Religion
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 May 2017 14:14
On Thursday evening, May 18, at 6 p.m., “No Man Left Behind” held its kickoff meeting at Pricedale Union Church, 203 Johnson Ave. in Belle Vernon. “No Man Left Behind” is a men’s ministry designed to give ex-convicts, prisoners, drug addicts, alcoholics and other forms of addiction real hope for a better life through a reliance upon Jesus Christ.
The ministry will be under the supervision of Ralph Stone, a deacon, counselor and teacher at Pricedale Church. The “nuts and bolts” of the program however, will be handled by Eric Johnson, a retired security guard for the Department of Corrections in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In addition to spending twenty-seven years working in the prison sector, Eric is also an ordained minister with a congregation in Duquesne.
Johnson will be assisted in the Thumbs Up Ministry by Ron Calabro. Ron is the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Director of the Yokefellowship Prison Ministry, which is designed to help inmates and ex-offenders yoke themselves to Jesus Christ for salvation and changed lives. Calabro’s influence and referral abilities will go a long way in the success of this endeavor.
The “No Man Left Behind” program will be patterned after the very successful Uniontown chapter group, which Eric Johnson currently leads. We hope to receive additional help and referrals from local Christian churches throughout the Mon Valley as well as the various law enforcement agencies in our Valley.
The program is open to troubled teens as well as adults needing spiritual guidance and social coping skills. In some cases, individual counseling will also be available. There is no charge to enter this program which will meet for approximately one hour each Thursday evening excluding holidays.
For further information, you may phone the church office at 724-929-9588 or contact Ralph Stone at 724-483-2132.