Catholic Rainbow Outreach

Dear Friends:

Sometimes I wonder what to say in our Newsletter. First of all I want to thank you who pray for our ministry, the prisoners and the men recovering  and being disciples in our Men’s Home.  For you who invest your finances to help reach those God loves in their recovery. For you who lend to the Lord for His work that he does through us may God return wonderful interest on your loans.

Success is something we all want to see in the work that we do and what we give to.  Those who invested into my life received the joy of seeing me sober and working in His fields for the last 52 years.  My grandmother passed away after I had been out of prison for about four years. She participated in our wedding when I married my wife in 1964.  Two of my aunts and the Chief of Police saw me as a changed man. My formers friends heard the good news of my recovery and I managed to help some of them in their recovery! Years later, in 1979, when I quit my job to go full time ministry, my former employer said he would hire me back if  I ever needed a job.  I thanked him for his concern but I did not plan to fail.  Everywhere I have gone, God made me a blessing to someone along the road. I share this for this reason, my goal is to make those we help, those who come out of prison, those who stay substance free a blessing to the whole world.  Through the love of Christ and His promises in  Phil 1:6. that He will complete that what He started in us.

Two brothers, who were elders, graduated and moved on. Regie is driving, transporting railroad workers, Andy moved back to his home town. Recardo who worked in the office came back for 90 days, had his foot operated on and in now going to college. Israel, our cook, was in our home nine years ago, needed some help, came back to our home for a period of time and is now back with his family working at his old job. His dad, who is a tree trimmer, was an answer to our prayer. He cut down the juniper tree that was looming dangerously over the house in the front yard. He was a real blessing to our men’s home.
Floyd was in our home about six years ago.  He went back to Riverside and we lost track of him.  He called me from Oklahoma a few days ago to Jet me know that he is ok and still working out his problems. Raul, from Arizona calls me all the time. It is a bless to help him and his family through the word of God.

And there are others. Angel A. passed away from a stroke. We were invited to his service where we met a lot of his family. I have to say that we lost some good men that others may gain and that God get the honor and praise. I visit Avenal Prison once a month. The Catholic Chaplin asked me to give the men there a mini Life In The Spirit Seminar.

1 visited one of the yards on Friday night from 7:00PM to about 9:30 PM.  It takes me about 4 hours from Los Angeles and 1 hour Hanford to the prison. I ministered for 2 hours then I drove 1 hour back to the family we stay with. On Saturday morning we leave at 7:00AM to be there by 8:00AM. 1 then ministered for about 2 hours, take a 45 minute break, then I went to one of the yards where I shared for 5 straight hours on The Life In The Spirit Seminar. That was 7 hours on my feet and I loved every minute of it. At the end of the day my feet were tired and I was so glad that the Catholic Chaplin drove me back to Hanford. I usually have another volunteer to work with me but no one was available. A trip to this prison costs about $150.00 to $200.00, at least $120.00 of that is for gas. It would cost a lot more if we did not have a place to stay and if we had to pay for all our food. The wear on the car comes later. The response that we get there from the inmates makes this a good investment. We are able to help some of these men when they get released.

Years ago Brother Esra was released from prison and need a vehicle.  A small Chrysler van had been donated to us with over 125,000 miles on it. We sold it to him for one dollar and helped him fix a few things on it. He had a wife and two children. It was what he needed to help him get to work. That same car now has over 200,000 miles and is still moving right along. This couple had a tough time getting back on their feet. They plugged into a church and stood in fellowship with other believers.

Brother Mike Chiuppi takes a group with him and goes south to Chuckawalla while I go north to Avenal.  The average temperature there in the summer is about 115%.  He encounters many difficulties that I don’t have to deal with including driving 4 hours only to find that they are on lockdown.  God gets the glory and the praise. We get the satisfaction that we obeyed God’s word, like in Matt. 25:36 where Jesus says, "I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you visited Me."
As I write this newsletter I received a phone call that brother Charlie Concila passed away. He was faithful to visit the inmates in Chino with me for many years. In his youth he ended up in Folsom Prison. He had an encounter with Jesus that changed the rest of his life. When he shut down his used car lot he helped us pick up the food donation at one of the markets five or six days a week. Charlie was a giver and supported our ministry with what finances he had.

We have lost many of our supporters in the last 37 years. They are in our hero’s hall of fame. I say this in the form of an appeal to you, our readers, in the hope that some of you will pick up their mantel and partner with our ministry to reach and house the lost. Your reward will come from God who promised us that He would meet all of our needs through Christ who strengthens us. He will do this through you and you will reap part of our reward because you provided the means. Please pray with your wife or your husband so you can be in agreement that this is God’s will for you. We do not want to divide your house, we want to unite it. When the Ark of the Covenant  was left in Obed-Edom house for safekeeping until David figured out what to do, the Bible says that their household prospered during the time that the Ark was there (2Sam. 6:11)

Some of those who support our ministry have set up an automatic withdrawal with their bank who sends us a check once a month, some for $10.00, $20.00 or more. If you care to do this it makes giving easy and in your control. We operate three homes for less than $10,000 a month. $1,800.00 goes to pay for two full time employees.  Insurance costs about$6,500.00 a year. Our utilities cost about$1,250.00 monthly. Our gas for the three vehicles costs us about $1,200 monthly. What I am asking is that you would pray about helping us out after the New Year. I know that every ministry is sending out their fundraising letters with the same hope we have. Enjoy your Christmas.  I am more concerned about next year. Have a merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!

TESTIMONIES

We received a phone call from a friend stating that a family member needed food and prayer.We did what we could to help them. On July 20, 2011 we received a letter stating;

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Read:

Thank you to you and C.R.O..  "I was very appreciative of the generous donation of food that you provided to me and my family. I know that my aunt (who recently died) is looking down from heaven and knowing all the volunteering she did is now helping her niece. God’s blessing for all that you do".

Julia.

Albertson’s Marked asked us if we would like to solicit in their store for funds to purchase a Thanksgiving meal for families that were in need. We said "Yes" and proceeded to send teams from our men’s home three or four times a week to ask their customers to donate money so the store could supply a complete Thanksgiving meal for needy families.  Enough money was donated to provide over 70 meals.  Thank you Albertsons and your customers, for caring.
Our food ministry is a very important outreach into our community.   An important part of our training is to teach the men who come to our home to help other people. Having them sort out and distribute food five or six days of the week is as important to them as it is to the people we serve.

Another testimony occurred in the men’s home. We teach the brothers to pray for one another and for their families. Esra’s sister was sick from cancer. Brother Matt joined them in prayer.  When he laid hands on her she said that she felt the power of healing pass through her body. Our hope and prayer for the men in our home is that they continue using the gifts that God gives them to bless others where ever they go.  Have a very merry Christmas season.

God bless you
Ben & LaVinia