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2025 | January

WHAT YOU GIVE


Dear John,


While we always appreciate letters from BTL graduates, we especially enjoy when they praise our volunteers! In the letter you see here, a graduate from our program at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Houston lists the gifts he received from one of the BTL volunteers who supported his journey:


  • time
  • prayer
  • encouragement to speak
  • making a difference in his life
  • peace with himself


In 2024, 751 BTL volunteers gave 66,050 hours of service valued at more than $2.1 million! This year, our goal is to have 850 active volunteers on the BTL team. If serving with BTL has made a difference in your life, would you please consider inviting two or three others into this transformational process? As this graduate wrote to the volunteer who helped him change his life, "You didn't have to, but I'm sure glad you did."


In gratitude,

John Sage, Founder/CEO

Jim Buffington, COO



WHAT YOU RECEIVE

Back in 2020, when prisons were closed due to the pandemic, you may remember a survey we sent out asking what you missed most about volunteering for BTL. We hope these words are inspiring reminders of why you do what you do:


"I miss gathering together with our classes and giving new hope to all of our inmates as they prepare for their new life beginnings."


"I love seeing the complete transformation of each and every man in our small group. I get so much satisfaction when I know that I made a difference in just one life of one of our men."


"I miss seeing the twinkle in their eyes when they see you! The love in the groups is unbelievable! You really become family and I miss them so much!"


"BTL allows you to experience what volunteering is like when you literally have nothing you can give except your time and presence... and how deeply powerful those two things are."


"I miss most listening to inmates tell their stories of their personal struggles with anger and with forgiveness, particularly their own self-forgiveness. I miss being alongside them as they understand that with God's help their struggle can be overcome and they can return to a life with hope."


"Volunteering for this particular program has been food to my soul. The inmates help me learn and heal just as much as I pray that I am helping them along the way."  


"I miss making a difference. I miss seeing someone 'wake up' to what they have been doing to themselves, their families, their victims, their victim's families. I miss helping people reclaim their humanity."


NEW YEAR REMINDERS

Check out the new dates for BTL projects

in Texas on our website here:

SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

BTL logo t-shirts, mugs, caps, tote bags and more

are available online!

BTL MERCH

Volunteers in Texas, are you current with your TDCJ training?

BTL volunteers must get recertified every 2 years.*

TDCJ TRAINING

*Contact your Regional Coordinator if you're unsure about

your last certification date. Retraining can be done online.