MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THAILAND:
PARTNERSHIP WITH
PAHK 5 NAN
The Presbytery of Huntingdon has been related to the Church of Christ in Thailand since 1860, when one of its members, the Rev. Noah A. McDonald was ordained and commissioned as a pioneer Christian missionary to the Kingdom of Siam. This relationship continued in the work of the Rev. Lyle J. Beebe, Dr. Kenneth E. Wells and his son, the Rev. Kenneth A. B. Wells, the Rev. Herbert Swanson and the Rev. and Mrs. Donald McIlvride, the last of whom established a partnership with Pahk 5 Nan (the 'presbytery' serving the northeastern part of Thailand. Gifts have been exchanged; joint Bible studies have been conducted in our congregations and theirs; several exchanges of visits have been made; prayers for what concerns each partner are elicited; letters are regularly exchanged.
While Pahk 5 Nan does not have a web-site or e-mail address, they are working on it. Meanwhile, the web-site for the national church may be accessed at: payap.ac.th
PRESBYTERIAN HOMES IN THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON
The Presbytery of Huntingdon is justly proud of the pioneer role it played in the evolution of homes for 'senior citizens'. In fact, that phrase was used by the late Rev. John Martin, long-time administrator of the Presbyterian Homes, before the earliest Oxford dictionary citation. The presbytery continues to regard the Homes as part of its ministry to the whole community. The handsome web-site of the Presbyterian Homes in the Presbytery of Huntingdon speaks for itself. We urge you to visit it; it is to be found at: www.presbyhome.com
KRISLUND CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER
In the 1960's the Presbyteries of Huntingdon and Northumberland cooperated in the creation of a camp and conference center in the Roaring Run watershed in Walker Township, Centre County. At the time it was heralded as a state-of-the-art facility for summer camping by young people from the churches. It was given the name Krislund, a Scandinavian word meaning Christ's Land. In the 1970s the Presbytery of Carlisle joined the partnership. Then, in its thirtieth year, a fire, caused by an antiquated electrical generation system, led to the suspension of its program and a complete renovation. Under the leadership of Mr. Stephen C. Cort, Camp Adminstrator, the virtually new facility is now offering members of the three presbyteries a wide variety of camp and conference experiences.To go to the Krislund Camp home site click on the URL below or the name above.
THE CAMP ADMINSTRATOR
Steve Cort
e-mail: stevecort@krislund.org
PRESBYTERY'S MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER:
This Multi-Media Center is a 'lending library' for inspirational and instructional materials in a variety of formats: books, pamphlets, and video tapes. Orders and reservations may be placed by writing via the U S Postal Service, to the address above, calling or faxing orders to the Coordinator at the numbers below:
| Ms Marie Carlson | 814-742-2200
phone 814-742-2214 fax. |
[This Media Resource Center is located in the Huntingdon Presbytery Office in Bellwood, PA.]
IMPROVED DWELLINGS FOR ALTOONA
The Presbytery of Huntingdon, the 1960s, cooperated in an ecumenical effort to create apartments within the City of Altoona for seniors according to provisions of a federal program. Originally there were donations of seed money to initiate this now-self-sufficient 'housing authority'. The Presbytery continues its interest in IDA by the election of members to the governing board. Information concerning IDA may be obtained by calling: (814)-944-9466.
CENTREPEACE - (click here for an update article)
The Presbytery of Huntingdon, through the Bicentennial Fund and through the Self-Development of Peoples (part of the Lenten One Great Hour of Sharing), has supported the work of this group which coordinates visitation by Christians to those who are in prison. It has endeavored to promote techniques for conflict-resolution, holding classes for prisoners. Centrepeace has been widely acclaimed for the resolution of prison disturbances by 'graduates' of these classes. Director of Centrepeace is Marie Hamilton.
OUR HISTORY
CENTREPEACE has been centering on peace for 22 years. In 1975, CentrePeace (at that time called the Volunteers in Prison programs of the Voluntary Action Center of Centre County) began visiting in B-Block North at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview. We continue to be involved there with weekly visitation. Out of this visitation, CentrePeace has created additional programs, which now reach 26,000 people per year. CentrePeace has become involved in state and national efforts to provide community members, victims, offenders, and corrections personnel with programs that promote restorative justice.
Pennsylvania churches provide an essential financial support base to continue our programs. Other funding comes from recycling [yard and furniture] sales, membership donations, conflict resolution, retaining fees, and special fund-raisers. Volunteers are our primary resource.
