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Our mission is to invest in the lives of those impacted by incarceration.
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In Summer 2019, Kindway Welcomes Home:
Stephanie K. Juanita Rosevelt Angel Terrance
Terri Brenda Stephanie S. Elizabeth
We thank God for all your prayers and support for their successful transition.
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Kindway/EMBARK Men Restored
This day, the sun was setting at the Kindway/EMBARK house where graduates and volunteers continue welcoming our restored graduates. This summer, we are thrilled to be available for Rosevelt and Terrance. The love of Jesus is front and center when our brothers gather for food and fellowship and secretly wishing we had Tom's secret to smoking ribs. Because of your prayers and support, we are quickly approaching our 130th release.
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Welcome Home (Women)
On July 6, 2019, "Welcome Home", a minsitry of Maynard Ave. UMC, held an annual Picnic to celebrate the work God is doing through this ministry.
Hope Roberts and Diana Kubovic are EMBARK Navigators and Maynard Ave UMC members who host the fellowship which is open to EMBARK women graduates and volunteers.
The picnic is held once a year, but the gatherings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. at Maynard Ave. UMC. Women offer support to one another, share resources, and build an extended social network in a safe place.
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Summer is always a fantastic and busy time for Kindway/EMBARK. We are excited to welcome into Kindway Alumni the TWENTY-SEVEN graduates of Season 8 at MCI and ORW.
We also kick off Season 9 at both institutions in the last week of August. Please continue to pray for our alumni as well as the TWENTY-SEVEN new participants beginning their journey with EMBARK Season 9.
Season 8 Graduates @MCI:
Rifat Martin Lenworth Fredrick Toriano
Milton Terrence Luther Corey Jack
James Samuel Travis
Season 8 Graduates @ORW:
Tammy Courtney TIna Charity Angel
Stephanie K. Detra Juanita Elizabeth
Marie Stephanie S. Heather Bobbi Pamela
Season 9 Participants @MCI:
John Bobby Richard Deandre Robert
Christopher Jonathin Walter Eddie Anthony
Eric Shane Mark Earake Desmond
Season 9 Participants @ORW:
Erin Tracy Keri Tinisha Heidi Valerie Stacy
Ruth Rupal Stephanie Tangela Hui
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Lauren Daigle was recently spotted wearing a Kindware Blue Chunky bracelet during a concert at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Lauren spent the day encouraging the women at ORW with the hope found in Jesus Christ.
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The ORW Kindware team created this 28″ x 34″ wood panel decorated with 118 polymer triangles shaped over bead scoop forms and covered with scraps of patterns from the Kindware studio at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. The piece was created for a Columbus gallery exhibit this fall.
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Upcoming Kindware Events
If you would like to pick up some Kindware, you will find us at:
Sept 22 - Grind Over Time 2-5 PM
934 Gallery
934 Cleveland, Columbus 43231
Oct 12 - St Andrew Anglican Church 9-2 PM
7481 S Old State Rd, Lewis Center 43035
Oct 20 - Delaware Co Fairgrounds 10-4 PM
236 Pennsylvania Ave Delaware, 43015
Oct 26 Genoa Christian Academy 10-3 PM
7562 Lewis Center Rd, Westerville 43082
Nov 2 - St Brendan Catholic Church 9-3 PM
4475 Dublin Rd, Hilliard, 43026
Nov 2 - The Auxiliary of Worthington Christian Village 9- 3 PM
165 Highbluffs Blvd, Columbus 43235
Nov 2 - Church of the Resurrection 9-3 PM
6399 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany 43054
Nov 9 - St Matthew Catholic Church 9-3 PM
801 Havens Corners Rd., Gahanna, 43230
Nov 9 - St Andrew Parish 9- 3 PM
1899 McCoy Rd, Columbus, 43220
Nov 17 - Our Lady of Lourdes 9-3 PM
1033 W 5th St., Marysville 43040
Nov 23 - St Paul Catholic Church 10-3 PM
313 N State St., Westerville 43082
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Financial Literacy Workshop
On July 17, Kindway hosted a financial literacy workshop for EMBARK Alumni and Staff at Bethel International UMC presented by:
- Todd Walters (center) - CFP®, CPA, Partner and Chief Wealth Planning Officer at The Joseph Group;
- Ed Straub (left) - Chief Financial Officer at Elford, Inc.; and
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- Kyle Milkey (right) - Director, Strategic Planning / Project Execution - US Commercial Operations, Cardinal Health.
Many attended to learn about financial planning and budgeting. Most in attendance signed up to be scheduled for individual coaching by Todd, Ed, and Kyle. It's amazing to witness how God compels our volunteers to move beyond their initial commitment to share their passions and expertise with EMBARK alums.
