For more than 20 years, Tom and Randy Bevard visited Kansas prisons through Freedom Ministries.
Their “Fresh Start” events were joyous occasions, outdoor rallies featuring music, food, and most importantly, the Gospel message.
Those efforts took quite a hit over the past two years while the prisons were shut off to visitors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But now, with those COVID restrictions being lifted, the Bevards are ready to spread the Lord’s word once again — this time with classic cars as part of their revivals.
Freedom Ministries is working in conjunction with the state to offer bigger, longer rallies complete with a car show at every visit.
The plans came about after Tom Bevard began meeting over the past few months with Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda, who took office in February 2020 — just as the pandemic was beginning to shutter prisons across the country.
“We told him about our history, and he was excited to hear that we could do events once again,” Bevard said.
Zmuda, who came to Kansas from Idaho, mentioned that revivals in his previous state included car shows, and inquired about whether Freedom Ministries could add some horsepower to its message.
Bevard, also a car enthusiast, was enthralled with the idea, but there was a problem.
“The one problem, if we do have one, is the time limitations,” Bevard said.
Up to now, the Freedom Ministries visits were limited to 90 minutes or two hours — barely enough time for the cookout and message, and not nearly long enough to cram a car show into the mix.
With that in mind, Zmuda gave the green light to extend the time for each visit — up to five hours or longer.
“We will have plenty of time for the cooking and the music and the preaching,” Bevard noted.
THE VISITS will be structured, and quite obviously, monitored closely.
Each visit will begin with the car show.
Bevard has a couple of old cars he tinkers with occasionally, and hopes to get others willing to show off their classics.
