lace shared his step of faith that he and his wife took as they sold their business a year ago and how God was so faithful through it all. Amen we serve a faithful God!

I was next to speak and one of things that I, with the help of the Holy Spirit, was able to share with the guys was the urgency of “today is the day of salvation”, how that It is a dangerous thing to delay coming to Jesus if the Spirit is prompting.

Throughout the whole meeting I kept noticing a guy sitting on the back row that was really focusing on what we were saying. He raised his hand when I asked if there were any first timers in the jail. Toward the end of the meeting he really stood out, he had a broken look about him, I knew God was dealing with him. When the altar call was given he raised his hand to receive the Lord.

We spend the final thirty minutes or so of the meeting praying with the guys. It really was a powerful time. I got to meet and pray for a young man named Tony, just nineteen years old. He was so disappointed that he wouldn’t be come to any more of our meetings as he was heading to a state prison first of next week. He told me that he recommitted his life to Jesus and knew the Lord would take care of him. Please keep Tony in your prayers for the right cell block to be place in as he serves his final two and half year sentence.

Both Wendell and Lance also had a powerful time connecting with the guys in prayer and ministry. Exhorting them to continue to seek God and go after God as he is their hope.
Amen!

It was a great night! We had church being the church.
*A big shout to all who prayed!...To God be the glory!

Steve Ignowski
Lifeline Outreach Ministries 574-612-0555


Next Jail Meeting: Dec 22nd.

UPDATE: CHRISTMAS OUTREACH

We just about have all the presents for the children bought and wrapped.We are believing for a saved soul for every gift. Amen!..Do it Lord!

We have a total of 35 families coming. We still need to get the $15.00 gift cards for every family to be able to buy food for a Christmas meal. And we are blessing every teen with a $5.00 McDonald gift card.

The Outreach is eleven days away (Dec 17th),please pray for God to touch lives.

**A big shout of thanks! and blessings to all who have given to this outreach!..God bless!

Steve Ignowski
Lifeline Outreach Ministries
574-612-0555

Lifeline Outreach Ministries
23060 Scottswood Ct.
Elkhart, IN 46514

JAIL MINISTRY STARTING DEC. 8th

*Some cool information! We officially got the news from the Elkhart County Jail that everything is a go to officially start going in to minister to the inmates. Glory to God! I am sure excited.

My outreach comrade Lace Prathaftakis will be coming in with me. The Jail will be giving us a class room to conduct our meetings. We could have up to twenty inmates coming to the meeting. They have given us a ninety minute time slot with the guys- to preach, testify, pray with and minister. It’s going to be good!

I just look at this as another opportunity to spread the Word and share the life changing Gospel. Many of these guys will be at rock bottom and at a point were they desire change. Being this is a county jail, many of these guys are waiting for court dates or sentencing and they will be “thinking” about life, the mistakes and disappointments, many will be wondering what’s life all about.

I’m trusting God to invade these guys hearts and bring total transformation, to so anoint us with the power of the Gospel that it dramatically changes their lives! To God be the glory. Amen! So please be in prayer with me over these meetings. The first meeting is December 8th from 6:30-8pm. Thanks for your prayers. We plan on going in twice a month.


*** CHRISTMAS OUTREACH:
Also, please keep in prayer the outreach to needy families we are having December 17th -Our Christmas Outreach. We have some thirty-eight needy families that we are blessing and ministering too with a Christmas Party, gifts for the children, a meal,
a food card for every family. But most of all we will be sharing Jesus! For He is the true meaning of Christmas. Were trusting God to radically changes lives. Please pray for transformed lives- thanks so much.

Anyone desiring to help in anyway please contact me.

God bless!

Steve Ignowski
Lifeline Outreach Ministries
574-612-0555

Christmas Outreach Update

I Started buying gifts today..."the day after Thanksgiving" (I never liked calling it Black Friday...just sounds too demonic...lol..) I got some great deals at Walmart. Still have a bunch more to get

The outreach is December 17th. We will be ministering to some very needy people...Shining the light of Jesus. Using this opportunity to bless and love on folk and most of all preach, testify and pray for folk to come to know the "real reason" for Christmas.. JESUS CHRIST!

