The American criminal justice system holds more than 2.3 million people. It is the largest prison population in the world.
Jesus didn't suggest that maybe, possibly we should visit those in prison. He assumed we would. In fact, it is one of the primary ways we demonstrate our love for Him.
YELOline Initiative Inc. is a prison focused outreach with a mission to use original music, stories and scripture to share hope with the incarcerated and unseen population of our society and encourage personal and spiritual reconciliation with God and others.
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020!
We just completed editing a concert of edenlight and a few special guests performing some classic Christmas carols along with a a few originals! The concert is called "Tidings of Comfort and Joy", something we all need right now, but especially inmates who have spent the year extremely isolated. This will be distributed to state prisons throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Louisiana and Texas. Due to a lot of prayer and effort, despite the covid crisis, the number of prisons and inmates we are able to reach with the gospel has grown both in number and geographically.
CHANGES EQUAL NEW OPPORTUNITIES!
While the Covid 19 Crisis lasts we are creating video content to send to state prisons throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York for chaplains to make available to the inmates in their care. In fact, we hope this new direction will expand our reach and the opportunity to share the gospel even further as DVDs can get to places we might never have the opportunity to go in person.
Our plan is to produce one DVD each quarter. Each DVD will have three segments that will feature three or four live song performances and a brief teaching around a central theme. The first DVD will have segments on the following topics: Forgiveness, Brokenness and Loss, and Biblical Characters. We began production on the first one on August 12th by recording some live performances at Gardner Theatre thanks to Meadville Council of the Arts and Wolfmedia Pro. We are currently editing those performances and are in pre-production for the teaching segments. Our goal is to have the first production packaged and shipped by the end of September. As much as we want to get back to in-person performances, we are excited about this new direction and the potential to share hope with inmates across our country and beyond.
Please keep this in prayer as we are plowing new ground. There's both a lot of potential and a lot to learn. We ask to be spirit lead as we grow into this opportunity and to keep our eyes on Jesus and our hearts on the thousands of ladies and gentlemen we've encountered in the institutions we've visited.
YELOline Initiative Crisis Statement
In this time of pandemic, protest, violence and uncertainty that has gripped the globe, YELOline Initiative remains committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope it offers a world in turmoil.
Our trust is in the truth of the two simple statements Jesus gave to sum up all of scripture; “Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” We look no further than ourselves to see the beauty and breakdown of these two timeless commandments.
For the population of women and men behind bars that we are called to serve much of what is unfolding is not a new story. Violence, disease, abuse of power and injustice have plagued many inmates all of their lives. In light of the current institutional lockdowns we are actively developing new avenues to continue sharing the Gospel through the talents and resources God has given us. We ask for increased prayers for these men and women as the pandemic and civil unrest further increase their isolation and hopelessness.
We acknowledge systemic racism, abuse of power, and economic disparity, as well as a host of other ignored social and spiritual ills, that contribute to our current crisis. YELOline Initiative stands in solidarity with any institution, organization or individual that is guided by these words: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We oppose, in love and prayer, any institution, organization or individual that acts in opposition to this guiding truth. For reconciliation and restoration to occur realities both physical and spiritual must be acknowledged and addressed in a spirit of cooperation and humility.
June 2020
“There’s a coin that’s lost
There’s a child that’s gone
There are days
That won’t end
They drag on and on
But there’s always hope
Even when all hope is lost”
Yellow Line by edenlight