Posted on 04/18/2023 7:35:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A prison ministry that was the recipient of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's first-quarter salary praised his action, saying it will help "bring the Gospel to inmates in over 350 jails and prisons worldwide.”
While touring Prince William County's Adult Detention Center on March 31, Youngkin announced his decision to donate his first quarter salary to Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, which his office identified as “an organization dedicated to supplying faith-based resources for jails and prisons in the Commonwealth of Virginia and worldwide.”
Youngkin presented the ministry, based in Henrico, Virginia, with a check for $43,750.
The governor of Virginia receives an annual salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments. “I pledged to serve without accepting a salary to support Virginians in every way I can,” Youngkin said in a statement.
“The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry exemplifies the heart and Spirit of Virginia by providing hope, resources, and transformational opportunities for Virginians,” he added. “This administration continues to respect the law and those inside the criminal justice system with increased access to mental health services, best practices for trade skill acquisition and by maintaining excellence in the restoration of rights process, among other priorities.”
Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin praised “the life-changing mission” of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, adding: “We firmly believe that every Virginian deserves an opportunity to flourish and we are grateful for this opportunity to support great and Godly works.”
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry reacted to finding out that Youngkin planned to donate his first-quarter salary to their organization in a Facebook post shared last week. The organization declared, “Thank you, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Suzanne, for your gift to bring the Gospel to inmates in over 350 jails and prisons worldwide.”
The ministry said Youngkin’s donation comes ahead of Second Chance Day, which seeks to raise $150,000 to support chaplains who seek to “share the Gospel with thousands of inmates a year” and thereby give them “a second chance at a new beginning in Christ.” As documented on its website, the organization places “Christian chaplains in jails and prisons to minister to the spiritual needs of inmates and staff.”
Good News’ efforts to meet the spiritual needs of the imprisoned include the Life Learning Program, a “biblically centered program designed to teach inmates how their world and personal view relates to every area of life,” including “acceptance as a person, getting along with those around us” as well as the importance of forgiveness, “how to handle ‘going to prison,’ how to handle ‘getting out’” in addition to “responsibility and accountability to family, job and authority.”
Good News President Jon Evans described the Life Learning Program as “a structured approach to teaching inmates the truth of God’s Word.”
He added, “As they grasp what God has done for them in Christ, a flame of hope for their future is ignited, and many begin to believe for the first time that their lives matter.”
Good News has also developed a “Bible Correspondence Course,” which “consists of over 400 individual Bible studies” that require “the inmate to study the selected book of The Bible verse by verse.” Each study “begins with the Gospel of John and then moves through other books of the Bible and two general discipleship overview courses.”
“After the inmate completes each lesson a volunteer grader provides feedback to encourage the inmate in their progress. When an inmate completes all the courses offered they are awarded a Study Bible and other resources for their further spiritual growth.”
Serving 300,000 inmates across 22 states and 25 countries, Good News also acts as “the ‘humanitarian’ providers” for the imprisoned in some cases. It notes that “in many foreign prison systems, inmates are not fed, clothed or provided medical care by the government,” putting “family or others on the outside” on the hook for the necessary supplies.
Since taking office in January 2022, Youngkin has donated his quarterly gubernatorial salary to multiple organizations, including the Virginia Law Enforcement Assistance Program, which ministers to law enforcement officials who have experienced “traumatic clinical incidents,” the Virginia Veterans Services Program, G³ Community Services, which provides student mentorship to those interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics as well as Pathways, which provides assistance to low-income families.
Good man.
Thank you, Governor.
I think he’s the guy who could come from out of nowhere in 2024, while everyone else is paying attention to Trump and DeSantis.
Wow!
Very cool.
Proud to have voted for him.
I agree. If Youngkin does step forward, I hope he can learn how to sniff out Democrat-Media traps a little better than he did some weeks ago. There are certain talk show hosts, no conservative should go on, because the host will try to make you look foolish and inept. The exception is if that conservative is media savvy and bold enough to debate without appearing to fold.
Nothing says Matthew 6:1-4 like a politician presenting an oversized check to somebody at a press event. /s
That was the first thing that came to my mind too ...
But his motive might be to encourge people to do the same and to highlight the good work that the ministry is doing.
I’ll let God be his judge.
I am waiting for the spin.
He will be demanded to donate next quarter’s salary to some muslim or satan prison club.
“That was the first thing that came to my mind too ...”
Me too. Do it a little more discreetly next time Glen.
But his motive might be to encourge people to do the same and to highlight the good work that the ministry is doing.
That's a good point. I wonder why Jesus didn't think of that?
I’ll let God be his judge.
With respect to the motives of his heart, I suppose that's fair enough. Nevertheless, I, for one, am sick to effing death of politics-by-stunt. Why not just govern according to sound constitutional principles and let the other stuff go? Is that too much to ask?
But it would appear that today, across the ideological spectrum, that's all that's ever on offer, or ever will be, going forward.
Still, I suppose, ultimately, that's on us. Since voters just loved to be conned, it seems. They love it so.
“Nothing says Matthew 6:1-4 like a politician presenting an oversized check to somebody at a press event. /s”
You mean this?
Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Maybe you should take the WHOLE sermon on the mount into account before talking like Judas. Christ actually commanded His disciples to do good works publicly.
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:1-2 NKJV
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Matthew 26:6-10 NKJV
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.”
I’d ask the same: Why do you criticize this person for doing good works? I don’t see too many politicians so generous with their salaries. In fact, Donald Trump is the only other one that comes to mind.
He needs to run for Senate next year, he can win. He has moved VA. Back to a Purple State.
Folks, prison ministries are a vital service.
This is a beautiful gesture!
AND ... he let it be known that he was donating his salary, and to whom it was being donated. No secrecy, there.
He’s out flanking Pence with the Christian vote. He’s at the top along with a few other governors as far as school reforms. He’s comes across as somewhat meek and mild mannered so he’s not scaring the suburban moms. Not sure where he stands on foreign policy, funding Ukraine’s Black hole? Will he secure the border? Tough on crime?
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