East St. Louis DREAM Center // August 2013 News
Rachel Buttig
 Rachel Buttig
 Founder/Executive Director
 East St. Louis DREAM Center
DONATE
Invest in the lives of young men!

We have a lunch outreach that serves young men just like these prisoners. At this lunch we encourage, challenge and inspire young men (ages 18-25) to move forward with their dreams.

Young Men's Lunch Outreach  
We have currently reached 52% of our budget for this year. We are so THANKFUL to you our partners who provide these outreaches that are changing lives. We know we wouldn't be where we are today without you!
 

VOLUNTEER
Photographer and videographer needed!
    

We're in need of a photographer/videographer for our outreaches. If you're a professional that would be a plus, but we don't necessarily need a professional. If you have some experience with a camera, have a creative eye for good shots/angles and are good with people, you would be perfect for the job!  

 

Time Requirements:

  • 1st Wednesday of each month (12:30pm-2:00pm)
  • 1st Friday of each month (6:30pm-10:00pm)    

E-MAIL US TO VOLUNTEER!  

 
PRAY
Pray for prisoners...



Would you pray for the prisoners who wrote these letters? Pray that God would provide them with powerful and Godly relationships, even while in prison.
Encouragement from a Prison Cell 

When we started sending letters to encourage prisoners years ago, we never could have imagined that they would return the favor! Monthly, we mail Dream Center newsletters to a handful of men in various prisons. On a regular basis, they write back with uplifting words... encouraging us about the work we're doing in their home town of East St. Louis. Because you're a part of reaching these precious prisoners, I wanted to share with you excerpts from some of their letters. 

 

Kenneth

"I am from the city (East St. Louis). I love that city and I'm loving what you all are doing for the city. I was watching the news the other day and something came on that was called, "The War Zone," it was about East St. Louis. It was bad. They showed parts of the city and came across my neighborhood, the John DeShields. That hurts my heart. I would love to hear them say something good about the city on the news. They need to contact you Rachel and see all the good things you (and the Dream Center) are doing for the city and the people."  

Picture of Prisoner Card  

 CARD DRAWN BY A PRISONER

Brian

"I hope you and yours are doing well and resting in God's grace. Congratulations on your five years (in full time ministry)!! It's safe to say that you have many more to go. I cannot imagine how much you've accomplished in that time. Keep up the good work! I know this ($25 donation) isn't much, but hopefully it will help you in some way. Snacks or something. Thanks for everything."

 

Mike

"I can definitely identify with the kids' struggle and pain. I might add that ya'll are doing a wonderful job easing their pain and fear. Don't give up.... no matter how stressful it may get. God loves what ya'll are doing and ya'll will surely be rewarded. Here's another $5 (donation). I know it isn't much, but I pray that it somehow helps. May God bless the Dream Center and allow it to make forward/positive progress."

 

Would you like to be a part of financially supporting the Dream Center just like these prisoners? They inspire us because they barely receive enough funds from their family to live on while in prison. Many of them use these funds to purchase their own toiletry items and often use the money for luxuries like snacks, art supplies or postage to write their loved ones.

 

But, these prisoners believe so much in the ministry of the DREAM Center, that they sacrifice the little money they receive to support financially! Would you join them in their generosity? Your donation goes towards programs like this that help young men.  

 

   

 

Giving can be easily done on-line or mailed. Checks can be written to ESL DC and sent to the address at the bottom of this email.   

Encouragement:

 

Is there someone that you need to write a letter to? If so, take the step to do it. A letter is something so simple, yet very powerful. Who is someone in your life who needs to hear from you? It could be an encouraging letter or maybe it's even an apology letter. Whatever it may be, God will use that letter to touch a life.

 

Proverbs 25:25 (The Message) Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.  

 

Serving because of your support,

Rachel and the DREAM Center Team