Recently, Executive Director Michael Swiger and True Freedom Ministries received two awards from the Lorain County Chapter of the NAACP.  Michael received the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for his leadership.  This is the NAACP’s highest award given to an individual.  In addition, True Freedom Ministries was identified as the organization with the greatest impact in changing the culture at the Grafton Reintegration Center and Grafton Correctional Institution.  In recognition of this fact, TFM received the NAACP’s 2023 Humanitarian Award…

True Freedom Ministries partnered with The Ropheka Connection in January 2023 to take the “Foundation for Achievement” program into the Department of Youth Services at Circleville Juvenile Correction. Originally from the LaRed Foundation in Berlin, Ohio, this helpful series teaches four values, each of which breaks down into principles, taught by our trained facilitators on a weekly basis. Here’s what students are saying: “This program helped me think…

On March 7th, our new Director of Staff and Ministry, Jessica McCamon, introduced TFM’s eight-week Workforce Readiness Program to the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility. Jennifer Boswell, Joseph Marsilio, Mark Dobrinski, Chaplain Sands, and Mike Swiger were also instrumental in this process. Facilitators for this class teach a combination of hard and soft skills to prepare students for the workplace and life. Through a variety of creative teaching strategies students learn respect, motivation, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork…

True Freedom sponsored a unique event at Grafton Correctional in conjunction with the inmate-led group called Going Home to Stay. The morning started off with a worship service. Michael Swiger shared an encouraging message of hope accompanied by the musical group Renovare. Participants enjoyed a lunch of grilled chicken, hamburgers, potato salad, and cake. In the afternoon, festivities included games, music, cornhole competition, and a hole-in-one contest, complete with prizes…

My wife June and I moved to the Cleveland area in the summer of 2018 for new employment. We had prayed that this was the right decision as we left our church, friends, and family behind.  Well, not only did God answer our prayers with a new church, but by His Providence within a couple of weeks we heard Mike Swiger’s testimony.  I was searching for a new ministry--a new race to run. God answered the desires of my heart by putting David Wessel and True Freedom into my life. I now have the privilege to co-facilitate a..

At the Juvenile Justice Center this month, we started Sunday afternoon worship services. At 2:00 pm, I go to the assigned House for the day and spend time with the three Pods separately. I pass out sheet music to the youth and teach them the songs. I teach the standard hymns of the faith like Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, and Farther Along! Before you know it, we have a choir singing together and sounding good. They are amazed that…

Every year Homeless Ministry Director Dave Sudnick and volunteers distribute winter hats and gloves to the residents of the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries Men’s Shelter. The shelter is located at 2100 Lakeside Avenue and is temporary home to around 250 men each day. The facility provides beds, meals, and a lot more. Those staying at the shelter need personal hygiene items, socks, underwear, clothing, shoes, hats, gloves, and coats. Those moving out need pots and pans, dishes…

For the men of Creative Ink Printing, True Freedom’s accredited apprenticeship program at Grafton Reintegration Center, Family Day was filled with unimaginable joy. This event, sponsored by True Freedom, was a celebration of those who have completed the 4000-hour curriculum to become Journeymen Screen Printers. Participating inmates were thrilled to share a meal with family members, in some cases tearfully and for the first time in 35 years. The food was excellently prepared by the executive chef of…

I have the opportunity to regularly go into the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. There are five areas called “houses” where the youth stay. On Valentine’s Day we did something special for the girls in House 3! We were able to give each girl a flower and a chocolate bar. I made Valentine’s Day cards, which, on the inside, said, “You Are Special’ and “God Made You” along with Bible verses. The whole card unfolded, giving salvation-oriented Scripture verses, a paragraph entitled “Read This Before Praying the Prayer Below,” and “A Suggested Prayer for A Sincere Heart.” I was able to speak…

I was raised in church all my life and thought I had life figured out. That changed in 2018 when I was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.  At the time, I thought my life was over, but prison would turn out to be one of my greatest blessings.

