JAN/FEB 2012 Gary Benjamin Embraces Benjamin knows what a hard road that can be to travel. NPC Mission He remembers well what another inmate told him while Travis Cravey, NPC Case Manager he was in prison, serving five years: “That’s five years you’ll never get back.” Those words affected Benjamin. Gary Benjamin, House Manager at New Person Center, remembers well the day He started taking math courses in prison. He ended up he met John Rush. Benjamin’s father, who had begun corresponding with Rush taking six Bible courses as well. He worked his way from even before his son was released from prison, had set up a meeting for Benjamin Educational Curriculum Coordinator to Database Techni- and Rush to meet. They had decided on a coffee shop halfway between Reading and cian for the prison’s GED program. Cross Keys, PA, where Benjamin had been staying with his parents for three days Benjamin has not been wasting his time while at NPC, after his release. either. As House Manager, he orders food for the pro- After the interview was over, Rush asked Benjamin’s father when Benjamin might gram, keeps track of the guys’ program fees, and ensures be ready to move in. “How about now?” his father asked. And Benjamin took the that other staff are constantly apprised of the residents’ clothes he had packed in the back of his father’s car and loaded them into Rush’s. comings and goings. As if that weren’t enough to keep That was July 2009. Since that beginning, Benjamin has lived in every NPC resi- him busy, Benjamin recently received his Associates of dence and has filled various roles, including resident, trustee, and now house man- Applied Science degree at ITT Technical Institute and ager. earned membership in the National Technical Honor Benjamin has seen many men receive help at New Person Center. He believes that Society. the structured environment that NPC offers has a lot to do with the men’s success, Benjamin continues to think about the future. He but knows, in the end, that the men themselves are responsible for their own ac- hopes to one day open a similar Christian transitional tions. “We can’t do it for them. The guys who succeed are genuine. They genuinely program in the Hanover area to help more of the hun- want to succeed,” he says. dreds of men who are still sitting in prison simply be- cause they do not have a home plan. New Person Ministries, Inc. “Had I not been arrested I wouldn’t have given a place like this a second thought,” Benjamin says. He is very Address aware of how much NPC has helped him and eager to use what he has learned to help others. Whether it’s making New Person Center offers New Person Ministries sure food orders are adequate or making sure new cli- transitional help to selected ents feel welcome, Gary Benjamin has internalized the PO Box 223 newly released male prison- mission of New Person Center. Reading, PA 19607 ers. During this very needy time the basics for survival like shelter, food, clothing, Email Address gainful employment and sup- [email protected] portive care are the focus. Benjamin New Person Center serves at recently earned his associates several locations and is an degree. Office Phone entity of the faith-based 610-777-2222 New Person Ministries, Inc. www.newpersonministries.org Justice welcomes others to join in the ministry of letter writ- In a December email, this came from a ing. He also welcomes contributions for the ministry which spends about $10,000 a year on postage, paper, ink, cards, Bi- prison counselor: “We are very bles, and follow up materials. Purpose Ministries is currently working on getting a tax deductible status for contributions. For further information, Purpose Ministries can be contacted at: fortunate to have a program [email protected] such as yours. Thanks!” Jeanette Christophel Clergy Corner Ministry Writes Letters With a Purpose From the Mountain of David Justice, of Allentown, from the Salem Bible Church in Transfiguration to a Life McKungie, has always had a passion for men’s ministries. About three years ago he started writing letters to several prisoners. Those prisoners came to accept Christ and shared their faith with of Transformation other prisoners who then also needed discipling. Today, Purpose Up on the mountain top, Peter, James and John had the amazing Ministries, the ministry that Justice founded to respond to that experience of seeing Jesus transfigured in all His glory right be- need, receives and responds to 30-40 letters a week from prison- fore their very own eyes. It was so amazing that Peter wanted to ers. stay there and build on the mountain top “The Tabernacle of Purpose Ministries writes to prisoners in 6-8 states. They corre- Transfiguration”. But instead the voice of God silenced his lofty plans and Jesus charged them instead to get down off the moun- spond with any prisoner, regardless of the severity of their crime or the length of their sentence. They write to lifers and to those on tain into the valley of the real world with real pressures and real demons! (Luke 9:28-42). How often we think that God is only in death row, as well as to prisoners that may be in for only 2-3 years those “mountain top experiences”, but in reality He wants to visit for drugs or petty theft. us with His power and glory in the real world we all live in. The mission of Purpose There are two words in the New Testament used for the word Ministries is to mentor and disciple incarcerated “transformation”. The first is “metaschematizo”, which means to men and to provide them change one’s outward form; to disguise yourself (see 2 Cor. 11:14). The other is “metamorphoo”, which means to change with a path to scriptur- ally and spiritually build who you are; an internal change; not merely a change of outward appearance, but a a strong foundation in change of essence (see Rom. 12:2). Jesus Christ. The goal is to not only prepare them Like the early apostles, we can have amaz- to be stronger in prison, ing outward experiences with God on the but to prepare them to be mountain top. But there is something able to face the world greater that He wants to work in each of us: with a focus on Christ, He wants to transform our lives, from the when and if they are re- inside out! And then He will send us to the leased. Justice and other valleys, where the broken need this same writers share the gospel transforming power to change their lives!! David Justice on a recent visit to the with the prisoners and Pastor Craig Nanna NPM administrative office. invite them to pray the Pastor Craig Nanna, “sinner’s prayer”. After that, they provide the prisoners with a Reading DOVE Christian Ministry Center Bible and get them started on a Bible correspondence course. Throughout the process, the letters of encouragement and sup- port flow. As they study, the men’s lives begin to change, and they share their newfound faith with their friends. Then, there are new Save the Date! prisoners to write to. 2/4/12 Awareness Breakfast at Old Country Buffet, Justice says, “To hear back that they’re sharing their faith and Wyomissing, 8-10 am RSVP at 610-777-2222 that they are into a Bible study, and they’re asking questions that 3/6/12 Spring Banquet at Conestoga Mennonite Church, show me that they’re reading the Bible…it’s such a joy.” Morgantown, PA, 6:30 pm, Speaker: Judge Scott Lash Fallen Evangelist Restored to Ministry Reverend Phil Ludwick, age 45, the son of a pastor in the coal know what that person went through --maybe not the exact same region of Pennsylvania, was saved at the age of 13 and later re- thing, but you know what it is to fall.” Ludwick continues: “So you ceived his call to ministry at a youth rally. He went on to study at don’t have to be depressed and down. You know that God will a Bible college and received a bachelor’s degree in theology, a take you right back. His love is unconditional. His mercy is ever- master’s degree in religious education, and a doctorate in Chris- lasting.” tian counseling. Ludwick’s ministry was mainly a traveling, evan- gelistic ministry, up and down the east coast , into the south, and Jeanette Christophel as far west as Missiouri. Like so many, Ludwick’s downfall was involvement in an adult chat room. He was arrested in a sting operation and was sentenced to 10-23 months in prison. Housing for Returning Ludwick served a year in the Monroe County Prison and then was released to the care of New Person Center in November Citizens a Great Need 2010. He believes that God worked everything out for him to be New Person Center in Reading, PA is a transitional housing min- at New Person Center. Ironically, he already knew John Rush as a istry for newly released, selected, male prisoners. It is one pro- colleague from his own involvement as a volunteer with Yokefel- gram, among others statewide, that provides stable housing for lowship at the state prison in Frackville. Ludwick stayed at NPC those who are repentant, desire to serve God, and agree to basic around five months before finding his own housing. On October rules.