What a blessed and exciting year 2004 has been in the life of Forgiven Ministry, Inc. As the founder of the ministry, my heart’s desire is that I could bring praise, honor and glory to the One that made it all possible, Our God and King! The Lord did not only open the doors for ministry but paved the way some of the most wonderful servants I have ever met. From North Carolina to Louisiana we have had the privilege of working with God called men and women who have a passion for ministering to bruised lives. Every day in the life of Forgiven Ministry, Inc. is exciting and filled with divine appointments. I stood on the sands of the South China in 2002. I watched as the small fishing boats come in shore just as the beautiful sun was setting. The small children and all the neighbors ran excitedly from the huts to help pull in the nets of fish that would feed and help provide the bare necessities of life. I could not stand still any longer so I ask if I could help pull the nets in. It was so much like a live re-enactment of the Bible days. I had been fishing with a fishing pole most of my life and God showed me He wants us to fish with nets. Forgiven Ministry, Inc. is so blessed to have many loving people helping us draw the nets of the souls of inmates and their families.

January 2004: After 10 weeks sitting by my daughter’s side as we waited on our 6th grandson, precious Colten Matthews was born. God had once again blessed our family with a healthy little boy to bring so much joy into our family. The ministry began full steam ahead on January 23 with our “Behind the Walls" program at Wilkes Correctional Center. Wilkes Correctional has become very special to us as we were able to see Re-Entry Life Plan started successfully this year at Wilkes. The men from the Re-Entry program were able to be a part of our fall “Three Days with God Camp”. Thank you Wilkes team for sharing God’s love through Re-Entry.

February 2004: Connie and I count it a blessing to be able to speak and share His work in churches. This is a way that we can challenge volunteers to join us and also the Lord has made much of our provision through the love offerings of these churches. The month of February was filled with speaking engagements at the following churches: Carolina Memorial Baptist, Thomasville, NC, Antioch Baptist Church, Taylorsville, NC , Memorial Baptist Church, Buies Creek, NC, First Baptist Church, Mt.Airy, NC and Antioch Baptist Church, Lincoln, NC. In each of these services we experienced the anointing of God as He moved in our life and the life of many of the listeners. In February, we also began our organizational meeting of churches for the children’s room at Alexander Correctional Institution. This is a maximum security prison with capacity of 1000 men. God is so GOOD and knew the heart of Forgiven Ministry, Inc. We have such a love for the children of inmates and want to share God’s love with them in a special way. Our dream came true as we were offered the little glass room that sits in the visitation room. A perfect place to invite the children in for a time of crafts, singing, Bible stories, puppets and drama but is that not just like God? One of the most special things the children are allowed to do is make a card or picture that their dad can carry back to their cell as a token of their child’s love. The gift to their father which is much needed for the inmate parent but even more so for the child, allowing them to do something special for their dad. As a child of an inmate I was very sad that I could not take him a gift when I visited my father. Many churches came to the meetings and the excitement begins to grow as we made plans to open Ezekiel’s room November 6, 2004.

March 2004: Associate Pastor Jamie Steele of East Taylorsville Baptist began the month of March with a special service at Wilkes Correctional followed by baptism of those who accepted Christ as their Savior during the previous “Behind the Walls” program. The men who many had waited many years to be baptized went into the baptismal waters in 25 degree weather but the precious spirit of God was very warm that night. Connie and I were so blessed to be part of what God is doing at Greater Shekinah Glory in Hickory, NC. We were invited to speak and we certainly felt the freedom and the spirit of God move that night. A lady in the service shared a word from the Lord to us about bags of gold coins. What a lesson we learned in faith in the days to come. Later that week a lady in West Jefferson, NC handed me 2 gold coins. In the next couple of weeks we received a check for $10,000.00 from Greater Shekinah Glory, planting seeds for the kingdom of God. Oh, how God speaks to reveal His purpose for our life and His ministries. We began our 3 rd year of Re-Entry at Caldwell Correctional in Lenoir, NC. Many men have realized a new direction in their life through this program. Thank you volunteers who faithfully work with these men 36 weeks out of every year. Thank you instructors for caring so much. Seven churches opened their door for Connie and me to speak during the month of March. We met so many new friends and volunteers.
March 12-13 began a new journey for Forgiven Ministry as we had our first “One Day with God Camp” at Mt. View Correctional in Spruce Pine, NC. This was the first time that we had brought children of inmates inside the prison to spend all day with planned activities with their parent. It was truly a great success and a day of reconciliation. God moved throughout the camp bring unconditional love to children, parents and volunteers. We knew that it was the beginning of great things ahead in the life of the families of inmates. Thank you God for your vision and guidance. Children who had not seen their father in 10 years were reunited with him and love began to grow.
The month of March was a time of rejoicing as the new Alexander Correctional Institution opened on March 16, 2004. I was privileged to pray the prayer of dedication at the opening ceremony that day. This was truly a highlight in my life.
There were many more events during March such as a “Behind the Walls” program at the women’s facility, Fountain Correctional Center in Rocky Mount, NC. I remember how women began to give their heart to Christ during the praise and worship service. What a spirit filled the room during the 3 hour event. The last week in March was a treat as we traveled to Kingston Retirement Center in Hickory, NC. My grandson Trent who was 5 years old at the time made a great hit with those senior citizens as he passed out the candy bars and popcorn.

