I attended the carpentry apprenticeship class held at a facility in Chicago hosted by The Chicagoland Prison Outreach upon my release from the Cook County Department of Corrections and my desire to gain employment. As I attended these classes I began to build relationships with various team leaders and as I enjoyed the fact that this was a Christian based organization that allowed me to strengthen my relationship with Christ. We not only learned the base principles of carpentry but it were infused with the word of God and how ironic that Christ earthly profession was that of a carpenter. I can’t speak for anyone else but my soul gets happy as I look back in retrospect because I realize such craft that this organization provided me and how many years later I am still connected to this humble but yet progressive organization. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to complete the program due to making a plea with the Illinois States Attorney and taking time in the Illinois Department of Corrections, I still gained a lot of positive things that enhanced my not only my life but those who I came into direct contact with. If it had not been for a program like CPO as this I probably would be dead because my attitude and disposition would have lead me back to the streets to gang bang and sell drugs all throughout the Chicago Heights and surrounding suburbs. I thank God for his saving power as well as his unmerited favor for keeping me and providing me with a way out through the Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Many years later I may not be a licensed carpenter but I am a licensed chef but most of all a licensed minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks be unto God for cleaning up and using a wretch such as I. I want to Thank the staff of The Chicagoland Prison Outreach from the bottom of my heart as well as encourage them to keep doing the will of the Lord because I know I am not the only one who feels this way and may God continue to Bless you for all that you do!

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Life Learning Program
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