Events

The Annual Conference of Yokefellowship Prison Ministry
 

Friday and Saturday,
October 12-13, 2007

Best Western Country Cupboard Inn and Restaurant
1 mile N of Lewisburg, PA 17837

Theme:
Understanding Prison Culture to Enhance Effective Ministry
 

Speakers:
Lennie Spitale - Prior to becoming a Christian in 1975, Lennie’s life was dominated by his own anger and restlessness. By the time he was thirty years old, the anger and rebellion had resulted in over 35 different jobs and several incarcerations, including a trip to the New Hampshire State Prison in 1966 for assault and robbery.

• However, in the spring of 1975, Lennie was granted faith in Jesus Christ for his salvation and began to enjoy God’s life-changing power. By 1977, he became involved in ministry at a local jail and began to lead Bible studies and visit the men at their cells. Beginning in 1979, he served for three years as a para-chaplain for Campus Crusade for Christ in the California and Florida prison systems, followed by twenty-two years of ministry as Director of Prison Ministries for Vision New England.

• In 1993, Lennie became the first man in recent New Hampshire history to receive a complete pardon from the Governor and his council. In 2002, the fruit of his ministry led to the publication of his book, Prison Ministry: Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out.

• Lennie joined Good News Jail & Prison Ministry in 2004 as their Coordinator of Educational Resources. As part of the Training Team, Lennie assists in the review and writing of ministry materials and in the ongoing training of Good News Chaplains. He is the interim chaplain at the Northampton County Prison in Easton, PA and also a volunteer at the Chester County Prison. Since November of 2006, he has served as the interim chaplain at Northampton County Prison in Easton, PA.

• He currently resides in Coatesville, Pennsylvania with his wife, Gwen.

Catherine McVey - Chairman, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
(www.pbpp.state.pa.us)

• 2003-2005 Deputy Secretary for Administration in the DOC

• 1998-2003 Director, Bureau of Health Care Services for the DOC

• Over 30 years in management of programmatic and operational areas for corrections in Texas and
Pennsylvania

• University guest lecturer pertaining to re-entry, health care and special populations such as females, sex offenders, youth offenders, substance abuser, etc

• 1994 Coordinator, Texas Task Force on Recidivism

• 1993 Assisted in supervising the DOC Chaplaincy Department of about 150 chaplains in Texas, regarding policies and chapel construction

• 1981 Psychotherapist at a facility where groups used didactic and experiential process for learning and healing.

• 1979 As Special needs Re-Entry Coordinator in Texas, she worked on community development for understanding reintegration.

• 1974 Correctional officer at female facility

• 1973 Caseworker intern at Loysville Youth Development Center, Perry County, PA

• 1972 Police Intern, Bethlehem, PA

• 1969 Child Care Aid, Hamburg State School and Hospital

• Post Graduate degree is in Correctional Administration

• High School in Newton Square, PA followed by Penn State University

Additional Speaker

There is a growing crisis in our state and nation. Convicted sex offenders who are maxing out their sentences are being released into our communities – with a limited safety net – too few transition programs to help protect the public. With the proliferation of pornography and internet abuse, the number of offenders increases by the minute.

There are many sex offenders in our prisons and of course a percentage of these are being released daily, along with the others. They serve their time, and some will no longer have supervision. As is the case with other types of ex-offenders, some will find new victims, if there is not some significant change of heart and mind.

This issue is a flaming arrow few want to handle. We would do well to care about this growing area of need. We the Church, including YPM, must learn how to best help rehabilitate sex offenders. We must care, and take steps to help them become new creatures in Christ. We want to help create a safe supportive community for these men and women when they are released, especially those experiencing new life in Jesus Christ.

This years YPM Conference is fortunate to have Pastor Pete Fiske, and his wife Joanne, join us to discuss the problem, and how the Christian community can help address it.

We have revised our Saturday agenda to include their informative presentation.

Pastor Pete Fiske is the founder and President of The Church At Prison, Inc. Pete graduatied from Vermont Technical College in 1965. He worked for IBM where he advanced through the ranks from Technician into Engineering and Management.

In 1992 Pete was a speaker at North West State Correctional Facility in St. Albans VT. God used this experience to transform him for Prison Ministry. In 1993 he retired from IBM and, with his wife Agnes (now with the Lord), went full time into Prison Ministry. They established a Church at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans VT.

With his experience in working with both incarcerated and released offenders, Pastor Pete and his team have sponsored training seminars and workshops in Portland ME, Camden ME, Rockport ME, Fitchburg MA, Chelmsford MA, and Hillsboro NH. Most trainings focus on working with released sex offenders.

Pastor Pete is ordained by Maranatha Ministerial Fellowship International, Williston VT, and serves under the spiritual leadership of Bishop Rick Callahan.

In November of 2004 Petes wife Agnes passed from this life into the arms of her Lord Jesus. With her work done on Earth she is now basking in the presence of God. In December of 2006 Pastor Pete married Joanne “Jo” Falise, a Deaconess at Jericho Congregational Church. Pastor Pete, Jo and the staff of The Church At Prison are continuing in this ministry that the Lord has established.

Pete says his ministry goals include…

Develop Prison Churches & Pastors
Unity among Prison Ministries
Maintain Good Working Relations with DOC
Development of Residential Aftercare Programs
Development of Christian Leaders
Advanced Ministry & Clinical Training
Encourage the Support of Prison Ministry
Educating the Public

Annual Conference Program Schedule »

Read part of Rev. Ulli Klemm's presentation from our 2005 Annual Conference.
 

Yokefellowship Prison Ministry · 326 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611
Phone: 610-777-2222 · Email: info@yokefellowship.org

© 2006, Yokefellowship Prison Ministry (PA, WV)
Web Development by Kolb Net Works, Inc.

2007 Annual Yokefellowship Conference

Friday and Saturday,
October 12-13, 2007

Best Western Country Cupboard Inn and Restaurant
1 mile N of Lewisburg, PA 17837

Theme:
Understanding Prison Culture to Enhance Effective Ministry
 

Speakers:
Lennie Spitale - Prior to becoming a Christian in 1975, Lennie’s life was dominated by his own anger and restlessness. By the time he was thirty years old, the anger and rebellion had resulted in over 35 different jobs and several incarcerations, including a trip to the New Hampshire State Prison in 1966 for assault and robbery.

Catherine McVey - Chairman, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
(www.pbpp.state.pa.us)

Read More
 

Annual Conference Program Schedule »

Read part of Rev. Ulli Klemm's presentation from our 2005 Annual Conference.