For women, the ex-offender aftercare program we offer is Lifespring, at Wayside Cross Ministries, 517 College Avenue, Aurora, Illinois 60505.  Lifespring's capacity is 57 women & children.

Lifespring provides: 

• Six-month transitional living program, (Phases I-III) with possibility of an additonal six-months (Phase IV) 
• 12-18 month additional support and stabilization after graduation
  Assessed by staff, graduates may apply for one of Lifespring’s four apartments within the building
• Linkage to various local churches for additional Bible study, church attendance and Christian guidance
• Linkage to other helping agencies in the community

Please call (630) 851-0187 or visit our website for additional information.

For men, the ex-offender aftercare program we offer is the Master’s Touch Program, at Wayside Cross Ministries, 215 East New York Street, Aurora, Illinois.  If this program interests you, some facts you need to know are:

1. You must enroll in the residential (live-in) Master’s Touch Program to live at Wayside Cross Ministries. It’s seven months minimum and all who graduate from the seven months are encouraged to continue here for up to two years, if needed. You cannot work an outside job for the first seven months. After that, you can remain on our “internal work program” (no rent), or obtain outside work and pay rent.

2. The first 30 days in the Master’s Touch is “restriction,” (60 days for repeat residents). You can go outside, but you cannot leave the property, except for Sunday church and approved activities. You really can’t have any upcoming court dates, because you’re restricted to the property for the first 30 days.

3. You cannot be on psychotropic drugs or on electronic monitoring. Other meds you’re on must be able to be covered by you or by “social services” somehow, because we don’t have the budget to purchase your meds.

4. You must be physically fit enough to be involved in some of the work around the Mission (in the kitchen, warehouse, maintenance, etc.). You must be able to read & write at least at a 3rd-grade level.

5. Registered sex offenders cannot be admitted if they're on parole, probation, or diversion.

6. Because Master’s Touch is a Bible-based, Christ-centered program, you must be interested in developing and growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

7. No one is “guaranteed” entrance. All who enter the Master’s Touch Program must enter through a face-to-face interview. This must take place at our place in Aurora. However, to hopefully ensure you “pass” your final interview, we encourage you to:
  • Call Master’s Touch Ministry Director Randy Tomassi, for a pre-screening interview. 630-723-3422 (direct line), or 888-723-5730,              8am-2pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday.
  • Receive a pre-screening acceptance letter from Mr. Tomassi.
  • Come directly from incarceration to Wayside Cross. When your parole/probation to us is approved, we will reserve a bed for you, but      your final acceptance will be determined at your face-to-face interview.

You will be able to talk with your family, assuming there are no court orders prohibiting it and they want to talk with you. They’ll be able to visit you and you’ll be able to visit them.

Daily Schedule:
Breakfast is at 6:27am.
Work assignment: 8:45 - 11:45 am
Lunch 11:55 - 12:30pm
Work assignment: 12:30 - 4 pm
Supper 4:27pm
Bed Count 9:20pm
Curfew without a pass is 9:15pm

• Shower/shave daily.
• Be clean (body & clothes) & hair combed.
• No profanity, pornography, gambling, drugs, or alcohol.
• Curfew without a late pass is 9:30pm.
• “Muscle shirts” and sideways hats are not permitted.
• Radios are only to be used with headphones.
• Outside appointments must be arranged for the day before.
• Those on “sick pass” must still go to class and when not in class are to remain in the            dorms.
• Phase 1 residents are required to attend Sexual Purity Class.
• Respect your Christian brothers!
• There are other rules, but they’re mostly just common sense.

All men on the Master’s Touch Program do receive a small monetary gift for movies, soda, and such.

Again, no one is “guaranteed” entrance. All who enter the Master’s Touch Program must enter through a face-to-face interview. This must take place at our place in Aurora. However, to hopefully ensure you “pass” your final interview, we encourage you to:
  • Call Master’s Touch Ministry Director Randy Tomassi, for a pre-screening interview. 630-  723-3422 (direct line), or 888-723-5730, ,          8am-2pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or      Friday. (Please, no collect calls.)
  • Receive a pre-screening acceptance letter from Mr. Tomassi.
  • Come directly from incarceration to Wayside Cross. When IDOC approves your parole to  us, we will reserve a bed for you, but your        final acceptance will be determined at you face-to-face interview.

Thank you!