User:Spokaneoc

HISTORY

The Spokane Outreach Center began in 1996. Founded by Chaplain Don Russell to help inmates at Geiger Correction Center in Spokane after release. The corporation received the award of non- profit status by the IRS in June of 1998.

SOC rented the first facility in 1999 to follow up on released inmates intending to help them stay out of jail. In 2007 God is so great that He has allowed a bookstore, antique store and a secondhand furniture store to grow into a useful tool.

Philosophy of Ministry: SOC serves human kind in the quest for an abiding, effective, life designing relationship with Jesus the Christ, God made flesh, Savior, Lord, comforter and guide. By walking along side one another, earnestly praying for one another and diligently studying the Living Word as a community; healing, prosperity and relationship are sustained

SOC believes that any individual may enter into God's Kingdom. Such people choose to dwell under the effective life principles of His government. God’s citizens live on earth as visitors in a foreign land. As such each one works as one that considers others more important than self.

Each citizen functions as a servant under assignment from God in His fullness (creator God, Sacrificial Lamb of God, comforter and guide). God does not consider one citizen as more or less important than any other. All of God’s citizens are assigned work while on earth according to His sovereign will. His desires that no one feel separated from Him but that all enter into a forgiven relationship with Him in His Kingdom.

God assigns equal offense and penalty for all offences. Any lack of faith is an offense. Through His life on earth He provides forgiveness for all offenses whether against Him or against fellow man through His personal earthly sacrifice and His resurrection to new life. The mechanism of this gift is an unsolved mystery. Those that enter under His care receive from Him a certain spiritual death and resurrection of self to new life.

Established outreach programs include:

1. The Christian Life Restoration Program (local) CLR Under leadership of Chaplain Don Russell

2. The Arrow Epistle (update, prayer & Bible study) Authored by Chaplain Don Russell

3. Outreach to Lome Togo Africa under the leadership of Amegble Zephyrin Kossi

4. Outreach to individuals in 50 states and 25 countries,

5. Outreach to Musoma Tanzania, under leadership of Job Mkama

6. Outreach to West Bengal India under leadership of Lalan D Peter

7. Ministry to residents at Sunshine Health Facilities Under leadership of Chaplain Don Russell providing chaplain visitation and weekly church services - Sunday at 9:45am & Wednesday at 10 am

8. Christian Outreach Group – COG (local) under leadership of Chaplain Don Russell

9. The Restoration Station - Community Pastoral Services for the non-churched under leadership of Chaplain Don Russell (Closed June 2011)

10. Act Seminaries and Colleges - Nigeria, South Africa, America

11. New Beginnings - Nigeria Children's ministry - Under the leadership of Mr. & Mrs Adigum.

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Outreach to West Bengal India.

--Pastor Lalan D Peter ministers Christ to people living in West Bengal India. SOC helps him meet certain minor financial needs in times of crisis. Service started in 2002.

Ministry to residents at Sunshine Health Facilities

SOC provides minimal chaplain services to residents living in Sunshine Terrace. These are unemployable young adults through senior aged individuals who required a small level of supervision and support. Chaplain Don visits one to three times a week, prays with residents, encourages and coaches. He also provides opportunity for the residents to leave the facility in order to enjoy meaningful work.

Christian Outreach Group – COG (local)

SOC leadership was urged to have weekly meetings by supporters Ed and Mary Nieratko late in 2006. Chaplain Don went to prayer about having a meeting. He formed model called COG.

The COG meeting is a Christian Outreach Group. The reason for meeting is to serve others by reaching out in the name of Jesus the Christ. Fellowship emerges out of Outreach. There is no opportunity in the church to have fellowship for the sake of fellowship alone.

The group meets weekly over a meal (potluck). The meal is considered to be a type of "Passover" Celebration" or Sader. The meal seeks to reflect the meal Christ enjoyed with His disciples immediately before His crucifixion.

Individuals in attendance offer insights, prayer requests, ideas and plans related to outreach. At the end of the evening the group remembers the gift God gave in coming to this earth as a human being called Jesus Christ. The group seeks to unite and cleanse itself by celebrating the blood and the body of Christ represented by the food and drink served at the meal.

The Restoration Station

The Restoration Station is a facility focused on providing elements necessary to see an individual restore relationship with family, friends and loved ones.

Outreach to Musoma Tanzania

Pastor Job Mkama from Musoma Tanzania sold his home to obey God's call. He bought a ticket to Spokane Valley to visit SOC October 2006. A team of three went to Musoma to see and hear his vision. Doctor Nathan Dikes CEO of Sunshine Health Facilities went on the team with Chaplain Don Russell. As a result SOC and Sunshine Health Facilities are building a Christian School for 200 students in Musoma.

Sunshine Heath facilities and The Spokane Outreach Center sent funds to build a Christian school in Musoma continually up to March 2008. As a result 2 classrooms are completed and school started January 2008.

