Educating Men for a Hope-Filled Future!
Celebrating 17 Years of Ministry Service!
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Baptism
Spiritual Development – Rev. David Truluck
Congratulations!
Pictured above from left to right: Kevin, Anthony, David Truluck, Micah, and Timothy.
We celebrate with four of our SHIELD students who have received Hope in Christ Jesus and are celebrating with baptism.
Spiritual Development Services
Spiritual Development is one of our 5 Pillars of Service. SHIELD Ministries offers an optional Christian Worship each Sunday morning at 8:15am. All Students attend convocation on Wednesday evenings. Spiritual counseling and inner healing ministry services are also available.
Bibles
Men receive Bibles in their admit packages upon entering. The Celebrate Recovery Large Print Bibles are the favored version among the new students.
Intercessory Prayer
We have an Intercessory Prayer Team of volunteers who pray for our students, the ministry, staff and volunteer workers. Our next quarterly in person meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 6:30pm at International Church 1560 Ashley River Road Charleston.
Isaiah 61:1
The Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.
support and that with God all things are possible as Timothy and Anthony
offer help in keeping his ankle monitor out of the water during submersion.
Kevin was referred to our program from Sumter County Detention center and has been Sustaining the Change since September 2023. So far Kevin has earned his Cognitive Learning 100 and Work Ready 101 Certificates and attends Life Recovery group meetings and His Way Ministry’s mentoring program on Friday nights. Kevin is enrolled in Healing for Damaged Emotions this spring semester
from MacDougall Correctional Institution. Micah completed an East Cooper
Baptist correspondence study while in prison.
Currently Micah is enrolled in one of our Cognitive Series: Understanding Your Brain Class.
Micah is a retired veteran who served two tours in combat and is a Purple Heart Recipient. Micah’s future calling to minister to veterans was confirmed during his Baptism Service. In this next phase Micah will continue his journey of healing and hope as he prepares to serve the men who has and is serving our country.
Wishing You the Blessings of Easter
Patricia King Ministers During Convocation
We were very honored to have Patricia King as our guest speaker during the March 13th convocation. Patricia brought a message of Love and Hope from the Word of God.
Our students would like to thank Patricia for her gift to them of two of her books, Create Your World and Decree.
Patricia King is passionate about loving God and loving people. Patricia King Ministries promotes the character and nature of Jesus Christ through the in-dwelling grace of Holy Spirit. She believes God’s light belongs in the darkness, shining the life and hope of Jesus to those who long to know Him.
On March 20th, the State of South Carolina introduced and approved Second Chance Month.
The House designated April as “Second Chance Month” in order to contribute to increased public awareness about the need for closure for those who have paid their debt and to encourage the creation of opportunities for individuals, employers, congregations, and communities to extend second chances.
In honor of Second Chance Month we are asking for donations to invest in the lives of our students. Our students pay program fees of $25 per day which only covers 65% of the cost of the direct services they are receiving. This does not include our pre-release services and does not include any overhead cost. 30 donors giving $100 per month for the next nine months would pay for the remaining program cost.
If you would like to give in honor of Second Chance month, then click the button below to donate. Thank you!
COGNITIVE LEARNING 100
21 CERTIFICATES AWARDED
Rodney entered the program through former FreshStart Visions (FSV) during the merger in 2022. He entered FSV in 2019 from Allendale Correctional Institution.
We would like to add a special thank you to Rodney for being one of our curriculum proof readers.
Cognitive Learning 100
Melodie A. Truluck
21 Students received Certificates of Achievement for completing the Cognitive Learning 100 class. Congratulations go to Alvin, Anthony S.R., Anthony E.R., Anthony W., Arthur, Charles, David, Dominic, Elijah, Kevin, Matthew, Michael, Myron, Rodney, Ryan, Terry, Sylvester, Timothy D., Timothy, Trieu, and William.
