Aprill 2000

aDamascus Way Reentry Centerb

Dear Special Friend of Damascus Way:

Damascus Way finished fiscal year 2000 (March 2000) with a $18,000 deficit. This was due to several months of below-average income and some major expenses during the past twelve months. Our cash flow in recent months has been much better but we are unable to make up for the shortfall from earlier months. I would like to be able to retire that deficit now so it will not follow us through the summer months, which historically have lower income. If you can help your gift will be a great blessing.

The number of men entering and remaining through graduation has been stayed very high, which is wonderful for ministry but does add to the daily operating cost. Damascus Way receives payment from the Department of Corrections for certain men, normally for 60 days of their 90-day stay with us. However, for at least half the men we work with the compensation Damascus Way receives is the $12 a day we charge for room and board. The actual cost to operate is over $50 per day per man. For that reason, donations from people like you are so important to enable Damascus Way to minister to all those who come to us for help.

We are very pleased to announce that Cargil Corporation, based in the Twin Cities, recently gave Damascus Way a minivan with only 100,000 "easy" miles on it to replace our aging van with 230,000 "hard" miles. Over the years, Cargil has given Damascus Way at least three such vans, for which we are extremely grateful. I will mention here that Damascus Way can use (or sell to support the ministry) any cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, motor homes, boats, etc., which are in good running condition. The tax credit you will receive often is of more value than the sale of your used vehicle.

aPRAYER REQUESTSb

Listed here are prayer concerns the Damascus Way staff has. However if you have prayer requests for us our staff met each Wednesday at 10 a.m. to pray and we would love to include your prayer requests in our prayer time, so please feel free to send your requests to us in the enclosed envelope or call us at 612-545-6558. "Pray for us, too. Pray that God will open a door for our message. Then we can preach the mystery of Christ." Phil. 4:3

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Continue to pray for the staff and board as they review and re-assess the current mission statement and overall program vision and seek God’s guidance in discussions about improving the program in the service of our residents. f	We recently lost a weekend/overnight staff and are interviewing possible replacements. Pray for guidance in this process, and that the Lord will bring along a solid, quality staff. f	We are desperately in need of a larger facility due to overcrowded conditions here for residents and staff. Pray that God will provide either a means to expand the current facility or acquire a larger one. f	We are still looking for volunteer cooks to help prepare the evening meals on weeknights here. We want our residents to feel that they are valued, and thoughtfully prepared meals are a great way to bless them! f	Pray for the men in our program, that God would reveal Himself to them while they are here and touch their lives with healing and deliverance. f	Pray that God will continue to bless our new weekend retreat program, The Burning Bush, which is offered every 2-3 months to our residents, and use it to bring men into deeper relationship with Him. Pray that God will provide scholarships to help cover the costs of these retreats, and that God will bring along additional volunteers to help run the retreats. The next retreat is scheduled for June 9-11. f	Pray God’s continued blessing and strengthening of our staff who labor on the front battle lines daily. f

In Christ’s Victory,

Dick Harden

Damascus Way Director