Our Impact
What is New Leaf's Ministry?
“Please don’t give up on me,” one of our students wrote. There is no way we could ever do that. As long as God gives this ministry to us, we will devote ourselves to not giving up on this young woman or any of the multitude of men and women just like her who God sends our way. And what is it that we do that’s so special to them? We start by telling them that they haven’t been too bad to be forgiven. We share the gospel at every opportunity, teach through our successive lessons, and always answer their letters. We share God’s love, and we share our love. Sometimes it takes them a long time to finally realize that someone really does love them; someone is showing them that they really are a worthwhile human being after all; someone is showing them God.
Testimonies
Testimony 1
I had been floundering around in life for years, never happy with my circumstances and angry with people in my past. When I was arrested, I realized I needed to make a real change.
Testimony 2
I thoroughly enjoy the lessons you are sending me and I am grateful for what you do for us. I’d like to tell you a little about myself. I’m 30 years old and started using cocaine at the age of 10. So I’ve been an addict for most of my life.
Testimony 3
The Firm Foundations class was offered in the Middle River Jail and I didn't know what to think of it at all. Mostly I signed up just to get out of the cell. But I really gained a lot from the class. Clint is a kind, gracious, and genuine person. Knowing that he had gone through some of the same things I'm going through right now made it so much more meaningful to me.
Your Gift in Action
We decided that our students needed a Bible that they could read and understand, one that they would be proud to own and be seen reading. We chose New Living Translation Bibles with an imitation leather covering. We send one to each student after they have shown consistent participation in the Firm Foundations course.
Mailing-related expenses can be surprisingly high for our ministry since we regularly communicate with a large number of students. The VDOC has very ridged mailing procedures and restricts each envelope to five-pages. This requires we break the lessons into smaller chunks and mail them separately. Beyond postage, there are ongoing costs for printing, envelopes, and other mailing supplies.  For a nonprofit operating on donations, these recurring costs can place a significant impact our overall budget.​
A successful and committed student will complete the premier course, receive the NLT Bible, and then tackle the two more advanced courses. These students may require postage assistance so that they can return their completed answer sheets. We're dedicated to follow-up communication and providing encouragement letters when our students need them. Throughout their time with us, we track lesson progress, grade answer sheets, and maintain student files. Altogether, these costs make our program both impactful and resource-intensive.
Become a Sponsor
People in jail are going through the most crushing times in their lives, but in this loss, they may finally be able to ask God to take what is broken and make it new. We need your help to fulfil Christ's commission: to tell the world His Good News.​ You can sponsor a student's growing relationship with God, knowing that your donation goes directly towards sending God's Word to someone seeking to radically transform their life.
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For only $20 you buy a quality bible for a brother or sister in Christ.
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For $35, you sponsor a whole course for a student, covering the printing, paper, envelopes, and stamp costs we pay for each lesson.
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For $120, you grant a scholarship for a student's entire time with New Leaf: All three courses and a Bible they can be proud to own.​
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Donating any amount helps keep New Leaf running, allowing us to reach more people with our lessons. Download a course yourself and see what your supporting!