The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 8

The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 8 (1/2023)

The LOCK Ministry

Untimely passing / Unfortunate Death

On December 31, the last day of last year, our ministry team attended Brother David's funeral service. It was a sad funeral service because we had to send him away, who finished his life at such a young age of 32. For the first time in 4 years since the start of our ministry, this was the first funeral service where we sent away someone we cared for.

About a year and a half ago, Brother David's mother came to our office and introduced her son. She asked us to pray for her son who was addicted to drugs. He served time in San Bernardino County Jail due to drug addiction and was released a few months ago. In early November, he was connected with the brothers of our LOCK Community and went to church together to worship. All of our ministry team had been praying for David for a long time, and several brothers began to visit and exhort him in faith. At the end of November last year, our brothers had the opportunity to celebrate David's 32nd birthday. We had great expectations because he seemed to be more comfortable coming out to church. However, David could not be contacted around noon on December 17th, and when his mother opened the locked door and went in, she found David's body already cold. It is a sudden death from a heart attack. Although the exact cause of death is unknown, a drug overdose is suspected.

Many people die each year from drug overdose in the United States. According to recent statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people who died from opioid and fentanyl overdose in 2021 exceeded 140,000. In particular, countless people are losing their lives due to illegal drugs manufactured in China and smuggled through Mexico.

Inside this issue

Unfortunate Death.........................................1
LOVE Ministry....................................................2
Jail/Prison Visits/Counseling...................2
LEARN Ministry.................................................2
P1 PROJECT.........................................................2
P1 PROJECT Volunteers/Mentors.........3
P1 PROJECT Fund...........................................3
LIVE Ministry.......................................................4
Potter's Hands Project.................................4
LOCK Community...........................................6

There was an expectation that a new life would begin with faith, but it is truly regrettable that David was sent away so early. Above all, thinking that if we had tried to help him a little earlier and with a little more urgency, we would have been able to save him. On the last day of 2022, David’s early departure gave us an opportunity to reflect what was truly needed in our ministry. In particular, we feel the need for a sense of urgency in our ministry. In order to save one more soul, we will have to rescue them from darkness more quickly. We must have a sense of urgency that there will be no opportunity other than today. In 2023, our ministry needs to go forward with determination. We will have to pray for God's help more urgently while facing the reality of America that is rotting due to growing drug addictions.

LOVE Ministry - Love Of Christ’s Kingdom

Jail/Prison Visits/Counseling

Brother Robert was released from prison after serving 22 years in prison in 2019, attended church with us, and was able to get baptized. He often came to our office to help with our Potter's Hands Project. But he was found in possession of a weapon while on parole and was again sentenced to four years in prison. He will finally be released in June of this year. He was originally being cared for by the SM Prison Ministry of the Valley Korean United Methodist Church, and after being released from prison, we were able to share a deep friendship. Last week I got a call from Robert in prison. Since our ministry has a lot of inmates we care for, it is a rule not to receive collect calls from inmates, but it was a direct call from a cell phone.

Among the P1 PROJECT participants, a white inmate named Duane will be released in February this year. He is a brother who sets an example for others of the P1 PROJECT in transcribing the Bible and R&A (reflection and application). However, since he is in the same prison as Robert, they met by chance and called me using Duane's cell phone. I have heard that there were inmates having a cell phone, but this was the first time I have experienced a direct call from an inmate. Many California inmates are now being provided with devices like iPADs, making phone calls and emails for free. Even though he has been in prison for a long time, he is now experiencing all the new civilizations of the world. Therefore, we felt that our ministry also needs change and progress. We are continuing jail and prison visits and care as time permits.

LEARN Ministry - Learn On Christ’s Kingdom

P1 Project

C.S Lewis (1898-1963), who is respected by many Christians, and the atheistic psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) are well-known scholars of their time, but they have worldviews and values that are in stark contrast. But one thing they had in common was that people all want to be happy. The P1 PROJECT can find its role and purpose in Psalms 1:1- 2. “Blessed are those who delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night.” Here the phrase “blessed are those” refers to people who pursue physical, mental, and spiritual happiness. The cumulative number of participants in the P1 PROJECT exceeded 650.

