COVID-19 Response

Stay Connected:

Daily text and email Prayer Sign-up | Sign-up For general email list | FMM Facebook | April Prayer Calendar PDF

FMM Chaplains and Volunteers Page: Log your interactions with the Partner Action Form and see the “calling script” for the same page for staying in touch with supporters. Read how missionaries have historically used furloughs to strengthen and sustain their mission.

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Michigan COVID-19 Impact Summary

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Update 4/15/20 | 3:00 PM

As we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we are invited to participate in the new life that is offered to us through the Risen Christ. God sustains us daily and draws us closer to him, even in hard times.

Like you and your church, our chaplains and volunteers have needed to adapt their ministry to fit the current restrictions on our state, nation, and world. I’m writing to update you on our ministry and to say “Thank you!” for your prayers and continued financial support.

Rooted in Our Mission

FMM is a biblically-based, chaplain-led, volunteer jail ministry. Unfortunately, sheriffs around the state were forced to make the difficult decision to temporarily pause FMM’s programming to protect the health of the inmates. Jail staff have communicated how much they value FMM and how they are looking forward to a return to normal. We understand and support our sheriffs’ decisions and eagerly look forward to re-engaging all of FMM’s jail programming. Until then we will continue to stay in regular contact with the jails we serve and work with them to develop alternate plans for ministry.

FMM CARES Mission Furlough

The FMM Board and leadership passionately sought the Lord’s direction as they assessed our ministry and made decisions designed to protect and preserve our staff and our organization until programming is allowed to fully resume in our county jails. Last week, over half of our staff began a temporary furlough. We are focusing our furlough time on renewal, retraining, and reconnecting. Chaplains are spending time in prayer, study, and worship with each other. FMM has also been able to provide them opportunities to engage in professional development. The FMM Mission Furlough is also designed for FMM staff to connect with supporters much like global missionaries do while on “home assignment” furloughs.

New Opportunities For Ministry

The FMM Mission Furlough enables us to adapt ministry to fit our current season.

Bibles and Books – Though FMM’s volunteer and chaplain contact with inmates is limited, we are gearing up for a massive Bible and Christian book distribution. We have had over $30,000 worth of new resources donated to FMM and we need your financial support to get them into the jails and made available to the inmates. Would you consider a gift to make this possible?

Video Visitation – Many FMM jails have video visitation systems so that families are able to stay connected to their loved ones in jail. In those jails, FMM is pioneering chaplain video visits with inmates to remain connected and to continue to disciple and pray for them.
Biblical Mentoring/Correspondence Bible Courses – FMM offers Bible Correspondence Courses in all of our jails. We have an urgent need for new mentors to provide discipleship and encouragement for men and women who have committed to building vibrant relationships with Christ while in jail. Would you step forward to provide biblical mentoring by mail?

Community Care Task Force – In Genesee County (Flint and surrounding area), FMM has been privileged to lead the sheriff’s Community Care Task Force. Our chaplains are spearheading efforts to bring coordinated relief supplies to impacted families.

Postcards and Letters – FMM chaplains and volunteers have continued to stay in touch with inmates by writing postcards and letters. This simple act of love shows inmates they are not forgotten.

Live Online Events – Although our in-person Spring Banquets have been postponed, we are planning on doing four regional Live Online Events. As information is available it will be on jailministry.org and emailed to you in the next three weeks.

Update 4/5/20 | 7:45 PM

Subject: Mission Furlough

Forgotten Man Ministries formally began a volunteer and staff Mission Furlough today. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, most of our jails have restricted chaplain access and all jails have suspended volunteer ministry. This pause in services gives FMM staff a chance for personal and spiritual renewal, for professional development, and time to strengthen ties to our communities of support.

The Mission Furlough will last for 60-120 days. Our priority is to protect the health of inmates and workers in the jail. We instituted the Furlough to preserve financial stability for our ministry and employees, in addition to providing job security for staff. Our ministry finances are strong and we intend to steward our resources well for the sustainability of FMM in the future.

Our mission in jails has adapted to meet these challenging times. We are working on ramping up video visitation, sending in brand new Christian books and Bibles, and expanding our correspondence Bible mentoring through Crossroads Prison Ministries. Over 500 volunteer hours will be worked each week during the Furlough and opportunities for volunteers to serve will expand each week.

Update 3/26/20 | 3:00 PM

Subject: POSTPONEMENT OF SPRING BANQUETS

Also, the following county banquets have been postponed:
Newaygo, Huron, Midland, Branch, Kalamazoo, Berrien, Osceola, Kent, Ingham, Bay, Montcalm, and Mecosta
Instead, we’ll be hosting live online events with ministry updates and testimonies. Stay tuned for more information.

Update 3/26/20 | 3:00 PM

Subject: CALL TO PRAYER

Your prayers are urgently important. If you would join our prayer list for daily updates, please use your phone
and text “fmmcares” to 91999. Or Visit our Call to Prayer page.

For a downloadable and printable page for prayers, please click here for the March 2020 Calendar.

Update 3/24/20 | 11:00 PM

As a result of the Executive Order No.2020-21 issued by the Governor of the State of Michigan, Forgotten Man
Ministries staff will work from home until April 14, 2020, unless authorized by the Executive Director or supervisor
from the Regional Leadership Team. Our staffing has been modified to comply with the Executive Order and will
only allow staff to work outside their homes “to conduct minimum basic operations.”

Phil Johnson, Ron Weller, Todd Krygsheld, and Sarah Lindstrom are “conducting minimum basic
operations.” (E.O. 4 and 4B)

More names will be added to this list as workers and volunteers who “provide food, shelter, and other necessities
of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”

Update: 3/23/20 | 12.30 PM

As a result of the Executive Order No.2020-21 issued by the Governor of the State of Michigan, Forgotten Man Ministries staff will work from home until April 14, 2020, unless authorized by the Executive Director or supervisor from the Regional Leadership Team. Our home office staffing has been modified to comply with the Executive Order and will only allow staff at the home office “to conduct minimum basic operations.”

Nathan DeWard, Betty Dykstra, Marilyn Terpstra, Steve Lindquist, Scott Hall, Cherri Kerr, Barb Faasse, and Ellen Kruithof will be responsible for “conducting minimum basic operations.” (E.O. 4 and 4B)

More names will be added to this list as workers and volunteers who “provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”

Update: 3/21/20 | 9:35 AM

This week, Genesee County Chaplain Kenny Hovis was appointed the leader of the Genesee County Sheriff Office’s “Community Care Task Force.” They are mobilizing local faith leaders to serve the communities of Flint and the surrounding region. The sheriff swore in these leaders as deputy sheriffs in order to permit them access to roads and places in the event that the government needs to restrict the movement of its residents. To learn more visit the FMM posting Here and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office”Community Care Task Force” page Here.

Update: 3/20/20 | 10:30 PM

FMM has temporarily suspended all volunteer ministry in the 34 county jails we serve in. We will list updates on the website “warning bar” when programs reopen. FMM staff continue to serve but at a reduced load.

Update: 3/20/20 | 5:00 PM

FMM has postponed all regularly scheduled spring banquets in favor of hosting live online events.