The Heart of Texas Foundation, Inc.
January 2013 Newsletter
Happy New Year
(Whoa, what a start!)
IN THIS ISSUE
Focus Invites Grove
More Students Coming
Baylor Studying Darrington
Texas Governor Visits Us
Houston Chronicle Article
Building Committee Formed
"One Day with Dad" Kids Camp
Governor's Endorsement
A Word from Grove
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January 2013
 

Greetings!


The New Year has started off with a huge blessing:  YOU!!  

Thank you for subscribing to our Newsletter, AND FOR PRAYING FOR US IN OUR WORK.  Thank you for your help, encouragement, and support.  And thanks to the prayer groups that have continued to lift our work up to God.  If you'd like to receive a complimentary copy of "The Heart of Texas" movie, for a donation of any amount, click here.

The Heart of Texas Foundation

Jim Daly, President Focus on the Family
NEWS


FOCUS ON THE FAMILY INVITES THE HEART OF TEXAS FOUNDATION TO BE GUEST ON 2 RADIO PROGRAMS

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.  Focus on the Family has invited Grove to fly to their headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO and to be a featured guest on two of their radio programs.  The programs will be taped in the Focus studios on February 1, and aired in early 2013.  We ask that you be in prayer for these tapings, that in every case, the God of the Bible will be revealed and illuminated in listeners' minds as they hear the interviews.  Recently, Grove met with Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, during a trip Jim made to Texas. We look forward to being with the staff at Focus, and are so grateful for their interest in and endorsement of our work.

NEWS
Darrington Seminary Welcomes Next Class of Inmates with LIfe Sentences to Begin 4-Year Degree in Biblical Studies and Prepare for Future Transfer as Inmate Ministers to All Texas Prisons


During the month of January, 2013, a third cohort (group) of approximately 40 inmates will be transferred to Darrington Penitentiary.  They have been accepted into the new Freshman class at the historic Darrington Seminary, an extension of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.  This new class of inmates were selected from dozens of applicants from around Texas penitentiaries, and all will have either life sentences or extremely long sentences yet to serve.  They must meet the admission standards not only of the Southwestern Seminary but also of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.   Once on site, they will begin their first semester of studies in the accredited, rigorous 4-year degree program for the Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, which will be awarded by the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  After graduation, most will be transferred as "Field Ministers" to other prisons in Texas, where they will join the inmate-staffs of Chaplains, and minister to inmates who do not have life sentences and who will be returning to their communities.  Pray for this new class as they enter their degree studies to become Field Ministers.  Endorsed by the Governor, Texas Senators, and TDCJ, the Field Ministers will help transform the culture in our prison system from the inside out--- into a culture where spiritual transformation is lived and taught, and where moral rehabilitation is the result. 

NEWS
BAYLOR INSTITUTE LAUNCHES
5-YEAR STUDY OF DARRINGTON SEMINARY

NEWS RELEASE FROM BAYLOR:  "Impact of Seminaries for Maximum Security Prisoners Will Be Studied By Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion."

 

NEWS RELEASE FROM WACO, Texas (Oct. 9, 2012) -- BAYLOR UNIVERSITY:  Nearly 80 inmates have become seminary students at a Texas maximum security prison in a program committed to sending "field ministers" to other prisons. Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) has been awarded a $1.3 million grant to study the impact of that program and a similar one at a Louisiana maximum security prison.

"Seminaries in maximum security prisons are designed to rehabilitate prisoners and transform the prison environment itself," said Byron Johnson, Ph.D., director of Baylor's ISR and Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences. "We intend to test that proposition." (Read More of this Baylor News Release...)

 


NEWS
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO THE DARRINGTON SEMINARY, IN A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PENITENTIARY

ROSHARON, TEXAS.  In an unprecedented visit, Texas Governor Rick Perry visited the inmate-students in the new Darrington Seminary, located in the Darrington Penitentiary in Rosharon, Texas, south of Houston.  Governor Perry spent most of the morning with the men, sharing his own testimony and his vision for the Seminary.  He encouraged the men to complete their degrees and go on into other Texas prisons as "Field Ministers" who will help spread their own morally rehabilitated spirits.  It should be noted that only men with life sentences, or extremely long sentences, are admitted into the Seminary.  Governor Perry was accompanied by Texas Senator John Whitmire, Dean of the Texas Senate, and Texas Senator Dan Patrick. Governor Perry also brought his own Pastor from Austin, Rev. Mark Richards.  

