“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth he will certainly not lose his reward. Matthew 10:42 (NIV Study Bible)

 

 

 

Our ministry began in January of 2008 and was officially incorporated in June of 2008. We are an IRS recognized 501 (c)(3)non-profit charitable organization, group #1620. We are members of the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International, an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as well as members of the International Network of Prison Ministries.  You can visit our webpage there at http://prisonministry.net/acwm.

We are a Christian pen pal prison ministry sharing words of encouragement and hope from the Word of God with men and women who often do not hear from family and friends. We also work to connect inmates with other ministries to provide books, specific Bibles, Bible studies, and other assistance as needed.

OUR MISSION

To extend the hands of Christ in service to our world in accordance with Matthew 10:42 and Matthew 25:35-40 by offering hope and encouragement that comes with a cup of water (by word or deed) given in the name of our Lord.

 OUR PURPOSE

The main purpose of this ministry is to provide encouragement, hope, and assistance to prison inmates and ex-offenders.  To remind those “behind the walls” that God loves them and that they have not been forgotten by everyone and to introduce them to God’s son, Jesus Christ and the salvation and forgiveness he purchased for us with His life at Calvary (John 3:16).  Through our letter writing we encourage them to meet our Savior, establish their own personal relationship with our Father,  and help them find ways to make God’s Word come alive in their lives as they learn how to walk with Him on a daily basis and how to trust Him to provide for them. 

 OUR VISION

As God opens the doors, we also work to partner with other non-profit organizations in the hope of assisting inmates in starting a new life upon their release from prison.  It is our desire to help them get established within a good Bible teaching body of believers and connected to non-profit agencies and social services so our pen pal can meet basic physical needs.

 OUR FUTURE GOALS

It is our desire to help them connect with other ministries and social services that can help our pen pals to find jobs, housing, food, clothing, and affordable healthcare upon release from prison.  We also want to help our pen pals reconnect with family members and to repair broken relationships.   

 MEET OUR BOARD & STAFF

		Phyllis Monds – President Phyllis has been in the Employee Benefits insurance industry since 1996 and a licensed Health and Life Insurance Agent since 2000.  Phyllis has experience with the preparation of magazine publications along with experience in sales, advertising, and office administration.  She has also been involved in organizing sales, advertising, and marketing campaigns.  In addition, she has 6 years experience in a non-profit environment, which included organizing and assisting with fundraising and entertainment events, writing government grants, and working with a large network of volunteers.   Beginning in her teens, she has been a very active member in her church, including teaching, singing in the choir, acting in performances, assisting with organizing events, and directing children’s church.  She has strong organizational skills and willingly uses them for God’s glory when He calls.  Phyllis is a visionary and the main writer of “Encouraging Hope™”.  She believes that nothing is impossible for God and has an intense desire to see His will manifested in each person’s life. Her compassionate heart hates the idea of anyone being overlooked, left behind, or neglected, and believes prisons are the place to start making a difference in this world for Christ.   Phyllis was asked and became a member of the Biltmore Who’s Who in 2009.
		Daniel Monds – Vice President Daniel received an Associates Degree of Applied Science from CSTCC.  He has 12 years experience in the medical field and holds certifications as a Respiratory Therapist, Medical Assistant, and Nursing Assistant.  Beginning in his teens, he has been a very active member in his church, including teaching, singing in the choir, running the sound equipment, and directing the men’s ministry department.  Danny has the heart of a servant and a giver and loves helping others.
		Marie Brewer – Treasurer Marie holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.  She has more than 10 years of experience guiding the financial management operations in a non-profit environment.  Her experience includes fundraising, writing government grants, and the preparation of manuscripts for publications. Marie is an adjunct faculty member of Indiana Wesleyan University teaching in the areas of management and organization behavior.
		Sara “Sally” Roberts – Secretary Sally, as she is known by her friends, has been in the health insurance industry since 1994, prior to that she has worked in risk management, banking and finance.   She has a BA in English from Asbury College.  Upon leaving college Sally worked with Campus Crusade for Christ in the single’s ministry that dealt with the issues of young working single adults.  She has led many bible studies, sung in the choir at her local church, and has a deep sense of calling to intercession ministry and the prophetic and has served on intercession teams for various ministries and her local church.  She has a strong seer/watchman anointing on her life.  Her passion is to see people set free and delivered from the cares and sorrows of life and to see them come to the understanding of the love of Jesus Christ.
		Betty Rushford, M.Th; D.Min – Board Member Betty is an ordained minister, missionary and author. She is founder and president of Hope Extended Ministries, Inc. in Chattanooga, TN whose main purpose is to train pastors around the world in how to assist people in their churches and communities who are infected/affected with HIV/AIDS and enlist their help in the fight against the disease. The ministry also conducts medical missions and has built a permanent medical clinic in Siaya, Kenya.  Betty has authored three books, Mercy Triumphs in the World of AIDS , No Longer Babes , and Best Buddies and the Fruit of the Spirit, the latter being a children's picture story book that teaches children ages 4-8 the Fruit of the Spirit.  Betty and PROJECT: A Haven of Hope AIDS Seminar were featured in the February 2004 issue of Charisma Magazine, one of Americas leading Christian magazines. Betty has made several television and radio appearances for Christian shows. She is a 1997 recipient of the Jefferson Awards in Chattanooga, TN. She was nominated and accepted for the 2009 edition of Marquis Who's Who in America and is listed in the 2007 edition of the Manchester Who's Who in America.
	Pauline Davis – Board Member Pauline is a retired government employee who brings the wisdom of more than 40 years of godly service in the Kingdom of God to this ministry.  Her heart is burdened for the inmate who is returning home to start a new life in Christ and for the aged in nursing homes and assisted living centers. She has the heart of a giver and her dedication to God and life-long perseverance are truly an inspiration.
	Rick Brewer - Business Consultant and Fund Raising Director Rick assists this ministry in the areas of grant writing, fundraising, writing articles for the newsletter, and providing fee-based consultation services to other non-profit organizations.  He holds an Ed.D. and MBA from the University of Phoenix. He has more than 30 years of experience of broad-based financial management. He has been an adjunct faculty member in the areas of management, finance, accounting, marketing, economics, and philosophy for the University of Phoenix, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ashford University, and Regions University.