Although the depth of each P1 PROJECT participant is different, it is clear that they are living a happier life. Each person's past and experiences are different, but after hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and experiencing salvation, I often hear through testimonies that their lives are enriched and happy through the Word of God every day. Currently, many inmates in 32 out of 35 State prisons in California have matured in faith through the Word of God, repented of their foolish past, restored their relationship with their families, and made new and fruitful plans for the future.

The prison with the most participants is the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Norco, with nearly 200 inmates participating in the P1 PROJECT. Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California Institution for Men in Chino, Avenal State Prison, Corcoran State Prison, and North Kern State Prison in Delano are right behind in numbers of inmates participating in the P1 PROJECT.

Over the past 6 months, several new members have started serving as volunteers/mentors. Since August of last year, two people (Mark Kim and Danny Kim) who are working as public defenders in Orange County volunteered as mentors. Assistant Pastor Jason Kim is a person who volunteered for our ministry after serving in the US Army for decades and completing the seminary recently. Currently taking care of three P1 PROJECT participants, based on his own rich life experience, he began his role as a life-changing mentor for many souls and will have a powerful influence on many inmates in the future. Last December, the Mission Department of Glory Church of Jesus Christ located in Los Angeles visited our office, and Deaconess Yongsoon Kook and Deacon Jacquline Sung volunteered as mentors. In addition, Jennifer Yi and Christy Im from Hillside Church also started as new mentors.

P1 PROJECT Volunteers/Mentors

Although the current cumulative number of P1 PROJECT participants has exceeded 650, the number of P1 PROJECT participants is far short of what is desired given the fact that there are close to 200,000 inmates in 35 prisons and 150 county jails in California. That's about 0.3% of inmates. Therefore, there is no end to what we can expand, and P1 PROJECT must continue to grow and expand. So volunteers and financial support are absolutely necessary. Volunteers serve as catalysts for new life by becoming mentors to the P1 PROJECT participants and bringing new electricity into their lives.

P1 PROJECT Fund

The second factor essential to the expansion of the P1 PROJECT is financial support. The P1 PROJECT is basically a project that gives inmates $1 per chapter when transcribing the Bible, a starting bonus of $20 when the Gospel of Matthew is finished, a second bonus of $30 when they finish all of the New Testament, and a special bonus of $100 when they finish the Old Testament. Since there are 1,189 chapters of the Bible, it costs $1,339 including the bonus when a participant finishes transcribing the whole Bible.

On December 8th, the day we gave the ministry report at Beautiful Church, Pastor Seung Hee Ko suggested that we start the P1 PROJECT Fund. The P1 PROJECT fund is $1,200 for each account, and those who have one account will support one P1 PROJECT participant until the entire Bible transcription is completed. Therefore, P1 PROJECT participants are connected with mentors and fund supporters, and will receive prayer, exhortation, and financial support until the entire Bible is finished. Since it is $1,200, you can pay it as a lump sum, or if you pay $100 a month, the account deposit will be completed in one year and $50 in two years. You can give the fund mainly through Zelle thelockministry@gmail.com or send a check to our office. We are starting the P1 PROJECT Fund knowing that God had prepared the idea of financial support for the P1 PROJECT.

LIVE Ministry - Live Out Christ’s Kingdom

Potter’s Hands Project

The Potter's Hands Project was created to provide vocational training to people coming out of prison or recovering from drug addiction. In February 2021, we bought embroidery equipment for the first time, and in early 2022, we purchased Direct-To-Garment (DTG) equipment. With that preparation, we became ready to handle businesses putting various shapes of letters, logos, and photos on hats, polo shirts, t-shirts, towels, and bags. In addition, one Epson F2000 Printer along with a hot press and a pre-treatment equipment were donated in September of last year, and now we are able to deliver most garment decoration business with sufficient quantities.

According to last year's financial report, the Potter's Hands Project experienced a loss of about $33,000, but since $23,000 was spent on equipment purchases, the net loss would be about $10,000. Therefore, it is now considered very possible for the Potter's Hands Project to break even. Of course, the biggest cost is the labor cost paid to the trainees. Last year, we were able to support two full-time trainees. Since the main purpose of the Potter's Hands Project is to help people maintain stable jobs through our job training, it is essential to provide the training with a full salary.