 

NEWS
HOUSTON CHRONICLE PUBLISHES 2ND ARTICLE ABOUT THE DARRINGTON SEMINARY, FUNDED BY THE HEART OF TEXAS FOUNDATION

HOUSTON TEXAS.  The Houston Chronicle recently published two very favorable articles about the Darrington Seminary.  Writer Ken Chitwood is the Lifestyle writer for the Chronicle's Chron.com online newspaper outlet.  We are grateful to Mr. Chitwood for his coverage of the Darrington Seminary, a voluntary program privately funded by friends and supporters of The Heart of Texas Foundation.

NEWS
BUILDING COMMITTEE FORMED TO PLAN NEW SEMINARY BUILDING

ROSHARON, TEXAS-- "With this third new class of 40 men, coming in mid-January, we're out of space in the current Seminary wing," says Dr. Ben Phillips, Director of the Darrington Penitentiary Seminary, an extension campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Approval to proceed with planning has been obtained from TDCJ and other Texas officials, and Houston professionals are stepping up to help us begin the process. R. West Development's owner Renee MdGuire, and owner Phil Packer of Hale-Mills Construction, along with architect James Weaver, are just a few of those who are weighing in as volunteers to help us design and then begin the fund-raising for the new building.  The new building will house additional classrooms, media center, Chapel, and will be built on a space still vacant within the grounds of the Darrington maximum security prison.

"We will need lots of help on this one," says Grove Norwood, the CEO of The Heart of Texas Foundation, which funds the Seminary's operation.  "It will be an exciting project, with something in it for anyone who wants to roll up sleeves and join us.  It will be one of the most historic events ever to occur in a penal system in the United States.  Think of it:  A Seminary campus inside a penitentiary, with lifers as students preparing for the mission fields in other Texas prisons after they graduate.  How more robust a project can you find?  We are so blessed," says Norwood.  We are so blessed."
 

Childrens Day with God and Dad
NEWS

DARRINGTON "ONE DAY WITH GOD" ALL-DAY KIDS' CAMP IN PRISON BRINGS CHILDREN INTO PRISON FOR THE FIRST TIME.  THEY PLAYED, SANG, AND PRAYED WITH THEIR DADS.  WE PARTNER WITH "FORGIVEN MINISTRY" VOLUNTEERS.

NOVEMBER, 2012- DARRINGTON PRISON.  For the first time in Darrington Penitentiary's history, children of imprisoned fathers were able to come into the prison and spend an entire day with their fathers in games, quiet time, educational activities, and just plain fun.  It's a two day event, with the first day being all about the fathers, and preparing them for fresh interaction with their children.  The Heart of Texas Foundation supported the effort with equipment, speakers, supporting churches, and many volunteers.  We kept the children's care-givers hosted at Sienna Ranch Baptist Church in Missouri City, where Pastor Mark Dean and other volunteers ministered to the caregivers while the children were in prison with their daddies.  Sugar Creek Baptist Church's Pastor Gary Hill helped coordinate the pastors of many other churches in the Houston Area to make this event possible.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ was the centerpiece of the event for the caregivers, the children, and the fathers.  Reconciliation with the children is the goal. Organized by volunteers Kenny and Annelie Lentz, we were supported by over 100 volunteers and some 12 local churches who provided funding, facilities, food, equipment.  And Forgiven Ministry of North Carolina, an award-winning operation founded by Scottie Barnes, handled the administrative and modeling for the event, supported by Joe McDonald Ministry.  All agreed that it was an outstanding 2 days!  We thank all church pastors, volunteers, church members, and the prison Chaplain, Warden, and Officers!