The Cognitive Learning 100 class teaches students that thoughts are made of up information, memories and emotions. Students learn how to process thoughts in a healthy way. In this class students learn how to:
- Learn: How to increase reading comprehension
- Manage Thoughts (emotions, memories, and information)
- Direct Thinking through applying proven evidence based methods
- Identify Root Issues
- Deconstruct thought patterns which lead to addictive behaviors
- Reconstruct thought patterns which lead to sustaining change
Proverbs 23:7a
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Mark 4:24
And He said to them, “Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.”
Myron is a Pre-release MIT Graduate who entered the SHIELD post-release program from MacDougall Correctional Institution in November 2023. Myron has been a great example of applying what he has learned in the MIT Character Class.
Myron is employed but also serves as a volunteer with us at SHIELD Ministries. Myron always has a positive attitude and helps with “whatever needs to done” which is a great blessing.
Anthony entered the program in December 2023. Anthony is a Pre-Release MIT Graduate entering from MacDougall Correctional Institution.
Work Ready 101
6 CERTIFICATES AWARDED
class. Congratulations go to Michael, Kevin, Arthur, and Anthony pictured above and
Timothy and Myron not pictured.
Work Ready 101
John Ring Jr.
In the Work Ready 101 Class students learn:
- Everyone has value
- Work has value
- What does it mean to work
- Why should we work
- Attitudes about work
- Character Counts
- Professionalism
- Being Ready to Work
Current Post-Release Classes
- Recovery Group Meeting, Monday 6:00 PM
- Healing for Damaged Emotions, Monday 7:00 PM
- Financial Management Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Convocation 1-4 Wednesdays
- His Way Ministry’s Mentoring Program every Friday evening at 7PM
SHIELD MINISTRIES BOARD of Directors News
Welcome Deacon Emeritus John Matthews
Emeritus Deacon John Matthews
We are delighted to announce our newest member of the SHIELD Board of Directors, Emeritus Deacon, John Matthews. Deacon Matthews serves at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and has a passion for prison ministry and serving the inmates. Deacon Matthews volunteers in the SHIELD Ministries Pre-release Program in Lieber and MacDougall Correctional Institutions and also serves with Prison Fellowship and Kairos.
Deacon Matthews is U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Veteran who retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves, Deacon Matthews is a native of New York City. His military career allowed him to experience life across the U.S., including Texas and over 20 years in Alaska. After retiring from the military, he worked for Xerox before working as the Alaska Representative for the Credit Union National Association Insurance Group more readily known as CUNA Mutual Group. He also was a member of the school board while still on active duty.
To learn more about our Board Members please visit our newly updated website. https://www.shieldministries.org/
PRE-RELEASE NEWS
Men in Transition Program (MIT)
Men In Transition Pre-Release Program
Tom Pace and Melodie Truluck
We want to thank our dedicated and loving volunteer leaders who help make this program possible!
MIT Certificates Awarded in January and February
48 Allendale Correctional Institute on January 23, 2024
(9 Table Leaders)
23 MacDougall Correctional Institute on February 7, 2024
(6 Table Leaders and 3 Senior Leaders)
12 Lieber Correctional Institute on February 14, 2024
(1 Table Leader)
Table Leaders and Senior Leaders are students who have completed the program and serve as mentors for new students.
2024 Spring Classes Begin
Lieber and MacDougall Pre-release spring semester classes began on March 6, 2024 with over 70 total students enrolled including table and seniors leaders.
Needed: We are in desperate need of volunteers to be able to continue our Allendale Pre-release program. If you are interested, please contact melodie.truluck@shieldministries.org
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Church at LifePark Volunteer Service Day
Pictured far above are several volunteers from The Church at Life Park along with 4 our our student volunteers. We would like to say a big thank you for The Church at LifePark! A total of 10 volunteers came out on Saturday, March 16 and worked with Executive Director, David Truluck and our student volunteers to help us with several much needed projects. We thank you for your donation of time and materials.
SHIELD Ministries has earned GuideStar’s Gold Seal, the highest level for nonprofit transparency and profile completeness.
View SHIELD Ministries GuideStar Nonprofit Profile
Donate online:
https://www.shieldministries.org/donate
Donate by check:
SHIELD Ministries
PO Box 61595
North Charleston, SC 29419
To donate items from Amazon for our students, please scan QR Code below
