Executive Archive: 2002


BP Note:

Offering Basic Progress to the free world was quite a challenge. I did not really know what the niche was, but if we could keep people from coming back to prison, it seemed reasonable to think that we could keep them from going in the first place. For the first few months in Fort Worth, I worked with an inner city ministry offering BP to the economically strapped. While we did have some success, it was a real struggle dealing with the darkness of addiction, poverty and gang related violence. While there is some demand in the urban setting for Basic Progress, that target audience is limited. In the spring of 2002, we offered Basic Progress to females. I did not know whether they were willing to share their struggles with men in the room. I also considered whether I was capable of handling gender specific issues. Well, the women basically took over. While coaching is a special gift, it never has been up to me to handle their issues; God is the healer. My doubts were immediately dispelled. To be sure, the ladies seem to be engaged at least as much as the men. Basic Progress proved to be the real deal; and it could be offered to both the strugglers and the seekers. If we can help those who are in a spiritual rut, how much more can we do with those who have a running head start?


Friends,

I pray that this correspondence finds you and yours in good health.

It has been awhile since I have contacted you regarding Basic Progress Ministries. I hope that you'll understand that last year was one in which newsletters were only one of the items on my "to do" list that was set aside. Here is an update. In 2001,

  • I enrolled and maintained my GPA with 18 graduate hours in the Spring and Summer.
  • I received my Master of Divinity and enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at TCU.
  • Basic Progress trained four people to coach the program, meaning that our presence in the West Texas Prisons will remain intact.
  • I enrolled at TCU to work toward a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care.
  • I'll leave to your imagination the problems of transition coupled with the need to rent our home in Abilene. We couldn't sell.
  • In summary, 2001 was extremely busy and extremely rewarding, but I don't think I want to do it again. Been there, done that.
  • By the way, we converted 64 more people to Christianity, bringing our total to over 400!

In my move to the DFW metroplex, my goal is to continue to expand the ministry:

  • I worked for a time with an inner city ministry, in which, the program was affirmed.
  • Basic Progress was presented to a younger demographic, in which, the program was affirmed.
  • We have scheduled classes to begin in several venues, one at Altamesa Church of Christ, if you want to attend that session on Thursdays from 5-7 PM, starting in May, register online.
  • Since the end of January, I have been working long and hard, editing and reformatting the BP materials for the www.basicprogress.org web site. As we develop the Basic Progress on line presence, it may serve you to bookmark the site and watch for updates. Although I plan to continue postal news briefs or letters similar to this one, a full interactive newsletter will be offered where you can browse the curriculum, essays on spiritual topics, church matters, ministry in the margins, etc.
  • Basic Progress will also host the Christian Classics Project, wherein folks, like yourself, can contribute outlines and short synopses of the great works of Christian history. This section will help any who are looking to read on matters of great significance to search our database and choose a work that is suitable to their needs. Since becoming Christian, I have always wanted something like this, it will be targeted for the lay person.

The real purpose for the web site is to offer BP to the masses. We don't know whether to charge or not, but my tendency is to offer it without charge, based on our faith and personal experience that individuals, churches, and grants will support our work. It is to this end that I respectfully request your participation in this work.

Basic Progress has expanded to the urban areas, parole and probation departments and working with churches and civic organizations to host the class sessions. We need money now more than ever. I respectfully ask that you make a commitment to helping us offer this program free of charge to the many who can benefit from Basic Progress, but, because of their plight, do not need another invoice.

For more information, go to http://www.basicprogress.org and look around. You can donate on line.

If you would rather send a check:

Basic Progress Ministries

259 Somerset Terrace

Bedford, Texas 76022

Thank you. May the God of peace be with you and yours.

Jay Holland



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