The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 11
The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 11 (7/2/2024)
The LOCK Ministry
Annual Celebration 2024
On April 21st, starting at 4:00 PM, our ministry held its biggest celebration event, the Annual Celebration 2024. This gathering was for all our partners, supporters, and brothers and sisters connected through our ministry. Particularly, Duane Bennett, who was baptized on November 11th last year, shared his testimony about the amazing grace he experienced through the P1 PROJECT. He was released from prison in August last year and lives in Blythe. He drove three and a half hours to join us, spending two nights and three days with us, and shared his moving testimony at the Annual Celebration 2024. He began the P1 PROJECT and spent two years transcribing the entire Bible, with profound reflections and applications. He was released in August 2023 and has been living a healthy life since. His baptism in front of our ministry team was not only his testimony but also a great joy for our ministry.
Following that, Pastor Sam Choi, representing 35 mentors who care for over 1,100 P1 PROJECT participants, shared inspiring experiences from the mentorship work. Brother Jayson, who shared his testimony from the Potter’s Hands Project, talked about his life during the seven months he participated in the project and his life thereafter. He got married last year and is expecting his first child soon. It was a truly beautiful testimony that brought hope to our ministry.
For the first time, we introduced the Potter’s House Project. Although we are still in the preparation stage and have just started the Potter’s House Fund, this facility aims to help those released from prison and those seeking freedom from drug addiction. We pray for the facilities to be established soon.
We express our deepest gratitude to Beautiful Church for providing the venue, Pastor Ko Seunghee for delivering the message, the Beautiful Choir and Praise Team, everyone who coordinated the program perfectly through printing programs and the broadcasting room, and the Women’s Missionary members who graciously served dinner. We also thank Ms. Won Soonil, Brother Jason Menjivar, and Sister Sharon Kim for their special music performances. We extend our gratitude to the 4,050 pastors, their spouses, and many brothers from the LOCK Community who worked hard on parking, guiding, and offering collection. Clearly, this celebration was prepared and led by God. We praise God. Hallelujah!
Inside this issue
LOVE Ministry..................................2
Norco Prison Visit..........................2
LEARN Ministry..............................2
P1 PROJECT ....................................2
P1 PROJECT
Female Participants.....................3
P1 PROJECT Complete
and P1 Prime....................................3
The LOCK Ministry News............4
First Penguin...................................4
Our Team Members.....................4
LIVE Ministry....................................5
Potter's Hands Project.................5
Potter's House Project................6
LOVE Ministry - Love Of Christ’s Kingdom
Norco Prison Visit
Early in May, we had the opportunity to visit Norco Prison for the first time in a while. When we first started our ministry, we focused entirely on second-generation Korean Americans. In early 2018, we met a 19year-old second-generation Korean youth at Orange County Jail, and from there, our ministry began as we sought out many other second-generation Koreans who were incarcerated. In fact, the first and second inmates to complete the entire Bible transcription through the P1 PROJECT were Koreans. However, now that the total number of P1 PROJECT participants has exceeded 1,100, the proportion of Koreans is less than 5%.
Among the P1 PROJECT participants, Brother J, a second-generation Korean, is very diligently transcribing and meditating on the Bible. Although he fell into drug addiction early on and eventually ended up in prison, he is a young man who has resolved to change through the Word of God. Like many drug addicts, Brother J had lost connection with his family. He is set to be released in August but was struggling with the thought of having no family to return to. After our team visit, the first thing we did was to search for and locate his family. By God's guidance, we were able to find them and even confirmed that his parents were eager to see him.
Brother J is scheduled to be released this coming August. Therefore, we thought it was very important for him to reconcile with his parents before his release and started the process of arranging a visit. Above is a portion from a letter Brother J wrote to his family, which we are sharing due to its touching nature. We cannot share the entire letter to protect his privacy, but we hope that he can meet with his parents in prison before his release to heal all past hurts. Witnessing such moving restorations is also a joy of our ministry.
LEARN Ministry - Learn On Christ’s Kingdom
P1 Project
Although the P1 PROJECT currently has over 1,100 participants, the waiting list is backlogged by four months. If we could accept all inmates who want to join, the number would be significantly higher. The critical elements needed to run the P1 PROJECT are mentors who can guide participants in their faith journey and financial support. Both are absolutely essential for the P1 PROJECT, but the most pressing need right now is for mentors. Since most mentors are working professionals, the number of P1 PROJECT participants each mentor can handle is very limited, making the need for mentors especially crucial.
Currently, the P1 PROJECT operates in 33 out of the 34 prisons in California, actively engaging in most of the state's facilities. Additionally, the P1 PROJECT has expanded to four federal prisons, spreading rapidly. One reason for this growth is that all initial P1 PROJECT participants in federal prisons were female inmates. Because the quality of their P1 PROJECT submissions is high, female inmates do not have to wait on the waiting list. High-quality P1 PROJECT submissions from federal female participants reduce the workload for mentors, allowing them to assist more participants.