The trainees who were educated through the Potter's Hands Project last year were brothers Jayson and William. Brother Jayson went on his own on August 15 last year after a 7-month training course. Brother Jayson is currently in charge of children's ministry at the Hillside Church Brea campus and is still helping out with sales for the Potter's Hands Project as a freelancer. Brother William started working as a trainee in June of last year and will complete his training on January 31 this year and become independent.

Our hope for 2023 is for the Potter's Hands Project to expand the number of trainees to at least 4 people. The cost to achieve the plan would be between $80,000 to $100,000, including labor and incidental costs. Business experience over the past year has shown that most customers will place repeat orders. Therefore, we must do our best to make quality products, and we need to pay more attention to large orders coming from churches and corporations. Furthermore, we need to maximize online orders through our website. Of course, the Potter's Hands Project doesn't have to be limited to embroidery or garment printing businesses. Food truck and restaurant operations, carpentry, plumbing, and many more possibilities await. We pray that our ministry of saving and changing more souls by responding sensitively to God's guidance may continue to develop.

LA Insurance is an insurance company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Over the past year, LA Insurance has placed three product orders, mostly for embroidery orders, for a variety of products including polo shirts, blazers and jackets. The amount ordered by LA Insurance is more than 40% of the Potter's Hands Project's annual sales. This proves how important repeat orders are from the companies.

The next place that continually placed orders was a Beautiful Church in Rowland Heights. Over the past year, Beautiful Church has placed several orders for Korean language school, summer Vacation Bible School, winter Vacation Bible School, and Youth Winter Retreat. Also, the Beautiful Church, Regina campus in Canada, ordered a summer Vacation Bible school.

WeFarm Organics is also a repeat order company. In particular, WeFarm continued to place orders for various products such as hats (embroidery), backpacks (embroidery), jackets (printing), and shirts (printing). Beautiful Church and WeFarm are not only customers, but also joined us in our ministry as financial support organizations.

Sunny Hills High School has also repeatedly ordered embroidery and printing, although not in large quantities. In addition, there were orders from many customers such as Noah's Ark Pre-school, Berendo Street Baptist Church, Heungsadan, Didomie Tribe Ministries, and Prodigal Project. We are going to expand our customer base to additional churches and businesses to increase repeat orders as we continue to improve our product quality.

LOCK Community

On September 13th of last year, Brother Chad (third from the right in the picture) visited our office. As the number of participants in the P1 PROJECT increased, some of them started to visit us after completing their sentences and being released from prison. Those who had been doing well in the P1 PROJECT and have been released from prison mostly continue relationships with us. Brothers Isaac, Peter, Kim, Mike, Albert, John, Steve and Scott continue to have close relationships with us either through face-to-face meetings or text messaging when they still have restrictions. Among them, Brother Chad was able to visit our office after his parole was over. All the people who fellowship through P1 PROJECT become members of the LOCK Community. Brother Chad is originally a descendant of native Hawaiians, and he shared his wonderful testimony of the P1 PROJECT. Recently he moved back to Hawaii and settled down there.

Not long ago we visited the Hillside Church Brea Campus and were able to hear brother David Park preach. It is very moving to hear a member of the LOCK Community preaches as a pastor. Hillside Church is a partner of our ministry, and brothers such as David, Danny, Jason, and Jayson are our LOCK Community members who are attending Hillside Church now. It is a great joy to see them grow in their journey of faith. We thank God for a wonderful partnership with Hillside Church. We can recommend Hillside Church for the people coming out of incarceration with the confidence that they will be well cared for.

Recently, we started a fellowship with Set Free Church, a Southern Baptist church with ministries and facilities that care for the homeless and the addicts. We recently visited the Set Free Church LA campus and we were visited by Pastor Iron Eagle(Native American - second from left) and his associate. We look forward to many collaborations with them in the future.

Prayer Requests

1. For more P1 PROJECT volunteers/ mentors and P1 PROJECT Fund.

2. For the expansion of the Potter’s Hands Project customers.

3. For brother William’s future as he completes the training.

4. For our online business, 5. For the spiritual growth of LOCK Community members.