Funds are needed to complete two more classrooms, install a water system, install electricity, complete two more classrooms and administrative offices. There is also a great need for classroom materials and equipment.

Volunteers are needed to complete these projects. Interested parties are encouraged to contact SOC at 509 9996090 or email Chaplain Don Russell at spokaneorc@hotmail.com.

The Christian Life Restoration Program

SOC serves local people in need of restoration. The "Restoration Station" serves individuals with the "Christian Life Restoration Program" created initially to help restore relationship between Anthony DeGregory and his family - wife Shirley (Josiah and Sarah children).

The Christian Life Restoration Program provides a stable non-judgmental Christian environment for individuals seeking healing and restoration through Jesus Christ. The participant lives in the facility. The program consists of prayer, Bible study, daily encouragement and meaningful work. No time limit is assigned participants. Program completion is determined by changes in character and behavior. These variables give the participant freedom to explore self, seek God and overcome bondage.

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The Arrow Epistle:

Chaplain Don Russell started writing a daily devotional for inmates at Geiger Correction Center in 1997. Inmates that received the email devotional production after release demonstrated a significant decrease in recidivism.

The devotional earned a name in 1997. Pastor Sandy Anderson of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley Washington, an early subscriber, called it the "Arrow Epistle". Subscribers grew through word of mouth. The number of subscribers in 2007 is 1050.

In 1998 Pastors in Africa and India with little formal training began to subscribe. Pastor Amegble Kossi Zephyrin from Togo Africa asked for prayer for his newly founded church.

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Outreach to Lome, Togo Africa

Pastor Amegble Kossi Zephyrin contacted Chaplain Don Russell in 1999. He requested prayer for his new church in Lome Togo Africa. Mutual prayer for each other's ministries led to a solid friendship. SOC raised funds to buy Bibles for the church in Lome in 2000. Pastor Zeph's church grew to 300 by 2001.

Zeph borrowed money to visit SOC in Spokane Valley WA October 2004 - January 2005. His visit produced local support. In 2006 a team of five went to Togo, viewed the ministry and purchased land for a worship/outreach center in downtown Lome. The church in Lome built a facility with money loaned by a local church in Spokane Valley WA.

In 2006 a Spokane businessman donated money to buy land for Pastor Zeph to build a compound. The compound is slated to provide housing for his family and abandoned children under his care. The compound includes land for food production. A protective wall was built in 2008 with gates installed. This secured the land so that building could commence.

Difficulties ensued in raising funds to complete the compound with nothing occurring from 2008 to 2011. Effort focused in raising funds for this project met with criticism and suspicion. However, in 2010, Sunshine Health Facilities Inc. offered a matching grant. Support caused local media recognition including a live television news spot resulting in success.

A team of four traveled to Lome in March 2011 to survey the land and provide funds for building. Building started in June and the basic structure completed by the end of the year. It is hoped that the end of 2012 will see completion of the facility.

During the 2011 visit Susan Russell trained three local individuals in how to perform dental hygiene and fill minor fillings. This will help three people earn a living in Lome.

Outreach Ministry in Lome includes:Italic text 1. Bible College - 28 students 2. Village Evangelism - 7 pastor go together each month 3. Prison Ministry - Food 4. PREP: "Poverty Relief Education Plan" creating a middle class 5. SMART: "Short Mission Activity Restoration Trip"

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As of February 2008 two sewing PREPS, one motorcycle prep and on Fabric sales prep continue in operation. A team of four traveled to Lome in January 2008 to minister, start PREPS, build facility and teach various groups. Kelly Vaughn taught 200 women about health care and ministered the word of God. Chaplain Don Russell baptized 20 new converts, preached to several hundred and visited churches.

There are four churches in the network. Two in Tsieve, one in Baptoopay and one in Lome, under the vision and leadership of the founding Pastor Amegble Kossi Zephyrin a native of Lome.

Outreach in over 50 states and 25 countries

SOC reaches out to individuals with the Word of God, Christian coaching, friendship and active personal prayer. Individuals request support and the SOC team responds. Identified participants hail from 25 states and 28 countries.

PREP - Poverty Relief Education Plan

The PREP concept emerged after returning from a mission trip tp Lome Togo and Musoma Tanzania. Prayer and study about poverty relief possibilities ensued. Historical attempts at reducing poverty in Togo were closely examined and considered.

Certain elements emerged as essential in creating an effective plan. These include: 1. Technique’s to prevent "Paternalism". 2. Placing oversight by proven local community leaders. 3. Identification of activities that currently produce income in the targeted community. 4. Making training for use and maintenance on equipment continuously available. 5. Assuring that local materials and knowledge base is able to sustain the equipment. 6. Making it possible for participants to provide help to other through work. 7. Requiring that each participant earn the equipment through hard work. 8. Educating the participant in effective money management by local people.

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New Beginnings - ministry to children in Nigeria

New Beginnings affiliated with The Spokane Outreach Center in January of 2009. Zelia Adigum and her husband.