P1 PROJECT Female Participants
When we first started the P1 PROJECT, we included inmates in both prisons and jails. However, as the number of participants grew, we began to encourage those in jails to wait until they were transferred to prisons after their trials. This policy significantly reduced the number of jail participants, and now we officially limit P1 PROJECT participation for inmates in jails, except in special cases. Early on, when jail participation was still robust, female inmates at the federal jail in Santa Ana began participating in the P1 PROJECT. We allowed them to continue even after they were transferred to federal prisons. These inmates were initially dispersed to Dublin, California, Waseca, Minnesota, and Phoenix, Arizona. Recently, when the Dublin prison closed, participants were relocated to Miami, Florida, and Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, where they encouraged other inmates to join, increasing the number of federal prisons involved in the P1 PROJECT to four.
The P1 PROJECT is now spreading beyond California to the entire United States. There are 122 federal prisons across the country, housing approximately 144,000 inmates, including 10,000 female inmates. God's ways are indeed mysterious. We originally started the P1 PROJECT limited to California and had no plans to expand to federal prisons. However, through this unexpected turn, the P1 PROJECT is reaching a national scale. Given that many of our mentors are women, it is easier to manage female inmates. We allow federal prison participants to start immediately without waiting, which is likely to increase the proportion of female participants rapidly.
We pray that the P1 PROJECT continues to expand healthily, broadening the new horizons God has opened.
P1 PROJECT 수료자와 P1 Prime
Over the past six months, four participants have completed the P1 PROJECT and received their certificates. The 8th graduate, Matthew Pope, completed the program in 2 years and 1 month, with Pastor Key Han serving as his mentor and Mr.& Mrs. Kenny & Sydney Joo providing financial support. The 9th graduate, Raymond Merchain, also completed the P1 PROJECT in 2 years and 1 month, with Deacon David Kim as his mentor and Brother Sol Kim providing financial support. The 10th graduate, David Davis, finished in about 2 years, with Ms. Christine Eikeri from Norway as his mentor and Pastor Sung-Beom Choi providing financial support. Lastly, Ducayne Arwood, the 11th graduate, set a record by completing the P1 PROJECT in just 1 year, with Pastor Sam Choi as his mentor and Mrs. Yoon-Sook Kim providing financial support. We take this opportunity to thank all the mentors and those who supported the P1 PROJECT Fund.
The newly launched P1 PROJECT Prime is available only to P1 PROJECT graduates. In P1 PROJECT Prime, participants receive $1.50 for each hand-copied chapter of the Bible. However, the requirements are much more rigorous than the P1 PROJECT, and participants can only complete one chapter per day, ensuring that only those who truly make Quiet Time a daily habit can join. Among the P1 PROJECT graduates, some have already been released and some are continuing with the P1 PROJECT Prime. Currently, four participants are diligently hand-copying the Bible for the second time and establishing a habit of Quiet Time. Above all, ongoing fellowship with their mentors provides them with great comfort and encouragement.
The LOCK Ministry News
First Penguin
The LOCK Ministry was selected as the First Penguin organization by Korean Gospel Broadcasting Company (KGBC-Pastor Young-Sun Lee) on March 25th. The term "First Penguin" refers to the penguin that jumps into the water first, inspiring others to follow. Since 2021, KGBC has been selecting Christian organizations that play a leading role in the community and distributing funds raised from the “Nanum On” music concert to these organizations. This year, our ministry team was chosen as a recipient of the First Penguin Award.
It is a great joy to collaborate with KGBC in spreading the gospel.
In addition to KGBC, we have also received grants from Open Bank. We became a beneficiary of Open Bank's grant for the first time in 2023, and on February 29th of this year, we were selected again as one of the 61 nonprofit organizations supported by Open Bank. God has provided all the necessary finances for carrying out His projects. Thanks to the faithful support from KGBC, Open Bank, numerous individual donors, and ten local churches (Korean New Life Church of Michigan, Beautiful Church, Shalom Methodist Church, One Hope Church, Crenshaw Presbyterian Church, Glory Church of Jesus Christ, Orange Immanuel Mission Church, Calvary Presbyterian Church, Youngnak Presbyterian Church of Orange County, and Hillside Church), we have been able to reach thus far. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all our supporters in the name of the Lord.
Our Team Members
Professor Kon Hwon Yang, who served as a professor of Old Testament studies at Gateway Seminary in Southern California and as a board member of The LOCK Ministry, is retiring. Dr. Yang has been with The LOCK Ministry since its early days, participating in God's work with us as a board member and more recently as the chairman of the board. As he retires from his professorship at Gateway Seminary this year and relocates to New York, he will also conclude his role as a board member of The LOCK Ministry. During the 2024 Annual Board Meeting, we presented Dr. Yang with a plaque of appreciation in recognition of his dedicated service. We are grateful for his long-term commitment and pray for God's continued blessings in his new chapter of retirement in New York.
