Introduction by our Director, Rev. Jack Bryan
Jack Bryan is the founder and executive
director of
“I was made to realize the need for such a program after ministering to
hundreds of men in the
In
1978 a group of Christian men joined me in forming a
non-profit corporation and God enabled us to borrow the money to purchase the
property in 1980 and pay it off by September of 1987. Since that time God has provided for our
every need so that we have never ended a month in the red. Praise the Lord! “
Five Basic Phases
Repentance
To
"repent" literally means to "change your mind." It is
a blessed privilege that God, in His loving mercy, has granted to you.
Repentance is something that no one, not even God himself, can do for
you. You have to do your own repenting. As in a checker game, God
has made His move. You are the one holding up the game. Your move
is to repent.
John the Baptist's message was summed up in one word,
REPENT! He gave a clear and simple explanation as to why you must
repent. He said, "For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
A kingdom is a one-man rule. In the
Faith
I
hope you have finally come to the conclusion that you cannot break the chains
that have shackled you. You cannot save yourself. You must put your full
faith, trust and confidence in Jesus. He can do for you what you can
never do for yourself. He, alone, can deliver you and set you free. Before
Jesus was born, God gave instructions to Joseph concerning His name, "His
name shall be called Jesus for He, and He alone, shall
save His people from their sins." The name "Jesus"
literally means "Savior," "one who liberates," or "one
who sets free" Isn't that what you have
decided you need? Don't you want to be set free from alcoholism, drug
addiction, criminal mindedness, or any one of many destructive, life
controlling habits, so that you can serve God?
Once
you are fully persuaded that Jesus is the Son of God; that His death on the
cross was full payment for every sin that you have ever committed, and that God
has raised Him from the dead, then you can, with all faith and confidence,
surrender yourself fully to Him as your Lord and Savior. At that point He
will save you. You will be free. "If the Son makes
you free, you are free indeed" (The words of Jesus). At that point
you become a new creation. God lets you know that the transaction has
been completed, that you have passed from death to life, by filling you with
His Holy Spirit.
Becoming a new Creature and being filled with the Spirit of
God will put you in a position that you have never known before.
Mind Renewal
Bad
behavior is the result of bad thinking. Just as a computer has to be
reprogrammed for a new and different job, even so our minds must be renewed
before our lifestyle can be truly classified as "Christian." When you become a 'new creature' in Christ
Jesus the change in lifestyle is not automatic. You have to deliberately
put off the garments of the old man and clothe yourself with the new heavenly
wardrobe that Jesus bought for you at
It is this point that
The
Church
The Church is
God's provision for maintaining and developing your new life. God has
never made the first self-sufficient Christian. He actually designs us to
be interdependent upon our fellow Christians. By His Spirit He baptizes
us into one body of which we become but one member. It is absolutely
impossible for you to be a successful Christian, in the eyes of God, without
the help of your fellow Christians.
There
is no such thing on the face of this earth as a group of Christians that does
not have a man placed there by God and gifted by God to lead them in the
development of their Christian lives. Isn't it marvelous how much God
loves us and provides for our every need? When our students leave
The Life Beyond
Paul, the man who wrote
one-fourth of the New Testament, said, "If in this life only we have hope
in Christ we are of all men most miserable." But the fact is that
this life is not all there is to it. Because Jesus was raised from the
dead and lives, we too, who trust in Him, shall also be raised and live with
Him. This hope is one of the major stabilizing factors in our Christian
life. The promise of His rewards in that future world serves as a
deterrent to the "instant pudding" mentality that had brought us to
ruin. Without that "blessed
hope" we will succumb to the prevailing philosophy; "let us eat,
drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." We, as Christians, are never embarrassed
because we have to wait for our Lord. During our "waiting"
period we are constantly experiencing the Love of God that He is pouring into
our hearts by the Holy Spirit that has been freely given to us.
A 20-man
Board of Directors governs
Operational
Costs
The cost of operating
Student
Costs
Application
Package $5.00
Tuition:
Entry fee: $100.00
(non-refundable once student
arrives on-site and has been processed)
Weekly
tuition: $800.00 ($100.00 per week for eight weeks)
Total Tuition: $900.00
To implement our program we offer Bible
study, work therapy, worship, individual counseling, and group therapy,
nutritious food, recreation and rest. Our students also learn to minister by
conducting a weekly ministry at a local nursing home on Sundays, and being in
charge of their own service on Saturday night at
Our students are allowed to have visits from
family members who are sympathetic with our program, and sometimes these family
members are asked to participate in counseling with the student.
At
We also maintain a monthly ministry in 12
other
We maintain a monthly newsletter to more than
1,800 friends and supporters. We sent out approximately 2,000 newsletters to
prison inmates every month. We also provide a ministry service for Etowah
Health Care Center every Sunday afternoon.
Our staff, chaplains and students are available for speaking engagements
in churches, Sunday school classes and civic organizations.
Guidelines against things that are
a detriment
The use of tobacco is not permitted by staff
or students at
Do not cultivate improper relationships with
the opposite sex while you are enrolled in the Christian Training Program.
Romance and rehabilitation do not mix.
Medications can only be used under the
direction of your counselor or the director. All medications must be turned in
upon arrival at the student’s orientation.
Possession, or use, of any drugs or alcohol are grounds for immediate
dismissal. This included “huffing” paint.
No televisions, CDs, or tape players, are
permitted. (Small am/fm radios are permitted.) They are detrimental to good
study habits. Magazines and non-Christian books and magazines are not allowed.
Guidelines for cleanliness and
courtesy
The student is expected to practice proper
personal hygiene daily. This includes taking a shower, brushing teeth, wearing
clean clothing, and grooming. Hair length needs to be above the color, either clean shaven or beard neatly trimmed. Facial and neck
jewelry are not allowed.
Clean and
appropriate clothing must be worn neatly at all functions: mealtimes, church
services, nursing home visits, etc.
Washing facilities are provided. We utilize
the dryer only in inclement weather.
Beds must be made up every morning, and the
personal area and bathroom must be kept clean and orderly at all times. The
staff inspects the room area regularly.
Horseplay, joking and behavior denoting
immaturity are not allowed. Everyone must observe QUIET TIME everyday.
At this time no conversations between students, playing radios, etc. are
allowed.
A
comprehensive Application Packet is available for a five dollar ($5.00) fee.
This packet includes:
Application (you can download from
this website)
Orientation Booklet (rules,
program, daily activities)
Contracts (tuition, work, pastor,
medical release)
Items allowed
Visitation (rules, approved list)
Brochure
Recent newsletter
If you’re interested in our program
and need more information, please contact our Director of Student Affairs &
Admissions:
Byron Goodman - (423) 506-2808