In September of 2006, Galen, Mary, Kymberly, Clarence and Norma Kornelsen, and Steve and Jackie Wiebe united their talents to form a dynamic team. Guest speaker Jannet Abraham-Clark, formerly of the Power Team and NBC’s “Roller Jam," joined them on Saturday. Jannet also performed feats of strength on Sunday during the finale crusade.

Straight from the Heart Ministries has access to any faith-based institution within the Florida prison system. The state’s parole division recognizes the certificates held by graduates of the Truth Seminar. For these reasons, Florida is currently the focal point.

Truth Seminars have been held at:
  • Desoto Correctional Institution, Arcadia, FL,
  • Wakulla Correctional Institution, Crawfordville, FL, and
  • Gulf Correctional Institution, Wewahitchka, FL.
The chapels of these facilities fill with men seeking to discern God’s plan for their lives.

These seminars take place in February and again in September. They are held Monday to Wednesday and Thursday to Saturday with a finale crusade on Sunday. When there are more interested men in a prison than for one group, the team dedicates the entire week to teaching two groups in that prison. Otherwise, seminars take place in two prisons with one group in each.

Truth Seminars focus on incarcerated men with a passion to find God’s assignment for their lives. The course is very intense. Chaplains must look closely at each man’s spiritual maturity. Men believed to be sincere in pursuing divine truth have the privilege of attending.

This 3-day, 21-hour course takes students on a journey of honest self-examination. On the first day, each individual signs in and receives a personal Truth Journal. The journals consist of eight thought-provoking sections.

Students refer to these journals during the seminar. The men keep their journals and later complete them as they further discover their assignments. The journal’s contents will lead students to findings that may well result in one of the most defining experiences of their lives.

The seminar concludes with a graduation. Each graduate is awarded a certificate and blessed with a prayer. The finale crusade at the end of the week is open to the entire compound.

Truth Seminars enable these men to realize what went through the mind of their Creator as they were being created. The seminars and journals challenge the men to closely examine their lives to determine their purposes. Students are also encouraged to document plans and goals to assist them in beginning a new life upon release.