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Our History
ConquestHouse, Inc. dba Conquest Reintegration Ministries was established in December 1995 in the midst of a well-quoted but troubling statistic published in 1983 by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics: nationwide, 62.5 percent of released prisoners were rearrested within three years of release. Figures from the DC Department of Corrections, however, indicated a higher rate of 75 percent in the District of Columbia. At the time, there were virtually no services for released prisoners, and they had to fend for themselves, resulting in a severely high rate of return to prison.
One such released prisoner came home after spending almost half of his 60 years in prison for possession and sale of drugs. Bobby Barnes found solace and comfort in the teachings of Rev. Paul L Gaskins, a local pastor who had been visiting Lorton Correctional Facility to conduct religious services. After his release from prison and a short stay at a halfway house, Bobby was invited to move in with Gaskins and his wife, Belinda. “My new friends have expressed a kind of love I’ve never experienced,” he said. “Agape love.” The Gaskins eased the stressful period following his release from Lorton. “I didn’t know how to live outside prison,” confided Bobby. “Now I can live with simplicity.”
Many good things followed. He found a job at a local employment agency. He reunited with his wife, who had divorced him because of his drug use. He was ordained a minister in Gaskins’ church, Christian Conquest Fellowship. And now, seeing many men and women fall by the wayside because they did not have the support system he had, he was determined to provide help for other ex-prisoners coming out of Lorton. He partnered with two other members of his church who were sympathetic to the plight of ex-prisoners, and ConquestHouse, Inc. was birthed in December 1995 as a 501(c)(3) corporation. We are not a church, but we work with churches and other community agencies and the government to accomplish our mission.
“We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us”
The statement is from Romans 8:37 in the Bible. It is the principle under which our ministry operates. We are helping our clients conquer the problems in their lives through love and compassionate outreach. It is what helped Bobby. It is what drives us.
As men and women of God who desire to be witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the mission of ConquestHouse, Inc. is to:
1) seek out, support, assist, encourage and enlighten those who have had experiences with the criminal justice system, in order to:
- Help them to resist the lure of crime and negative thinking
- help them become responsible, law-abiding, self-sufficient citizens
- Demonstrate the love of God through compassionate social service in a way that fosters spiritual, social, financial, familial, mental and physical well-being.
- Share Christ through the written and spoken word
2) Educate and train the community of the need to become more acceptable of those who have had experiences with the criminal justice system.
While motivated by the Christian faith in our outreach, our mission is non-exclusive: we provide services to people of all faiths, races, creeds, and backgrounds. No one is required to take advantage of any faith-based component of our services.
Prison Fellowship
Ministries
National prison ministry dedicated to sharing the Gospel with prisoners,
ex-prisoners, and their families.
Web Site of another of our ministry partners, headed by Board member Min. James Jenkins.
The web site of Christian Conquest Fellowship, pastored by Bishop Paul L Gaskins
A relief, service, and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. MCC reflects the biblical call to care for the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick and those in prison.
National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
Founded in 1981 by Robert L. Woodson, Sr.,
the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise provides effective
community and faith-based organizations with training and technical
assistance, links them to sources of support, and evaluates their
experience for public policy.
Societal problems addressed by NCNE's grassroots network include youth
violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, homelessness, joblessness, poor
education and deteriorating neighborhoods.
ConquestHouse, Inc.
Board of Directors and Advisors as of January 30, 2008
President
Rev Paul L Gaskins
Pastor, Christian Conquest Fellowship, Washington, DC.
Secretary
Minister Laverne Brewster
Sr. Case Manager, ConquestHouse
Treasurer
Minister Dottie Powell
Christian Conquest Fellowship
Board Members
Rev Louis Jones
Executive Director, ConquestHouse, Inc.
Rev Sharon Best
Love Covers All Ministries
Pamela Hyman
US Postal Service
© 2004-2008 ConquestHouse, Inc.