It's not too late to help. Any donation will be put toward this outreach. $15.00 will provide a meal gift card to a family. A $10.00 donation will provide a gift to a child. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you can click on the “PayPal Donate” you may donate securely on-line.

We already have already reached capacity, so we have thirty eight families that we are reaching out to, a total of around 140 people. Praise Jesus!!

Please pray about helping financially and/or showing up to serve. It is going to be a incredible event. Also, Please keep this outreach in your prayers...Thanks so much!!

Steve Ignowski
Life Line Outreach Founder/Director
574-612-0555

Lifeline Outreach Ministries
23060 Scottswood Ct.
Elkhart, IN 46514

CHRISTMAS OUTREACH 2011 COMING UP DECEMBER 17th

We are gearing up for this years Christmas Outreach! and we are supper excited! This will be our sixth annual Christmas outreach to our local communities, and what an awesome time to minister the true message of Christmas, which is the celebration of God sending Jesus to earth to reach and save the lost. Amen!

We are targeting the needy and the impoverished-reaching out to the “least of these.” We aim to be a blessing and share the love of Christ, material and spiritually. The Bible says, “Whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Also, in the Bible, God exhorts us, to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” We are stepping out to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

(Pics from the 2010 Christmas Party)

We will bee targeting two local trailer courts and one area apartment complex. (Sunset Trailer Court, Village Green and Miami Hills) All of these places are areas in which we have built an accord with and know many of the residents that live there through past outreaches.

Our plan is to invite families of these areas to attend a free Christmas Party that we will have at our local Church.

At this free Christmas party we will serve a dinner and desert. We will have live Christmas music being played while people eat. The team of us will be loving on folk and ministering to everyone who attends. Our desire is to bless everyone who attends with a gift. The children will receive a very nice gift, every family will be blessed with a $15.00 gift card to a local grocery store, for the purpose of buying themselves a Christmas meal for their family, every teenager will receive a gift card to a local restaurant.

After the meal we will have a time of singing, then we will pass out the presents to the children, followed by a preaching message to the people ministering on the true meaning of Christmas. We will close it all with altar time and prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit to draw people to repent and get right with the Lord. We are expecting a great time.

Would you please pray for this outreach and intercede for the Lord to draw the sinners to repentance. The whole purpose of this outreach is to share the love of Jesus and see people get right with the Lord.

We are expecting 130 people to be attending so the budget for this event is approximately $1600. We prayerfully ask you to consider donating toward this outreach. For those who would like to donate: $10.00 this will buy one gift for a child, $15.00 will purchase one gift card for a family meal. Any size donation will be accepted as it all will all go toward this Christmas Outreach.

You can donate two ways:
#1 Through PayPal. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you can click on the “PayPal Donate” you may donate securely on-line.

#2 Through postal mail.

Lifeline Outreach Ministries
23060 Scottswood Ct.
Elkhart, IN 46514

Those who live in our area, please pray about being part of this. We could definitely use help serving and ministering. It is an awesome thing to step out and love on people who need Jesus and to pray with them encouraging them to seek God and get to know Him.

Please contact me if you have any questions. God bless!

Steve Ignowski
574-612-0555

LIGHT THE NIGHT UPDATE

Light the Night turned out to be an incredible event!

This event was put on by my home Church, Christian Center Church, as an outreach to the community of South Bend. The event was free with food, games, prizes, bounce houses, clothing, and two live bands. It really was an incredible event. The Best part of this outreach was the goal in which we were all in one accord with which was sharing the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ! Amen.

Over one thousand people came to Light The Night!...Awesome! and this created some great witnessing opportunities. I was assisting in the evangelism team and we were busy ministering, witnessing, testifying and praying with people. By the end of the event we had over fifty people who called out to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation! Amen! … Check the Pics are below..

A big shout of thanks to all who prayed…

Next Outreach: Christmas Outreach December 17^th.

God bless!

Steve Ignowski