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EMBARK —the sheep of the SHEPHERD
Robin Lorms
In Matt 25: 31-46, Jesus makes a point of describing engaged Christians as His “sheep” contrasted with those on the sidelines considered “goats”. You know His description, “I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison…..” His sheep actually do something about relieving the pain, anxiety, loneliness and uncertainty.
EMBARK is in the business of Matt 25! Let’s take an inventory:
Hungry
No one in EMBARK goes hungry. The food flows abundantly from the day of release until gainful employment enables one to provide on their own.
Thirsty
Jesus provides all of us “living water” through prayer, worship, fellowship and daily bible study. Our church partners are a vital resource for quenching true thirst.
Stranger
Look at our reunions and the camaraderie of the EMBARK family. We have each other’s back!
Naked
Kindway in partnership with Leave A Mark Church, provides a "going home" outfit for every woman being released from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio.There are times when we actually have too many clothes.
Sick
If an EMBARK family member is sick they only need call their Navigator. Of course, the best example of Agape love was Stan living and walking with Lee throughout his bout with cancer. There are several others.
Prison
Need anything be said for “visiting those in prison?"
We serve out of gratitude not “good works."Those called to this ministry are the ones really blessed to have been given the opportunity to serve God by serving others. He initiates the call on our lives. Will we hear, “Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world?"
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Reunions
We thank the Lord for the faithfulness of Bethel International United Methodist Church for their continued support and hosting of Kindway Reunions on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month.
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New Hope Church shares the love of Jesus by providing and serving the meal at the June 2019 Reunion and the Burgers and Dogs at the August 2019 Reunion.
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In addition to the burgers and hot dogs New Hope Church provided for the August 2019 reunion, Marysville FUMC and EMBARK volunteers, alumni, and staff contribute to the meal with homemade sides and deserts.
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Upcoming 2019 Reunions:
October 16 December 18
At Bethel International UMC
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Back to School Backpack Giveaway and Picnic
It is always good when we allow God to use us to offer hope to others. Kindway/EMBARK grads team up with God's Hygiene Help Center and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church for a day of fun and sharing. Kids were loaded up with school supplies for the start of the 2019 school year. Highlights of the day were two mothers who were so overwhelmed from the love and compassion everyone shared with them that they each made a commitment for Christ. The Lord works in amazing ways when we simply say yes when He calls us to follow Him into the crises in the lives of those around us.
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Maynard House for Women at Maynard UMC
Maynard UMC has offered a home for EMBARK Women moving from transitional housing on to independent living. Three women will sub-lease the home. August 24 was a great day for Kindway/EMBARK graduates and staff to work alongside Maynard UMC volunteers to get the finishing touches done in time for EMBARK alumni to move in September 1.
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God is Good?
Juan Martinez, Jr.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:1-17 NIV
The passage above is very humbling because it challenges me to recognize God as the source of all that is good. For most of my life, I have deceived myself into believing that God is the source of what is wrong in my life and that I am the source of my goodness.
God, by His grace has brought me a long way since becoming a follower of Christ. Through this process, I recognize I often take credit for my spiritual growth from which I develop the feeling of entitlement to more of God’s goodness. As God has shaped me over time, He has regularly exposed my envy of the blessings He pours out on others. Because of my sense of entitlement, I would accuse God of partiality, believing I had earned more of God’s favor.
While in His service, entitlement creeps in differently. Spiritual pride reveals that I believe my growth is the product of my efforts and would ration out my service as though God should be grateful; as if God needs anything from me.
Believing I am the source of my goodness has most fueled my rebellion against God. My sentiments of entitlement and the idea that I decide when my service and giving should be enough to please God are rooted in self-righteousness. But, Christianity reveals that God is the only maximally good being. Thus, He must be the source of all that is righteous and good.
When He created all that is, He deemed it as very good. All the goodness that exists is built into creation. There is no other good creeping into the universe. If I managed to do anything good before following Jesus, the goodness can only be a remnant from God’s “very good” original act of creation. And, the goodness developing in me is the product of the Holy Spirit. Because He is the source of all that is good, I can never earn favor, even salvation. If I could earn it, God would then owe me. A maximally good being can be a slave to no one. Therefore, goodness, righteousness, and salvation must be God’s gift to us.
Whether I’m on the receiving or giving end of charity, I’m not the source of goodness. God is responsible for it all. This awareness is what keeps us humble and available to God when He calls us to serve others as He serves us. May we continue in gratitude to our Lord, knowing He will keep maturing us in service and generosity that is informed by the revelation that He is good.
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Our Partners-in-Kind continue supporting our men and women upon release with housewares and other necessities when they transition into their own homes.
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The Transitions ministry at Vineyard provides all the housewares our men and women who are moving into their fist apartments or homes. This includes everything needed to set up a kitchen, one bed room, and a bathroom.
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