Contact: Jeremy Watson, Christian Library International, 919-790-6987

RALEIGH, N.C., July 14, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian Library International, a Raleigh-based national prison ministry, invites the public to attend an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19. The new ministry's office is located at 4724 Hargrove Rd., Ste. 100, Raleigh, NC 27616.

CLI sends donated Bibles and Christian books to 1,450 correctional facilities in all 50 states. The ministry also answers inmate letters and offers a free Bible study to inmates through the mail.

Former inmate John Reutcke will be in attendance to share how the ministry helped him during his incarceration.

"The ministry gave me the opportunity to learn a new way of life while I was incarcerated," Reutcke said. "Upon leaving prison I started volunteering for the ministry and will continue to do so here in Raleigh."

Volunteers who write letters to inmates, review inmate lessons, and pack boxes of Christian books will also be on hand. Guests will have the opportunity to write notes to inmates and decorate a huge map of prisons CLI serves. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.

This year marks CLI's 20th anniversary. Executive Director Kathleen Skaar started the ministry in 1996 with a single bookcase at the A.E. Finley YMCA in Raleigh.

CLI initially sent Bibles and Christian books wherever they were needed in 42 countries around the world.

But in 2004, the ministry later narrowed its focus to prison ministry because of the tremendous need for donated Christian materials in the prisons.

More information can be found on CLI's website, www.cli.world. Please call 919-790-6987 to RSVP.