Text Box: Second chance ministries Newsletter (717) 921 - 8540 Text Box: JUNE 2008 www.scmpa.com secondchanceministries@verizon.net Text Box: “I know now that . .MY LIFE BEGINS AT THE CROSS AND ENDS AT THE CROSS” Text Box: These are the words of Charles S. at the Walking Your Faith graduation when he stepped forward to receive his first WYF certificate! On Tuesday night, May 27th, SCI Greene administrators, chaplain, volunteers, students, visitors and Second Chance Ministries’ Pastor Jim Law, Governor George Leader, and Program Director Marcia Sinkovitz convened to worship our living God and honor Him for helping 20 students victoriously graduate from the Walking Faith Programs. Pastor Jim Law invoked the graduates to commit their lives to now walk their Christian faith circumspectly, not just talk about it. He challenged all 20 men to be living stones as described I Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. . . . Behold, I lay up in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” The new graduates were challenged to now live the life of the Cross and believe their conversions because the precious blood of Christ has redeemed them. (I Peter 1:19). Former Pennsylvania Governor George M. Leader was the Keynote Speaker who also implored the students to live their new lives in Christ in love and forgiveness, and reminded them that these are two of the major foundational stones of the Christian faith as taught in the Walking Your Faith program. The Governor quoted from his own recently deceased son’s epitaph, “The essence of life is unconditional, non-judgmental love,” and went on to implore them that they are now missionaries to other inmates, and their families, as the volunteers are missionaries to the students. The audience gave the Governor a standing ovation and each member of the body came forth to shake his hand. At the end of the meeting, the graduates were asked to share a one-sentence remark the main lesson he had learned in the Walking Your Faith Program. Mr. Charles S. first stated the above words, “I know now that my life begins at the Cross and ends at the Cross.” Another student said, “I realize now that I am worth something.” Mr. Anthony D. remarked that he – being a Roman Catholic – had not realized that a Catholic man could take WYF, but had done so, and participated in WYF after seeing the volunteers’ Christmas play and being invited to the class; he said, “I personally want to thank all of you for bringing the program to me, and I am going to come back for WYF2 and bring all of my Catholic friends.” One graduate commented that he now realized he had a God-give purpose! Seventeen more graduates spoke as to what God had done in their lives through the Walking Your Faith program, and through the example of the volunteers. We wish to thank Chaplain Reverend Kathy Higgins for her hospitality! Thanks to Mr. Jeffrey Rogers, Corrections Classification Program Manager, for attending the ceremony and for his kind words regarding the quality of WYF and the dedication of the volunteers. Thank you to our godly handmaidens of the Lord (Janet Cree, Janice Gottschalk, Marilyn Facemire, Alice Souders, Connie Hart and Lorie Duer) who have been faithfully singing and teaching in the WYF Program since 2005. It is their lives that have taught and inspired the students to live lives of godliness and righteousness. We couldn’t do it without you!