April 2004: Connie Wagner and I were invited to participate in the WMU Missions Extravaganza at the Lifeway Conference Center, Ridgecrest, NC. We certainly felt honored to be able to share our work and testimony with women from many states and Churches. April 18-26 2004, Jack and I traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to be part of the Operation Starting Line Event in the southern part of Florida. We were able to minister with some of the most wonderful Christians from all over the United States. Prison after prison we watched men and women inmates give their heart to Christ. Thank you God that I could be part of this project with OSL.

May 2004: Connie began the month speaking at Connelly Springs First Baptist Church. Our dear friends, Dawn and Steve Mathews invited us to share at their church in Connelly Springs, NC. Jack and I traveled to Cobb County Correctional in Atlanta, Ga. We were able to minister along side of Glenn Chappelear from Powder Springs, Ga. Glenn is a platform minister with OSL and a dear friend. On Sunday morning I was invited to speak to Glenn’s Sunday class at Powder Springs Baptist Church. This class caught the vision of the camps and provided funds to invite 25 children to spend a day with their parent. We traveled from Atlanta to Greenville, SC. I spoke at Edwards Road Baptist Church and witnessed God move in a remarkable way that night at the Women’s Celebration. Another exciting plan would take place the end of May as we invited 20 women from Raleigh Correctional Center for Women and North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women. They along with their precious children spent 3 days at Hickory Cove Camp in Taylorsville, NC. Once again God extended His divine love and healing power to families. The wonderful volunteers made so much possible as they gave unconditional love to each child and inmate. Once again God provided the funds and love to hold a “Three Day with God Camp”. Thank you God.

June 2004: Pasquotank, here we come! A team of men and women traveled to the eastern part of North Carolina to share Christ behind the walls. We saw many inmates come to the Lord and appreciate the invitation to minister at Pasquotank Correctional Institution. Many thanks to “The Forgiven Band” who travels so faithfully with us to share in praise and worship with the inmates. Jack, Connie and I traveled back to Louisiana to begin the process of organizing the future camps. Washington Correctional with Warden Miller gave us the first invitation to work in the state of Louisiana. There is a lot of work to do but we have a Great God to lead us. The graduation for the Re-Entry students at Caldwell Correctional was held on June 26 th. The men who were in the class were honored with a steak dinner and graduation ceremony. This is a time that family members can share their hearts and the inmates can be honest with those who care so much for them. It gives all who attend a picture of the scope of the program. Re-Entry, a Prison Fellowship Program is a powerful way to teach inmates to re-enter society successfully.

July 2004: One of our favorite prisons to work inside is Raleigh Correctional Center for Women. We took a bus of volunteers to spend the day and present the “Behind the Walls” program. Keith Bartel thrilled the hearts of all who heard him minister in song. Off to Louisiana to make more arrangements for the upcoming camps. We ended the month with a worship service at Caldwell Correctional. Taylorsville Hometown Singers joined us and presented the gospel in song.

August 2004: Connie and I are platform speakers for Operation Starting Line which is a collaboration of many ministries that have a common goal to spread the gospel to every prison in the United States. We traveled to Northern Florida and spent 10 great days working with OSL to follow God’s plan in the life of inmates. I want to especially praise God that as the storms tore across Florida that we were kept safe.

September 2004: God never ceases to amaze me and that is just what He did when I answered the phone to hear Chaplain Toney from Angola Prison in Louisiana. He asks if we would consider a camp at Louisiana State Penitentiary. I had made a promise to God that Forgiven Ministry would walk through each door that He opened. I knew in my heart that this was an open door. I did not know how God would use it to make possible camps all over the United States. The God of wisdom that He is is it any wonder that He would take us to the most notorious prison to create the interest of other prisons. On September 11, 2004 we were privilege to take 300 children into Angola to be reunited and spend a quality day with their father. Thank you Warden Cain who made this possible and Chaplain Toney who gave hours of time to making it happen. The volunteers were just awesome and Forgiven Ministry could not have done the camp without them. It was at this camp that Awana and Child Evangelism became partners with us to increase the quality and ministry of the “One Day with God Camps”. The days ahead in September were certainly filled with work. Doors opened in churches such as Mt. Nebo in Hiddenite, NC and New Horizon in Marion, NC. We enjoyed speaking at Macedonia Baptist Church in Taylorsville, NC. September 15-17, Connie and I participated in a ladies inmate camp at Camp Mundo Vista. What a blessing to be part of this work that ministers to over 30 women inmates that is sponsored by the North Carolina Baptist WMU. The end of the month we invited 20 inmates from Caldwell Correctional and Wilkes Correctional to Hickory Cove Camp to hold our men’s “Three Day with God Camp”. The camps just get better and we see God’s handiwork revealed more and more. Many children and fathers were reconciled and gave their heart to Jesus. Little Keria, who had never seen her father, found his love. Her father patiently waited for her to be part of his life. The volunteers began to pray and soon we saw her in her father’s arms. This is a picture of God as He waits for us to have a relationship with him. He is so patient and such a gentleman, never pushing himself on any of us. The end of the month brought an opportunity to speak to the chaplains of North Carolina at Camp Caraway, the Re-Entry Transition Conference.

