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South Central State Reps Hold Retreat in Forney, TX In a first for Celebrate Recovery Inside, State Reps (SR’s) from the South Central Region met for a conference and retreat in Forney, TX on Feb. 18 & 19. The gathering was held in conjunction with the Regional SR’s of Celebrate Recovery retreat. South Central is the region that includes Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and of course, Texas. Devotionals, meals, worship and fellowship events were held jointly, while presentations and workshops were in separate areas within the facility. The Inside sessions were presided over by Hector Lozano, National Director for CR Inside, and were attended by SR’s John Grigson and Laura Richie (Louisiana), Jan Thomas (New Mexico), Gary Whiteman (Texas), Tywana Flud (Senior SR, Oklahoma), David Jones and Davy Dyer (E Oklahoma), Roy and Gloria Nunn (C Oklahoma), Rick Thompson (W Oklahoma), Cyndi Clark (Oklahoma), Dee Ann Watford (E Oklahoma Inside/Out) and Gena McSwain (C Oklahoma Inside/Out). Each Rep presented to the group about major accomplishments of 2010, their current activities, and their vision for the future with respect to each one’s specific area. Some of the highlights included acknowledging newest reps. Really, only Jan, Tywana, John, Roy and Gloria have been there over a year, so we’re all kinda wet behind the ears, wouldn’t you say? Another item that was dealt with was how we could track Inside step-study graduates, to follow their success rates with respect to recidivism, and how it compares with the population of other released inmates. With that, Cyndi Clark was brought on to be tasked with devising and compiling a system in Oklahoma initially (23 prisons and 8 jails…and counting!), then for the region, with an eye towards implementing nationwide if it proves worthwhile. If you’ve been to the Summit in the last couple of years, or have been to a One Day recently, then you’re no doubt aware of the importance that Celebrate Recovery, and CR Inside especially, is applying to assimilation and successful re-entry of released inmates. This theme continues, due to the needs of those who come out, and due to the impact that it implies. For those reasons and more, many Inside ministries are branching out to form “Inside/Out”, a connected yet separate aspect of CR Inside. It has been described thusly: “While CR Inside takes one program to many inmates, Inside/Out takes one inmate to many programs”. CR Inside/Out strives to connect inmates who are near release or already released, with support systems, community CR’s, social services, job search, family reunification, clothing, housing, transportation, and other needs those coming out into “the world” might require for successful re-entry into society. We’d like to hear how you might be approaching some of these challenges. Click on to the “Contact Us’ tab and let us know. |
