A Movement Of God
Hello and let me introduce myself. My name is Tom Flaskerud and I am the founder/director of The Freedom Team and the Tom Flaskerud Evangelistic Association (TFEA).
This blog will keep you informed and updated on what God is doing through TFEA and The Freeedom Team. And to give you a forum to communicate with us.
PURPOSE:
OUTCOME:
WANTED:
Please partner with us as we spread the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ to prisoners throughout the World.
INFORMATION:
This blog will keep you informed and updated on what God is doing through TFEA and The Freeedom Team. And to give you a forum to communicate with us.
WHO WE ARE:
- TFEA and The Freedom Team is an evangelistic, athletic ministry team. Specializing in Prison Power Explosions.
PURPOSE:
- Our purpose is to take the life changing message of Jesus Christ into the prisons of the Pacific Northwest, Mexico and the World. We present the gospel message of Jesus Christ in a dynamic action packed presentation of salvation and hope. Through a combination of feats of strength illustrating scriptual principles, life changing personal testimonies and exciting Christ centered music. The Word of God is shared in a tangible, practical way, that enables prisoners to relate to God and His purpose in their lives.
OUTCOME:
- Every year thousands of prisoners are responding to The Freedom Team's message, of life changing transformation through Jesus Christ, and receiving Him into their lives.
WANTED:
- Knees -that pray
- Hands -that give
- Feet -that go
Please partner with us as we spread the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ to prisoners throughout the World.
INFORMATION:
VIDEOS:
posted by The Freedom Team at
4:50 PM
8 Comments:
I have recently returned from El Salvador where Raul, our Spanish Interpreter, and myself were able to meet with the National Directors of El Salvador's Prisons. God went ahead of us and everywhere we went the doors were open to us. Below is a summary of the results.
On October 12th-29th, 2008 the Tom Flaskerud Evangelistic Association and The Freedom Team will be conducting Prison Power Explosions throughout the twenty prisons of El Salvador. Working in conjunction with us Victory Outreach (San Salvador) will be providing meals to the prisoners during the opening music at the beginning of each of our Prison Power Explosions. Nothing like this has ever been done in these prisons before. Through these twenty prisons we anticipate feeding over 16,000 prisoners and our expected outcome will be to see over 7,000 prisoners pray to receive Jesus Christ into their lives. Plans for the follow up and discipleship of these new believers is being organized by our El Salvador Leadership Team.
Tom Flaskerud Evangelistic Association and The Freedom Team have been invited by the El Salvadorian Government Directors of Prisons to take our Prison Power Explosions to the prisoners of El Salvador.
El Salvador has twenty prisons with eight of them just incarcerating gang members.
We have been given the use of 2-15 passenger vans and a pickup by an El Salvador Businessman. The Government will also be giving us the use of their Olympic Training Center for our lodging needs. We are also told that 10,000 Spanish New Testament will be donated for this El Salvador Freedom Awakening.
We need Partners and Churches that would like to be a part of this ’Move of God’ across the prisons of El Salvador. We believe that God is going to use this to ‘Impact El Salvador by setting the prisoners free in Jesus Christ’.
If you would like to be involved in this ‘Move of God’ please email: tom@tfea.us or call 541-390-7770
Bless You,
Pastor Tom
We were blessed to bring our Power Explosion to Gladys Grant’s Underprivileged Kid’s Camp. The week before we did the Girl’s Camp and this time we were doing the Boy’s Camp. The boys were exceptionally enthusiastic to our presentation and eagerly received the message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ. Many of these boys come from single parent homes where life is very difficult for them. Many are exposed to family members who are caught up in the additions of drugs and alcohol. Many do not have a positive adult role model to look up to and we are blessed that God has opened the doors for us to be positive Christian examples for them. At the end of our presentation 15 boys and 1 adult responded and registered a decision for Christ.
Last year we built a shorter stage trailer that is quicker to set up and easier to get into some of the prisons that have very tight yard entrances. This trailer’s drivers side opens up and serves as an awning with the inside folding down into a full stage. This unit is much simpler and quicker to set up and one person is able to do it in about 20 minutes. Woodpecker Trucks in Pendleton, OR donated the paint job and the truck turned out looking great.
We also where able to take our tractor to Kelly our friend at Heavenly Touched Auto Detailing in Redmond, OR and she did a great job of making our tractor look attractive.
The Great El Salvador Freedom Awakening:
We would ask your special prayer for our Prisons Tour in El Salvador scheduled for October 12-29. There is much turmoil in some of the prisons and recently some of the prisoner were killed by special police during a prison riot. We know the dangers involved in going into these prisons but we also know that God is on the move and will give thousands of these prisoners a new life. We still need to raise $14,200 for this tour. Please be in prayer with us that God would provide this.
Bless You,
Pastor Tom
I would ask for your specific prayers for Carla. Last week she was diagnosed with cancer of the Thyroid. On the same day we also met with a specialist surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis.
Our 1st prayer request would be: That God would miraculously intervene and minister healing to her and remove the cancer.