It started in Lorain Correctional.  That’s where I met Mike Swiger from True Freedom Ministries. Mike has a gift to teach, and the Lord used him to reprogram my mind with biblical truth in those weekly Bible studies.  After transferring to Grafton Correctional, I participated in TF’s offender-led technology computer courses, which equipped me for employment upon release.  Dave Wessel taught their ALPHA program, and that challenged me to…

In January 2018 I accepted the position as program aide for TFM’s Grafton Reintegration Institution location. This has been an honorable and rewarding endeavor. I’ve been privileged to work with distinguished individuals whom I hold in high regard. True Freedom Ministries has afforded me the opportunity to live out my ministry of reconciliation. Thanks to Mike Swiger, the late Gary Koly, Bill Holko, Tom Spernoga, Dave Wessel, Ted Wood, Mark Stradiot, and Don Talladino…

The impact True Freedom has had on my life is second to none, in regard to prison ministry. I was introduced to True Freedom early on in my incarceration when I was around 20 years old. At the time I considered myself a believer, but I struggled with believing the supernatural stories I read in the Bible. I was a big overthinker, and I questioned everything. Then one day my brother in the faith, Joseph Gray, invited me to a Bible study led by a guy named Mike Swiger. I initially had my reservations, but little did I know that this would be a pivotal moment in my walk with Christ…

At the Lorain Correctional Institution, the Bible study on Thursday mornings begins at 9:00 am. I normally arrive at 8:30 am, so I can participate in singing. The band consists of an excellent trumpet player, a guitarist, an organist, two great vocalists, and me. The praise and worship is powerful and majestic, preparing us all for a great time in the Word of God for the next hour and a half. At the end of the study, we close in prayer to a Mighty and Awesome King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I leave prison filled…

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cleveland is the poorest big city in America, with 20,000 homeless people living on our streets. 33% of Clevelanders live in poverty while 50% of Cleveland’s children live below the poverty line. Because of your generosity, True Freedom can provide…

-By Matt Lewandowski
After my release from prison 15 years ago, I’m happy to report 9 years of sobriety. I attend Celebrate Recovery at a church in Rock Creek Ohio, and I regularly praise the Lord at Pentecostal Community in Jefferson, Ohio. Recently, I took a job as a medical driver, transporting cancer patients for treatment and kidney patients for dialysis. It’s good to give back…

My name is John Bragg, and I am originally from the Toronto, Canada area. I moved to Ohio in 1981 after meeting a woman from Brunswick, who later became my wife. Life seemed good; I drove semitrucks for a living and had my motorcycle. I was involved with a local bike club in the Cleveland area. Still, I didn’t feel happy, and I didn’t understand why. Before long, I found trouble, which eventually led me to a life sentence in prison. God wanted to…

This year I have had the opportunity to minister in several prisons. In addition to the facilities I regularly visit, I’ve also gone into Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution (with Pastor David Hill), Dayton Correctional Institution (a women’s prison), Correctional Reception Center, and Pickaway Correctional Institution. Lebanon Correctional Institution and Marion Correctional Institution are also on my schedule, and I am trying to confirm entrance into Southeastern Correctional Institute and Belmont Correctional Institute. To summarize…

We have now completed two rounds of Christian Character Development classes at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Center in Massillon, Ohio. I point the guys to Christ and give practical tips for life. Eight young men have successfully completed the classes and received certificates! We also celebrated with a pizza party. We have recently started our 3rd round of this class. I will also be presenting this program to Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Detention Center in October for probable future programming there. Please pray that these young men will come to know Jesus Christ…

I met 5 boys ranging from 15 to 17 years old--all guilty of committing murder. To look at them, you would never expect it. One by one they shared their stories with me. These young men know they are looking at 25 to 30 years in prison. Every one of them asked for prayer. Every one of them now…