On May 4th, we appointed Samuel Choi as a pastor intern of The LOCK Ministry. Pastor Choi, a second-generation immigrant fluent in both Korean and English due to his over nine years of work experience in Korea, is currently attending Bethesda Theological Seminary and is expected to graduate next year (2025). He mentors over 20 P1 PROJECT participants, guiding them in their biblical studies and life. We recognize him as one of the workers God has sent to lead the next generation of The LOCK Ministry. Hillside Church, our partner in this ministry, nurtures former inmates and those recovering from addiction as church members. Pastor Choi also plays a bridging role, connecting newly released inmates and individuals overcoming addiction with the church.
LIVE Ministry - Live out Christ’s Kingdom
Over the past six months, we have consistently operated the business, securing many clients. Brother William, who is currently undergoing job training, has shown significant spiritual growth and is actively participating in church life. We believe it is now feasible to accept the next trainee.
We have printed shirts for the summer Vacation Bible School, youth retreats, and New Year mottos for Beautiful Church. Other clients include Anaheim Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ample Construction, Food Camp, You Star Foundation, Western Maintenance, and RMT Motorsports. For the first time, the Potter’s Hands Project is no longer in red.
Since we began our embroidery and garment printing operations in 2021, we have accumulated substantial technical expertise and increased our customer base. However, we have also realized through experience that these businesses face intense competition and low-profit margins, posing challenges. Our original model, Delancey Street Foundation, operates over 20 businesses. Therefore, we plan to explore other unique and profitable ventures that are still accessible for training former inmates.
Potter’s Hands Project
The Potter’s Hands Project is a ministry initiative designed to provide job training for individuals emerging from prison and those overcoming addiction. In 2021, we acquired an office space and purchased the Ricoma MT-1502 embroidery machine. The "15" in the model name denotes the number of color threads that can be loaded simultaneously, while "02" signifies the presence of two heads. This equipment, as shown in the photo, allows for the creation of identical embroidery on two items at once, making it suitable for mass production. Additionally, in 2022, we acquired an Epson F2100 shirt printing machine, primarily utilizing the DTF (Direct-To-Film) printing method.
Potter’s House Project
The Potter's House project we are preparing is divided into two parts. The first is Potter’s House-U, and the second is Potter’s House-R. Potter’s House-U, or Potter’s House-Urban, is a place where individuals emerging from prison can temporarily stay, as well as a safe community that offers accommodation and meals for those recovering from drug addiction, preparing for employment, or newly entering the workforce. The second, Potter’s House-R, or Potter’s House-Rural, is a residential facility intended for individuals who have not yet escaped the influence of drugs and need a place for drug rehabilitation. Potter’s House-R should be situated far enough from the city to avoid drug temptations, while Potter’s House-U needs to be located within the city to consider the needs of employment.
Recently, we have been devising a plan to combine our office and Potter’s House-U. The lease for our office in Brea, California, ends in January 2025, marking four years of use since 2021. Feeling that our current office space is becoming cramped, we desire a larger location. Given our plans to start Potter’s House-U, we are considering a method to combine the office expansion with residential space. Instead of leasing an office, we aim to acquire a residential property that can serve as an office during the day and provide accommodation at night. Although renting a residential property costs significantly more than an office, it is more cost-effective than renting both separately. Additionally, it allows us to offer discipleship and job training in the same place. Previously, providing accommodation and transportation for individuals recently released from prison for job training was challenging, but this method enables us to efficiently provide both at the same location. We plan to search for a suitable location to establish a new office and Potter’s House-U in the latter half of this year.
At the beginning of this year, we met someone who owns 40 acres of land in Phelan. He originally planned to build accommodations for retired pastors and missionaries and has now discussed building Potter’s House-R with us. Although it is still in the early stages, with discussions about construction design and funding just starting, we aim to prepare Potter’s House-R with a long-term perspective.
Prayer Requests
1. For the P1 PROJECT waiting list to disappear and for sufficient mentor volunteers.
2. For the Potter’s Hands Project business to become more active, attracting more customers, and enabling training for many released individuals from prison.
3. For the newly started Potter’s House Fund to grow, preparing the way for the establishment of Potter’s Houses.
4. For a new office and Potter’s House-U to be prepared in a good location.
The LOCK Ministry
2903 Saturn Street, Unit B
Brea, CA 92822
P.O. Box 9693
Brea, CA 92822
(657) 275-9070
thelockministry@gmail.com
www.thelockministry.org
www.pottershandsproject.com