Our 2nd request would be: If God so chooses to heal through the surgeon, that He would give wisdom and guidance to the surgeon during the 3 hour surgery, all the cancer would be successfully removed, and that she would be blessed with no infections and no complications.
Good News: 370+ people respond & pray to receive Jesus Christ during our Pacific Northwest Tour!
God again blessed us and allowed us to be a part of His great harvest of bringing souls into His kingdom. Our July tour proved to be very fruitful and fast paced. We left Bend, OR on Friday, July 25th and over the next 6 days we traveled 1,150 miles to:
Powder River Correctional Facility - Baker City, OR ~ 83 men respond/registered a decision for Christ.
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution - Pendleton, OR ~ 141 men respond/registered decision for Christ.
Innkeepers Outreach Ministry - Kennewick, WA ~ 15 men, women, & children respond/register decision.
Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women - Belfair, WA ~ 83 women respond/registered a decision.
Larch Corrections Center - Yacolt, WA ~ 30 men respond/registered decision for Christ.
Kid’s & Teen Camp at Aldersgate Family Camp - Turner, OR ~ 3 children registered a decision for Christ.
During the 5 Prison Power Explosions 387 New Believer Packets and Bible Correspondence Courses were given out to prisoners who prayed to receive Jesus Christ.
Bus Conversion Worked Great!
After a week of difficult circumstances and late night bus conversion fabrication we were able to leave for our Pacific Northwest Tour using our bus. The vehicle ran great on Bio-fuel and was able to efficiently house 8 of our Team members. We were not able to cook or shower yet but all in all we were satisfied with the capability that we had.
We are very thankful for all those who helped fabricate and construct the different items and several who worked late into the night for 3 nights preceding our Tour. There is still more to be done and we are hoping to have most of it done before we leave for the Boise, Idaho Prisons.
Bless You,
Pastor Tom
297 Prisoners Respond & Pray To Receive Jesus Christ!
On September 6th and 7th our Team traveled 670 miles roundtrip to present our Prison Power Explosions to two Idaho State Prisons. On Saturday, September 6th we spent the day inside the Idaho State Correctional Institution presenting the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the Idaho prisoners through 4 presentations to different groups inside the Institution. On Sunday, September 7th we were able to take our bus into the yard of the South Idaho Correctional Institution to present the gospel, Power Explosion style, to the prisoners who eagerly gathered to see our unique presentation of hope and salvation through Christ.
Hundreds of prisoners enthusiastically received our presentation of music, strength, skill, personal testimonies and message of freedom in Jesus Christ. At the conclusion of both days 197 prisoners had responded to the invitations, prayed to receive Christ and were given the first lesson of a free Correspondence Bible Course and New Believer packets.
Washington State Penitentiary is 281 miles northeast of us in Walla Walla, WA. This is our 12th year of taking our Prison Power Explosions to this very secure State Prison. Our Saturday presentations consisted of 3 programs at 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 6:30 PM. Attendance was smaller than usually due to changes and unrest taking place within the prison. God blessed and throughout the day 52 prisoners responded and prayed to receive Jesus Christ, registered their decision, and were given New Believer packets.
Sunday, September 14th found us entering the prison at 6:30 AM for an 8:30 start time in the West Complex yard. We were advised that we would have low attendance due to the prisoners in a lock-down incident. Our attendance was very low for this program but at the end of it 9 prisoners responded and prayed to receive Christ.
Shortly before our 12:30 PM presentation, which ended up being delayed for an hour, we were informed of the dangers involved should things get out of hand and given instructions of the protocol for these situations. As the prisoners were released into the yard at 1:30 PM this Prison Power Explosion was well attended with 250+ prisoners being released to attend. At first there was a tension in the air as rival gangs filled the prison yard but as our presentation progressed the Spirit of God settled into the yard and began changing the hearts and attitudes of the prisoners. The end result was fun and exciting as God revealed Himself to some and 39 prisoners responded, prayed to receive Christ, registered their decision, and were given New Believer packets. At the conclusion there were also a number of prisoners who lined up for special prayer requests with one of our prayer warriors.
All in all God was the glorified throughout the weekend as 100 prisoners registered a decision for Christ. We are accustomed to the difficulties and spiritual attacks that confront us when taking the gospel message of Jesus Christ into the strongholds of the devil. But where wickedness tries to reign supreme the grace of God breaks the bonds of our adversary and brings the transforming glory of God into the lives of repentant sinners. This is why we continue to take the message of hope and salvation found only in Jesus Christ into the prisons of the Pacific Northwest, Mexico and the World.
If only more of our Churches and Christians would see the necessity of boldly going and proclaiming the message of Christ to a desperate world we wouldn’t have a need to build more prisons. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matt. 9:37-38.
Bless You,
Pastor Tom
Mexico Prisons - Jan-Feb 2009:
Carla writes: What a trip! We started out a bit shaky when the head man told us we were going about it wrong. We should have started with him and not his directors. But once Tom and Raul met with him and his staff personally we got the green light and I do mean GREEN.
He sent e-mails to the prisons we were going to be at and told them to let us park the team bus in secure locations and to give us what we needed to make the programs happen.