HOW IT BEGAN

 

 

 

 

 

In November 2007, my brother was sentenced to spend 6 months in prison.  He was a believer of many years who made a mistake and had to pay for it.  During his time in prison, the Lord instructed me to begin sending him letters of encouragement to help keep his spirits up during his incarceration.  Under inspiration from the Lord, I created the “Encouraging Hope™” editions.  My brother began sharing them with his fellow inmates who had become believers during their time in prison and were hungry to hear more of God.  He offered them his copies to read.  This generated questions from the new believes and allowed him to hold discussion groups, which in turn caused even more interest among other inmates.  In May of 2008, the readership of these editions inside this facility had grown to 25 inmates.  As a result of this action, upon my brother’s release from prison, A Cup of Water Ministries, Inc. was born.  Here is his story. 

When asked by my attorney, “What will you do if you are sentenced to prison” my reply was, “I will start a prison ministry.”  I asked men who had been to prison for tips to get along.  The best tip that I was given was to “find a need and fill it.”.  This advice fit well with starting a prison ministry because the need that I found was a lack of hope and severe discouragement I saw this daily during mail call.  The population could easily be split into three groups:  The faces of happy men who expected to receive mail and did, the sad faces of men who expected to receive mail, but did not, and the most miserable of all, the men who never lifted their table to look for mail because they knew that it was hopeless after being written off by family and friends.  For men in this population, each day is just like the day before.  They know that tomorrow will be like today, unless he is on the wrong end of an attack.  The lack of hope can be seen in the eyes of such men and in their voices as they ask “why try” or “who cares”.

One day I sat in the day room reading a letter from Phyllis containing an edition of “Encouraging Hope™”.  I read the letter with the “Encouraging Hope™” sitting beside me on the bench.  The person sitting beside me asked what “Encouraging Hope™” was and if he could read it.  I told him this was a newsletter to help me to focus on God while in prison and “yes, he could read it.” He read the edition and asked me about God.  His questions led to a witnessing opportunity.  He prayed the sinner’s prayer with me and asked Christ to save him from his sins and give him eternal life in Heaven.  Praise God, another soul was won for the kingdom that day! 

I returned to my cell and wrote Phyllis to discuss this event. I encouraged her to continue sending the Encouraging Hope to me to share with other inmates.  She began sending multiple copies of each edition. At one point, the prison mail office began to confiscate the extra copies, but Praise the Lord the spread of the Word of God cannot be stopped.

Today, more than 2,500 copies of the “Encouraging Hope™” and “Praise Behind The Walls™” newsletters are distributed in prisons across America in all 50 states and overseas in 7 countries.