Governor's Day at Darrington Seminary, Darrington Penitentiary, Texas
NEWS
GOVERNOR PERRY SENDS PERSONAL FILMED GREETING TO THE HEART OF TEXAS FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS

AUSTIN, TEXAS-- THE CAPITOL.  In a gesture of support and encouragement, Governor Rick Perry commissioned a personal video message to be taped in his Capitol building offices.  This message was sent to Grove Norwood, Founder and Executive Director of The Heart of Texas Foundation.  All who are praying for, and encouraging, our work have been greatly encouraged by his kind words.  We invite you to see the video by clicking on the image below!
Governor Rick Perry Endorses The Heart of Texas Foundation
GOVERNOR PERRY ENDORSES
THE HEART OF TEXAS FOUNDATION


A Word From The Founder

Dear Friends of THE HEART OF TEXAS FOUNDATION, 

First of all, please forward this newsletter to a friend-- we need your help in letting Texas and other states know what we're doing. Can you come alongside us and help us?  Will your church consider putting us in your missions budget so that our work can continue to have impact in Texas?  We believe other states are beginning to see what we are doing, and want to know more.  This is not just about Texas, this is about all of America's penal systems--- they need spiritual transformation from the inside out, and the bottom up.  We believe there is no more effective way to add to the work of volunteers, Kairos, and other efforts, than to ADD AN ACCREDITED PRISON SEMINARY in every state in America.  We focus on TEXAS, but we are ready to be a good neighbor to any other state who wants to do what we are doing!  We really do need your help.
  • Form a "Friends of Darrington Theological Library" group in your church or group
  • Form a "Friends of Darrington Seminary" group in your church
  • Put The Heart of Texas Foundation into your church's missions budget each month
  • Provide 20 additional Dell Computer thin-client workstations for the expanding computer lab -  EMAIL US FOR DETAILS
  • Provide additional free-standing metal library shelving for the growing Darrington SeminaryTheological Library
  • Provide 35 new classroom tables for the Seminary:  $3,309, including shipping to Darrington
  • Provide 40 new welded steel classroom chairs for the new students, on factory closeout, $3,000  
  • Provide 2 wide-screen TV monitors for use in the second Seminary classroom, Sam's Club $2,000
  • Provide a commercial ceiling mount projector for the Professors' use in the classroom, $800 
  • Pray that God will bring us a full-time Director of Development
  • Help us build and equip the new Darrington Seminary Educational Building, now in early planning stages
  • Pastors and Church Leaders:  you are invited to join me for a trip to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, LA this year.  The dates for my orientation trips ("How a Prison Seminary Changes Prisons") are posted on our 2013 Calendar.  Just email us at [email protected] indicating your interest.

We're working hard to reduce the number of victims-- both outside as well as inside the prisons.  And the children suffer more from crime than any other part of our society.  To impact them, our strategy is multi-faceted.  Let us come to your church, association, prayer group, Sunday School, or university-- and let us tell our story.  You'll be amazed as all of us are.

May we leave you with words from The God of the Bible and the Apostle Paul?  Join us-- walk with us, we will not quit.  

 

And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the Holy Spirit and obligated and compelled by the convictions of my own spirit, not knowing what will befall me there-- 
except that the Holy Spirit clearly and  emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.  But none of these things move me;
neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from and which was entrusted to me by the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news, the Gospel, of God's grace-- His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy.  

Acts 20:22-25 (Amplified) 

 
Standing alongside you under the waterfall of God's grace,

 

Grove's Signature
The Heart of Texas Foundation, Inc. 

                                  Connally Dads
The Heart of Texas Foundation is a public charitable, educational, and religious tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is qualified to receive tax deductible contributions. Financial information may be obtained by request, and our IRS Tax exempt number EIN is 20-4007150 and as such may receive tax deductible contributions under Section 170 of the Code.  We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, and transfers of gifts under Sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Internal Revenue Service Tax Code.  Our Annual IRS Tax Return Form 990 is available upon request.  Our CPA Firm is Keller & Denman, of Katy, Texas. Our mailing address is The Heart of Texas Foundation,  POB 991, Fulshear, Texas 77441.  Our phone is 281-850-8103, and FAX is 281-346-8902..