We were very surprised at the reception we received at all but one of the prisons. They made us feel so welcome and safe. They fed us in most of the prisons. All the food was wonderful. In one prison we ate in a courtyard that had rose bushes and spearmint plants growing all-round it. It was after dark and the moon was shining down on us through a palm tree. We ate fish that had been grilled with fresh veggies on top. They also brought us breakfast the next morning and lunch after the program. It was very surreal.
The prison we did last was Nogales #1. The director really did not want us there and he was not very nice. It was the only prison where we felt like we were not welcome. The staff was very cold and not very accommodating. The one person there that opened up to us was the event coordinator and that was after we were finished and heading out. He had taken the video footage for us and after the program he told us that we need to come back soon. He said that there are many ministries that come in but the inmates do not respond to them. He really liked the way the guys got involved with us.
As a team, we realized that it wasn’t because of who we are but because of WHOSE we are. We know that it could have been anyone sitting in that surrounding not just us. The one thing that was needed was for someone to say, “Yes. We will go.” The favor of the Lord was upon us in such a great way. He had gone before us and paved the way.
The response of the inmates was overwhelming. Over half of the respondents were first time acceptance of Christ. We gave out more materials than we got decision cards back, which is usual.
Mexico Prisons: Jan-Feb 2009
Thank you for your support and your prayers.
God had given us great favor with the Government Officials and the Prison Directors (wardens). We are adding two more prisons which we will do on Feb. 13 and 14th and so far have been blessed with 898 registered decisions for Christ with 469 of them indicating a first time acceptance of Jesus Christ.
From what we are seeing about 15% of the respondents don’t fill out the decision cards and I believe it is because of some being illiterate. However they still come forward for prayer and to receive the follow up materials we give out. We ran out of Spanish New Testaments after we gave out 1,150 to the respondents. We have also given out 345 Gospels of John and Romans as well as the same amount of Spanish Living Water Booklets. In every prison except one we have worked with the prison pastors and churches for the follow up of these new believers. In each prison these churches are being strengthen and encouraged with the grace of God. The prison we did yesterday the prison pastor had a dream the night before about our Prison Power Explosions. Due to security reasons most of the prisons don’t announce our events until the day we are there.
God has given us great favor with the Government. The General Director of prisons who oversees all 15 prisons in Sonora State sent out letters to each prison instructing them to give us whatever we request and the permission to park our Bus Conversion (motor home) inside the prisons yards. The prison staffs are very accommodating and also feeding us most of our meals. We have been very blessed by this favor. We also realize that this favor is not due to ‘who we are’ but instead to ‘Whose we are’.
Two days ago in the Magdalene de Kino Prison the head Government Official showed up after our program. His swat team secured the prison just before his arrival (I was told this is normal due to his high government position). He and his staff greeted us very enthusiastically and visited with us in the Director’s (warden) office for an hour. He and his staff who are well known across Mexico will also help us go into the other states of Mexico when we are ready.
Thank you again for your support and your prayers.
This post has been removed by the author.
Mexico Prisons - April 2009
Press Release:
943 Mexican Prisoners receive Jesus Christ, 861 indicate a first time acceptance of Jesus Christ.
The Tom Flaskerud Evangelistic Association and The Freedom Team have just returned from conducting a tour of Prison Power Explosions in the remaining 7 Mexico Prisons across Sonora State.
The Team was given great favor with the Director General of Prisons and the Prison Directors (wardens). They report that their Ministry Team was eagerly received with 943 prisoners responding to their invitations to receive Christ, registering a decision for Christ with 681 of them indicating a first time acceptance of Jesus Christ.
They gave out 200 Spanish New Testaments to the respondents as well as 1290 Gospel of John and Romans and 1258 Spanish Living Water Booklets. In every prison they worked with the prison pastors and churches who are facilitating the follow up of these new believers. In each prison the churches were strengthened, encouraged, and revived in the message of the Cross.
Again, God gave the Team great favor with the Government officials as the Team parked their bus conversion motorhome inside the prisons and were fed their meals by the prison staff cooks.
The Swine Flu epidemic was announced while the team was in the prisons and their tour was cut short by one day due to the prisons closing to all outside visitors. In two prisons the doctors and medical staff used the Freedom Team equipment to communicate the announcements of the Swine Flu epidemic and the Team was able help calm the fears of the prisoners for their families and friends who would not be able to visit them during the visitor suspension.
Sonora State has a prison population of approximately 12,800 inmates (nearly twice the amount in Oregon). Since the beginning of this year the Team has visited all 15 of Sonora’s prisons and has been blessed by seeing approximately 15% of the prisoners in Sonora State make a decision for Jesus Christ. Of all the prisoners in Sonora State 10% this year have indicated a first time acceptance of Jesus Christ.
The Team is systematically working their way through the 28 States of Mexico and beginning in October the Team will be conducting their Prison Power Explosion across the prisons of Sinaloa State including the drug cartel prisons.
The Freedom Team will spend the next few months conducting Prison Power Explosions throughout the prisons here in the Pacific Northwest.
If you would like to know more information about their ministry or schedule please visit their website at: www.TheFreedomTeam.org
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