OUR GOALS AND MISSION
Our goal is to reduce the return-to-crime rate (recidivism) by providing inmates with the skills that will enable them to eventually lead productive and fulfilling lives. Inmates learn to resolve problems non-violently and to treat others with dignity and respect. They learn that habits, attitudes, and beliefs can be changed for the better. Our mission is to work for a criminal justice system based on healing brokenness rather than on vengeance. Punishing people by locking them away does little to halt the cycle of crime and violence. Restorative justice includes the concept of healing brokenness and works to help offenders assume responsibility for their actions.
OUR PROGRAMS
CentrePeace programs operate in all twenty-four state correctional institutions, as well as at the Centre County Prison. Many CentrePeace programs have become models for other corrections volunteer programs. A testimony of our effectiveness comes from the many favorable recommendations given by state correctional institution superintendents, judges, corrections officers, wardens, county commissioners, parole and probation officers, and inmates.
PROJECT RESTORE
PR is designed to help inmates stay out of jail once they are released. Inmate graduates receive at least 60 hours of socialization and job- skills training in a community setting.
The CREATIVE NON-VIOLENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION course teaches them to appreciate other people's values, and to treat others with dignity and respect. In the BREAKING BARRIERS course inmates learn how to replace destructive attitudes, habits, and beliefs with positive values that will help them become productive citizens. Inmates also learn job skills, including upholstery and furniture repair. In this setting they learn to work with others using the skills acquired in CentrePeace courses. As a bonus, the work produced is sold to the public to help finance our programs. In the process, truckloads of items which might otherwise end up in Centre County landfills are recycled for use in our communities.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS are available to the general public, as well as corrections staff and inmates. CentrePeace has now trained over 3,000 individuals in this program. The 10-hour course teaches skills in conflict resolution, including an introduction to mediation and the power of non-violence (the action and language of peacemakers).
"Conflict Resolution has given me other avenues for resolving the conflicts that I have within myself first, and those I come in contact with...It has allowed me to make my choice to be a man and stand up and say, hey, you know, this is not about being physical. It's about being rational and making good decisions and choices." - Project Restore Inmate Graduate
THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON RUNATHON celebrated its 16th anniversary in 1996. Runathons are conducted in all Pennsvlvania state correctional institutions. Inmates, staff, and celebrities run side by side to raise money to benefit at- risk youth. Two thousand runners raise an average of $16,000 annually for alternatives- to-incarceration-of-youth programs.
"[The Pennsylvania Prison Runathon] is a way of generating a sense of ownership}-- getting people involved. One of the things I find most interesting about inmates is that every opportunity they have to give back, they do that. This is an opportunity for them to be seen in a positive way, and it is motivated out of legitimate concern." -SCI Superintendent commenting, on the Pennsylvania Prison Runathon CHRISTMA5 CARDS FOR INMATES. Approximately 16,000 inmates in state correctional institutions and county prisons receive a Christmas card hand-decorated by a child. This might be the only piece of mail that some inmates will receive during the year!
The CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT DIRECTORY is compiled by CentrePeace. This directory lists organizations and agencies which provide services for inmates, their families, and victims of crime.
ROCKVIEW FAMILY TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE helps family members of inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview with transportation expenses so they can visit their incarcerated family members. Inmates with family support are less likely to return to crime.
The PRAYER-MATE program is a spiritual "pen-pal" system in which participants, using only their first names, communicate through a CentrePeace coordinator. Many inmates have expressed the positive effects of sharing thoughts and feelings with CentrePeace volunteers in this program.
The average annual cost to incarcerate an inmate is $22,000, while the annual cost per inmate in the most expensive intermediate punishment (restorative justice) program is $7000.
THINK ABOUT IT. If YOU find our work at CENTRE PEACE valuable and would like to join our effort in some capacity, please contact us at:
CENTREPEACE, Inc.
677 Benner Pike Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814)353-9081
We welcome your presence at CENTREPEACE!
THE COUNSELING MINISTRY
The Counseling Ministry is a non-profit service of the State College Interfaith Mission, serving all persons in need without regard to their religious beliefs. If requested, a spiritual focus is provided. Those seeking counseling might be individuals, couples or families seeking reconciliation or growth in relationships, looking for greater direction, value and meaning in their lives, or trying to cope with major problems of daily living. The Ministry is available to anyone who wants to discuss any personal concern in confidence with an understanding professional person.
THE BREEZEWOOD TRUCKER AND TRAVEL MINISTRY
The Breezewood Trucker and Traveler Ministry offers a ministry of pastoral care, confidential assistance and counseling, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ at the always-busy intersection of I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Breezewood. For truckers, travelers and employees at this major crossroads, the highway work-place can be lonely, frustrating, depressing, tiring and a real challenge to living a Christian life. The Ministry Chaplaincy Team is available to listen, to care, to offer hospitality that is often lacking in a commercial environment. The Team shares joys and accomplishments as well as frustratiions and angers, in a confidential setting, following the example of Jesus Christ.