Critical Need: Seeking Spanish-Speaking Mentors to Support Students

We are writing to share an urgent need within our organization and to seek your support in addressing it.

In 2022, a significant challenge emerged in our Spanish program. Due to a lack of Spanish-speaking mentors, we encountered a backlog that resulted in over 900 student lessons sitting in our office for several weeks. This backlog led to Spanish-speaking students experiencing a delay of over two months before their completed lessons could be reviewed by mentors. The impact of this was profound and disheartening.

The situation escalated to the point where, regrettably, we had to suspend new enrollments from March to September of that year. This decision meant turning away over 840 Spanish-speaking incarcerated individuals eager to engage in studying God’s Word through our program.

Today, we are facing a resurgence in Spanish student enrollments. To effectively manage this, we urgently need to recruit new Spanish-speaking mentors. We are reaching out to you, our valued partners, to assist us in this mission. Your influence and networks could be instrumental in helping us find dedicated individuals who are passionate about mentoring and making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.

We would be incredibly grateful if you could share this need within your networks. Together, we can ensure that no student is turned away and that everyone expressing a desire to learn more about God receives the guidance and support they need.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at mentor@cpministries.org.

You can refer anyone interested to our Spanish website: https://www.cmcarcelario.org/.

Blessings,

Jen Pichardo Mentor Support Team

Crossroads Prison Ministries

p: 800.668.2450, ext. 2225

mentor@cpministries.org 

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 21, April 2024, 9:30 a.m.
End Time: Sun 21, April 2024, noon

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, April 21, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministries and learn how you can get involved.

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 21, Jan. 2024, 9 a.m.
End Time: Sun 21, Jan. 2024, 7 p.m.

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, January 21, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministries and learn how you can get involved.

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 15, Oct. 2023, 8 a.m.
End Time: Sun 15, Oct. 2023, noon

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, October 15, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministries and learn how you can get involved.

Mentor Helps Students Discover New Family in Christ

Several months ago Paige Deur, one of the staff at Crossroads Prison Ministries, interviewed a longtime Parkside Church mentor, Gerry Hoeltge. She recently published her notes on the CPM blog. Read his story here.

Crossroads Prison Ministries Workshop Recording Available

On March 4, 2023, we held a training workshop with Douglas Cupery, Director of Church Mobilization at Crossroads Prison Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Main workshop sessions are available to stream below:

Session 1 (12 minutes): https://pkschurch.com/Crossroads2023_1

Session 2 (1 hour, 20 minutes): https://pkschurch.com/Crossroads2023_2

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 16, July 2023, 10:30 a.m.
End Time: Sun 16, July 2023, noon

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, July 16, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministries and learn how you can get involved.

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 16, April 2023, 9 a.m.
End Time: Sun 16, April 2023, 1 p.m.

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, April 16, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministries and learn how you can get involved.

Crossroads Prison Ministries Workshop 2023

Location: The Venue at Parkside Church
Start Time: Sat 4, March 2023, 9:30 a.m.
End Time: Sat 4, March 2023, noon

We will host a volunteer training workshop on Saturday, March 4, for all current Crossroads Prison Ministries mentors and for anyone who is considering becoming a mentor. The training will be held in the Venue at Parkside Church from 9:30 am-noon with Douglas Cupery, Director of Church Mobilization at Crossroads' headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The purpose of the workshop is to hear how God is using Parkside mentors to affect the lives of prisoners, to provide training for mentors, to connect more experienced mentors with newer mentors, and to develop a network of fellowship among local Crossroads mentors. The event is open to those who do not attend at Parkside Church. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. 

If you are a Crossroads mentor, have any interest in becoming a mentor, or just want to find out more about Crossroads Prison Ministries, join us on March 4!

There is no cost for the workshop but, please register so that we can have enough materials and food prepared. 

Register

Crossroads Prison Ministries Table

Location: Hallway outside the Venue
Start Time: Sun 15, Jan. 2023, 10 a.m.
End Time: Sun 15, Jan. 2023, noon

Stop by the table outside the Venue on Sunday morning, January 15, to find out more about our partnership with Crossroads Prison Ministry and learn how you can get involved.