"You Came To Visit Me"
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"You Came To Visit Me" is a service providing transportation to/from state run correctional facilities for the loved ones of incarcerated men and women within the state of Louisiana.
A letter, telephone call or video call are all wonderful and convenient ways to communicate with loved ones behind bars but nothing takes the place of a face-to-face visit. "You Came To Visit Me" exists to glorify God by blessing someone with a ride to state run correctional facilities to visit their mother, father, sister, brother, child, spouse or other loved one face-to-face.
The foundation of this service is built on verse 36 of Chapter 25 in The Gospel of Matthew when Jesus says: 'I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ If we read further down to verse 39-40, we see the righteous answering Jesus 'When did we see you...in prison and go to visit you?’ and Jesus replied ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I first learned this service existed two years ago while living & working in Los Angeles. I was waiting for the elevator on my way to a meeting with a client and noticed the sign hanging in an office window. I snapped a photo of the sign and thought to myself how this was a great way to give back to the community.
Fast forward two years later when I revisited the idea. I was a partner in a business providing transportation to/from non-emergency medical appointments. I saw firsthand how a number of clients (especially in rural areas) had no access to public transportation or dependable transportation.
I wrestled many months with the idea of charging a nominal fee to guests to cover the cost of the trip until I learned of the Cornerstone Builders Bus Program . This program provides trips from New Orleans to Angola---and four other state run facilities---for FREE! I prayed, imagined, researched, planned, asked questions and finally just stepped out in faith with a soft launch of this missionary effort on October 8th.
Using my own vehicle (a 6-passenger van), funds and time, I will be driving individual guests residing within Northwest Louisiana to visit their loved ones at state run correctional facilities. I have begun to reach out to local faith-based, community-based and public facilities to spread the word.
I am asking for contributions to help cover the costs (e.g. fuel, insurance) for no more than 8 trips planned for the remainder of 2016 originating from Caddo Parish.
Serving others in a meaningful way is my joy and I feel this particular ministry does just that. I hope you feel the same.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
In His Service,
Cheralind "Cher" Smith Williams
A letter, telephone call or video call are all wonderful and convenient ways to communicate with loved ones behind bars but nothing takes the place of a face-to-face visit. "You Came To Visit Me" exists to glorify God by blessing someone with a ride to state run correctional facilities to visit their mother, father, sister, brother, child, spouse or other loved one face-to-face.
The foundation of this service is built on verse 36 of Chapter 25 in The Gospel of Matthew when Jesus says: 'I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ If we read further down to verse 39-40, we see the righteous answering Jesus 'When did we see you...in prison and go to visit you?’ and Jesus replied ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I first learned this service existed two years ago while living & working in Los Angeles. I was waiting for the elevator on my way to a meeting with a client and noticed the sign hanging in an office window. I snapped a photo of the sign and thought to myself how this was a great way to give back to the community.
Fast forward two years later when I revisited the idea. I was a partner in a business providing transportation to/from non-emergency medical appointments. I saw firsthand how a number of clients (especially in rural areas) had no access to public transportation or dependable transportation.
I wrestled many months with the idea of charging a nominal fee to guests to cover the cost of the trip until I learned of the Cornerstone Builders Bus Program . This program provides trips from New Orleans to Angola---and four other state run facilities---for FREE! I prayed, imagined, researched, planned, asked questions and finally just stepped out in faith with a soft launch of this missionary effort on October 8th.
Using my own vehicle (a 6-passenger van), funds and time, I will be driving individual guests residing within Northwest Louisiana to visit their loved ones at state run correctional facilities. I have begun to reach out to local faith-based, community-based and public facilities to spread the word.
I am asking for contributions to help cover the costs (e.g. fuel, insurance) for no more than 8 trips planned for the remainder of 2016 originating from Caddo Parish.
Serving others in a meaningful way is my joy and I feel this particular ministry does just that. I hope you feel the same.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
In His Service,
Cheralind "Cher" Smith Williams
Organizer
Cheralind "Cher" Smith Williams
Organizer
Shreveport, LA
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