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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2004)
Page 7 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 21, 2004 Life Lines sends hope, comfort to incarcerated John and Jude McLaughlin (Shane Welsh photo) A matter of salvation ... (Continued from page 5) my father did; I think on purpose. She didn’t know any other way to live other than under my father’s thumb. He had dominated every aspect of her exis- tence and relegated her to more than a non-entity. She was a convenience to him; a baby dropper; his servant,” he said. Inside the cover is a dedication to his mother Emma. “For all of your children, I thank you mom, gone these many years, the light in you has not dimmed.” “Because my mom cared so much and loved so much, and never closed a door to anyone, I did this in her memory,” he said. A portion of the book sales also will go into a fund to aid abused chil- dren; the “Emma” fund. “When I left the jail, they had a pool and the longest I think they said I would last was 68 days. Here I am now, 15 years and five months later,” he said smiling. “All my life I had gone to prison for despicable crimes,” said McLaughlin. “ I now have an attitude of gratitude. I know what a scumbag I was; that man died, Jan. 10, 1989 when I got out of jail and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior.” McLaughlin has since married his wife, Jude, whom he met after prison. He lives each day with a new understanding of what a difference having love and peace in his heart can make in life. Restrictions increased due to high fire danger Increasing fire danger has prompted Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) officials to tighten restric- tion on activities that have historically caused wild- fires under similar existing conditions. Increased restrictions are designed to prevent costly human-caused wild- fires that Oregon can no longer afford, said ODF. Activities which have been between 1 and 8 p.m. are now restricted between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. As of Monday, July 19, the following restric- tions are in effect on all state, county, private, and Bureau of Land Manage- ment (BLM) lands pro- tected by ODF in Jose- phine and Jackson coun- ties. For the general public, this means: *Use of fireworks is prohibited, except in cleared areas free of all flammable vegetation. Fireworks use is prohibited year-round, on BLM land protected by ODF, on na- tional forest land protected by the U.S. Forest Service, and within many city lim- its. *Debris burning is prohibited. *Chainsaw use is pro- hibited between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. *Non-agricultural mowing of dry or cured grasses between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. is prohibited. For commercial/ industrial forest operators, the Industrial Fire Precau- tion Level (IFPL) is changed to Level 2. Added ODF, “These public and industrial re- strictions will be strictly enforced. “If a person is willful, malicious, or negligent in the origin of a fire, ODF is required by state law ORS 477.068 to recover costs associated with suppress- ing the fire, and the re- sponsible party will be billed for these costs. “Parents can be held responsible for costs asso- ciated with suppressing fires started by their chil- dren.” GRANTS PASS SHOPPING CENTER- (541) 474-1060 Stores also in Medford and Roseburg By SHANE WELSH Staff Writer Cave Junction-based Life Lines Ministry started nearly 10 years ago, send- ing letters of comfort to three prisoners, and has grown to involve more than 2,200 monthly news- letters to 482 prisons in 46 states and nine countries. Founded by Jo y Hoskins, of Cave Junction, the Christian ministry has become a “life line” to prisoners and others by sending letters of love and encouragement to help strengthen hope and faith. Life Lines Ministry is operated out of the Hoskins’ family home. The main crew consists of Hoskins, her husband, Doug, and their daughter, Melanie Gayle. “The idea didn’t just come to me,” said Joy. “I bought a country magazine to pass the time while my mother was in a doctor’s appointment. While flip- ping through the pages, I happened to notice a pen pal page. “There were three names with numbers fol- lowing them; I realized these were prisoners. I de- cided to write to them like family, just to say hello; and that’s how it all be- gan,” she said. During the next six years, the Life Lines mail- ing list grew to 52 people as Joy kept buying maga- zines looking for more prisoners to write. “In 2000, we decided to go into the ministry full time,” said Joy. “We even began making connections (through listings on the internet) with people who are on death row.” There are currently more than 20 volunteers that serve the ministry by performing tasks such as answering, folding and sorting hundreds of letters, delivering and collecting food, and raising funds. The ministry has grown so large since it be- gan, it nearly engulfs the Hoskins’ home; filling each room with stacks of mailings, food donations, and computer and copy equipment. “We send our newslet- ter to people for three months. If they choose to write back to us, then we put them on our regular mailing list,” said Joy. Th e ir se v e n- pa ge monthly newsletter is com- prised of stories and poems written by prisoners; letters from volunteers who aid the ministry; and words of spiritual guidance and en- couragement from Bible scriptures. “For specific needs, we have a staff of prayer warriors that give prisoners prayer or send them per- sonal notes,” said Joy. “We even have a couple of ladies that send about 100 birthday cards a month,” she said. In 2000, the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mis- sion began donating its excess food to Life Lines to help distribute food to those in need in Illinois Valley. At first, the Hoskins made two trips a week to Grants Pass to get food. As donations grew, their trips increased to five per week. Since there is no ware- house (other than their home) to store food, the organization must distrib- ute perishable items imme- diately instead of holding Say you saw it in the ‘Illinois Valley News’ Doug, Joy and Melanie Gayle Hoskins (Photo by Shane Welsh) food until the need arises. The network of food distribution includes 13 local churches, two senior housing complexes, the I.V. Senior Center, and many families and home- less people. In 2001, the ministry began printing artwork produced by a Delaware prisoner, Ed Thompson, who gave permission to sell the items to help raise funds for the ministry. In 2003, Life Lines started a community ser- vice program with Jose- phine County Community Service’s Work Alterna- tive Program. The program allows people from the Illinois Valley to work at the registered nonprofit organization to help pay off restitution and fines. The organization is funded entirely through donation and fund-raisers. Each year, Life Lines con- ducts at least four fund- raising events where it sells donated items such as prisoner artwork, hand- crafted items, locally pre- served jellies, bookmarks, booklets and art. During the last three years, the ministry began publishing books written by prisoners, including a book by Selma resident John J. McLaughlin, a for- mer prisoner and abused youth who tells a story of love, faith, hope, peace and restoration. Three other prisoners from California, Texas, and Michigan have also submitted books which were published. There is also a “faith- inspiring” booklet avail- able that was written by Joy Hoskins. Life Lines anticipates the release of at least two more book publi- cations. All proceeds from book sales are used to help fund the ministry. Recently, Life Lines began “Operation: Free- dom,” a program which will sponsor McLaughlin’s book, “A Walk to Free- dom.” The goal is to put a copy of his book in every prison. So far, 89 books have been sent to various prisons, 27 of which were recently sent to all Massa- chusetts prisons. Although there are many facets to the growing ministry, the objective of Life Lines is simple. “We starve the emptiness and feed the hunger,” said Joy. LOW CARB DIETERS! ‘Steak & Fish are 0 carbs!’ Open 5 to 9 p.m. - Restaurant parking in rear 126 S. Redwood Hwy., CJ 592-4222 or 592-2892 1-541-476-2127