October 2004: The camp at Washington Correctional was such a success. One of the most beautiful stories was the story of LaTerra. LaTerra was one of the first children to arrive at the camp. She was dressed like a beautiful doll. I watched as she and her father spend a beautiful day together. God’s timing is perfect. Two weeks after the camp, LaTerra was hit and killed on her bicycle. Her father personally thanked me for having the camp that reunited him and his precious daughter. God spoke to my heart about the urgency of doing God’s work. LaTerra not only spend the day with her earthly father but will spend eternity with her heavenly Father. A big day in our ministry was October 30 th as we did our movie program at Alexander Correctional Institution. We had over 800 inmates attend the program and many came to know Christ. Connie Wagner was with Pastor Curtis White at Bath Christian Church in Bath, NC. Many people were touched as Connie shared her testimony. We begin to sign children up for the children’s center anticipating the opening on November 6 th. The response was awesome.

November 2004: November brought many invitations to speak in area churches. Nelson’s Chapel and Edgewood Baptist were two of the opportunities we shared in. Connie and I spoke at the Faith Alliance Missionary Church in Winston Salem, NC on November 18 th and 19 th. The attendance was tremendous and the anointing of the Holy Spirit was awesome. God moved in a marvelous way during the service and we feel honored to be a part of His work. You never know what He has in store for those who follow Him but we do know that it will be wonderful. Wonderful it was when I spoke at Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC. We met some of the greatest Christians. One of those was Denise. She and her husband had been serving in a prison for some time. God reached down and spoke to over 40 people to walk beside them in prison ministry. Out of this week-end a camp at Orange Correctional was born and also paid for through the love and generosity of one of the members of Orange United Methodist Church. Jack and I look forward to the work that has begun at Chapel Hill. On November 6, 2004 Ezekiel’s Room was opened to the children of inmates during the visitation. The center is the first in the state and our prayer is that it will set the stage for many more inmate children programs to follow.

December 2004: What a perfect time to have a camp for inmates and their children. Dixion Correctional hosted a beautiful camp under the guidance of Chaplain Pierce. So many blessings and so much reconciliation that God brought to the heart of these families. A special thanks to the volunteers that traveled so far to be part of the camp at DCI. December 8 th was a treat as we did a children’s center training at Faith Fellowship and Harvest Church in West Jefferson, NC. The pastor is Elliott Osowitt, a completed Jew who shares an awesome testimony of his conversion. This church has walked beside us for a long time. Christmas always brings the joy of Angel Tree which is a Prison Fellowship Program to take gifts to the children of inmates. The Angel Tree party was held at East Taylorsville Baptist Church and was filled with so much love and joy. It is a great privilege to serve our Lord and Savior during the Christmas Holiday. Christmas Eve was a joy as my family was able to deliver new bicycles to children of inmates. A gracious gentleman provided this opportunity to show love to children of inmates. Sunday, December 26 th a team of volunteers from Forgiven Ministry, Inc. traveled to Mt. View Correctional in Spruce Pine, NC to share in a worship service. It was a wonderful way to end a year that was packed with so much ministry and Godly results. I could not help but remember that the last time that I visited my father in prison was the Christmas season and now sad the holidays can be without someone caring. God truly was among us and the men as we worshiped together that Sunday night. The Three Forks Quartet did an awesome job sharing Christ through song. God has a special way of spreading the news of His work and that is just what He did on December 31, 2004. UNC TV in Chapel Hill, NC invited me to share in a program called “BLACK FORUM”. The title of the forum was Forgiving Inmate Parentsof which I was able to share my heart and the ministry. Ron Eddings, a former inmate and a student of our Caldwell Re-Entry program, accompanied me on the TV show. Ron is truly an example of God’s ability to make a new creature out of us. Ron is the president of the student body at CVCC in Hickory, NC. This and all of the above events of 2004 are just stepping stones for the excitement in our heart as we look forward to 2005.

Serving Christ Until He Comes, Scottie