About Prison Outreach of Delaware
- To minister to the spiritual needs of Delaware inmates and ex-offenders through the means of: Evangelism, Teaching, Discipling, Spiritual ministries (Bibles, Christian literature, films, etc.), and Chaplain ministries
- To act as a liaison between inmates, ex-offenders, troubled persons, churches, homes, and communities.
- To be a missionary arm of the local churches by encouraging the development of the spiritual, physical, mental, and social areas of inmates and ex-offenders.
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return to power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enable to live a godly and separated life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
Back in 1963, Ralph Cavanaugh took his first group of juvenile delinquents on a retreat under the ministry of Wilmington Youth for Christ. These troubled young people were very familiar to Ralph, for he was once a troubled youth himself. Originally from Gary, Indiana, he was finding himself in detention centers, foster homes, and serious trouble. But God touched his heart on February 8, 1952 when Ralph received Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of his life. It was then that his life started to change.
A Christian man and the director of Lake County Youth for Christ in Gary befriended Ralph. Bruce Love began to encourage Ralph to live his life whole-heartedly for Jesus Christ. Ralph was eventually lead by God to begin working with troubled young people. After attending Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, New York, he received a phone call from another Youth for Christ director in Wilmington, Delaware.
Danny Bergstrom and may local folks had been praying diligently, wanting to start a local Life Line Program. Ralph’s motivation to serve the Lord in this manner was an answer to many prayers in the local Christian community in Delaware. The Life Line Program focused on a unique ministry to troubled teens confronting these troubled kids with their need to repent of their sins and give their lives to Jesus Christ. Many had been praying for a ministry of this type to begin! This Life Line ministry had taken on a mission of its own, and the work load had increased to the point that it was decided that Ralph’s ministry should set its focus solely on delinquents.
In 1963, Outreach to Troubled Teens was formed and Incorporated as a not for profit organization under a separate Board of Directors.
In 1970, as ministry responsibilities expanded, Rev. Harry Randolph joined the Outreach of Delaware staff. Harry worked with teens and expanded his ministry to adult corrections. The prison system for adults was expanding rapidly and the Delaware Department of Correction asked Outreach to being a ministry at their new facility in Smyrna. That facility was Delaware Correctional Center. Together with volunteers, Ralph and Harry traveled regularly to hold Bible studies and seminars and to work with their new State Chaplain.
In 1975, Joe L. Kadtke, after volunteering his service while in college, joined the team and began working exclusively with teens. Joe worked at the Ferris School Detention Center for juvenile delinquents and also in the community working with families of incarcerated youth.
In 1976, Harry left the Outreach ministry. Shortly after, Steve Parker joined the staff to begin his ministry at Ferris School replacing Joe.
Joe felt God’s calling toward adult corrections. He ministered at Delaware Correctional Center with Ralph and then at Gander Hill prison in 1982 when it opened. He presently serves as Facility Chaplain of that prison.
Our first secretary, Roselda Heald served diligently with Outreach for 12 years before she retired.
Georgia Megonigal served well as our secretary for several years.
In 1988, Terri Lindell joined the Outreach staff and became our Office Manager and has been diligently serving in this capacity for over 34 years.
In 1992, Tim Heald joined our staff and began working exclusively with inmates at Delaware Correctional Center. There, Tim extensively expanded the Outreach ministry and serves as a Chaplain in that facility until this day.
In 2001, Steve Anderson joined our staff and now works as Facility Chaplain at Webb Correctional Facility.
God has brought many volunteers and staff members to this ministry over the years. As we look back over these 59 years, the one thing that hasn’t changed is the burden for lost souls and their need for the Savior.
The same message that Ralph Cavanaugh preached those many years ago is the same message that we proclaim today. We share the message that Jesus Christ died upon the cross for the sins of all mankind. We believe that repentance and forgiveness is God’s gift to man and is achieved by receiving Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. We believe that rehabilitation comes only through Jesus Christ. We preach and proclaim this solitary message without hesitation and without compromise.
CONSTITUTION OF PRISON OUTREACH OF DELAWARE INC.
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be: Prison Outreach of Delaware, Inc., hereinafter called Outreach.
ARTICLE II – HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of Prison Outreach of Delaware shall be in New Castle County, in the state of Delaware.
ARTICLE III – STATEMENT OF FAITH
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return to power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enable to live a godly and separated life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
ARTICLE IV – PURPOSE
The purpose of Prison Outreach shall be:
- To minister to the spiritual needs of Delaware inmates and ex-offenders through the means of:
- Evangelism
- Teaching
- Discipling
- Spiritual ministries (Bibles, Christian literature, films, etc.)
- Chaplain ministries
- To act as a liaison between inmates, ex-offenders, troubled persons, churches, homes, and communities.
- To be a missionary arm of the local churches by encouraging the development of the spiritual, physical, mental, and social areas of inmates and ex-offenders.
ARTICLE V – POLICY
- To be an independent organization working with the local evangelical churches in reaching inmates for Jesus Christ and encouraging ex-offenders to become active in a local church as responsible citizens of the community.
- To work with any such person regardless of religion, race, sex, creed, or social status.
ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- The Board of Directors is the sole governing body of Outreach. It shall be composed of an adequate number of members from which shall be chosen a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers as the need arises. New Board members shall be nominated and elected as set forth in the By-Laws. Qualifications are:
- They must be an active member of a local Bible-believing church.
- They must agree to the Statement of Faith as set forth in Article III.
- The Board shall have power to employ an Executive Director and any other personnel, and to determine policies it deems necessary to govern this organization.
- The Executive Director is a voting member of the Board.
- The Board shall meet monthly at times and places it designates.
- The Associate Director shall be a voting member of the Board.
ARTICLE VII – MEMBERSHIP AND SPONSORS
- There will be no membership other than the Board of Directors and the Executive Director.
- Those who faithfully support the finances of Outreach will be considered sponsors.
ARTICLE VIII – FINANCES
Outreach shall be financed by the gifts and offerings of those interested in the furtherance of the earthly ministry begun by Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended or changed by any proposal submitted in writing, read at two (2) regular meetings of the Board of Directors and adopted at the second meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Board.
Reviewed 3/06/03
How To Support This Ministry Financially
You can support the Prison Outreach of Delaware ministry online or by personal check. All donations are tax deductible. For more details, click here.
MEET OUR PASTORAL STAFF
Please click on the following links for our monthly field reports/newsletters and to meet our other staff members.
TESTIMONIALS
The Prison Outreach of Delaware is making a difference in the lives of incarcerated individuals, families of inmates, and former inmates by teaching the gospel and giving hope.
…You really helped me through that time period of my life… [you] also gave a good example for what I want to do… working with teens who have had trouble.
This act tells me that I really need Jesus in my life to lead my steps and control my thoughts. I surrender to His will. Not because I got caught but because I choose to LIVE instead of EXIST.
Inmates need some compassion and to hear that God can and will forgive them and change their life. Thank you so much for caring about the forgotten.
Please visit this link to hear more testimonies from families and inmates.
