The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 12
The LOCK Ministry: Newsletter Issue 12 (1/14/2025)
The LOCK Ministry
WIDOW’S TWO SMALL COINS
Recently, we received a $17 U.S. Treasury check sent from a federal prison in Texas. At first, we were puzzled, but we soon realized it was from Sister Dusty, who is participating in the P1 PROJECT at the federal prison in Bryan, Texas. She has been part of the program since October last year. Within just two months, she completed writing the entire New Testament and has now moved on to the Old Testament, currently writing Leviticus. Among P1 PROJECT participants, she is progressing at the fastest pace. While speed can sometimes compromise quality, her reflections are always deep and inspiring. Sister Dusty was born into a Christian family but lived a worldly life until she recently encountered the Lord personally, which has brought a significant transformation to her life. She often confesses that she experiences God's passionate love while reading and writing the Bible. Particularly moving was her decision to send $17 as a tithe from the $170 she received through the P1 PROJECT. We understand just how precious $1 is to inmates. Over the past seven years, The LOCK Ministry has been supported by more than ten churches, two grant organizations, and over 100 individual donors. The mission offerings they provide have been a vital source of strength in fulfilling God’s calling to serve prisoners and the marginalized.
We are deeply grateful to all our supporters. Regardless of the size of the contribution, every donation plays a significant role in sustaining our key projects and expanding the ministry. Especially touching are the hearts of those who give sacrificially despite their limited means. Like the widow in Mark 12:41-44 who gave all she had, we see God’s grace through the committed love and faith of our supporters. It’s not the size of the donation but the heart and dedication behind it that move us and serve as the driving force for our ministry.
Brother I, a long-time P1 PROJECT participant from a California prison, continues to send mission offerings regularly twice a month after his release while working at a restaurant. We believe the value of his contributions far exceeds the amount he received through the P1 PROJECT. Additionally, Brother H has been faithfully sending offerings every Thursday without fail for the past two years. Three other P1 PROJECT participants have even requested that we deduct their tithes in advance from the payments we send them.
Most inmates earn only $0.30 to $0.60 per hour for their work in prison, so the $1 per chapter payment from the P1 PROJECT is a significant amount for them. For those without family or external support, this amount often represents all their spending money. Despite these circumstances, their willingness to tithe reminds us of the widow's two small coins (Mark 12:41-44).
Through these heartfelt and dedicated offerings, we pray that God’s grace and love will be fully revealed in the hearts of all the workers, participants, and supporters involved in this ministry. This mission is at the core of what we do and represents our ultimate purpose. Witnessing lives transformed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ is our greatest joy.
Inside this issue
P1 PROJECT..................................2
P1 PROJECT Revival..........................2
Mentor Volunteers..............................2
P1 PROJECT in Federal Prisons...................3
P1 PROJECT Completion.....................3
The LOCK Ministry News............4
Ministry Retreat............................4
Office Lease Renewal.....................4
Potter's Hands Project.......................5
Potter's House-U Project................6
P1 PROJECT
P1 PROJECT REVIVAL
In Romans 5:20, the Apostle Paul writes, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." Prisons are among the places where sin abounds the most. Yet, as Paul says, in places where sin is abundant, God’s grace works even more powerfully. The P1 PROJECT is currently experiencing such a revival of grace.
As of early January 2025, the cumulative number of P1 PROJECT participants has reached 1,372, with approximately 130 people on the waiting list. The total amount paid to participants to date is $98,000.
The waiting list acts as a buffer to address potential shortages of mentors or financial resources, maintaining a steady number of around 100. However, in late July last year, we once opened the waiting list all at once. After that, the number of participants began to surge, and even those who had paused their involvement made a renewed commitment to the P1 PROJECT.
Witnessing this, we felt the stirring of a revival led by God. At one point, we worried that inflation might reduce the appeal of the $1 payment per handwritten Bible chapter. Yet, the number of individuals eager to join the P1 PROJECT continues to grow, reaffirming that God’s Word is spreading rapidly and that He has provided fertile ground for this ministry to flourish. We remain in prayer, trusting that God will provide the necessary mentor volunteers and financial resources to sustain and expand this ministry. May the revival continue, bringing His grace to those who need it most.
P1 PROJECT
MENTOR VOLUNTEERS
The two most essential components for maintaining the revival of the P1 PROJECT are mentor volunteers and financial support for participants. Among these, mentors play the most crucial role.
Mentors guide P1 PROJECT participants in God's Word, offering comfort, encouragement, and support for their spiritual growth. They also assess whether the payments made to participants are appropriate.
Over the past six months, many individuals have joined as mentor volunteers. Pastor Peter Che, Mrs. Alice Pyo, Sister Aimee Han, the Princeton University Manna Christian Fellowship, Sister Sung Ho Wiley, Deacon Semin Kim, Mrs. Angie Kim, Deacon Danny Eim, Deacon Charlie Oh, Pastor Dong Myung Choi, Deacon Gina Lee, Mrs. Joanne Kim, and Elder Ho Sun Jeon have undergone training and are serving as mentors or ready to serve.
Typically, a mentor can support two to four participants, depending on their work, family, and church activities. Nonetheless, some mentors go above and beyond by caring for more than four participants. Their dedication and prayers are instrumental in sustaining and reviving the P1 PROJECT.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the mentors who volunteer their time and efforts. Without your commitment, the revival of this ministry would not have been possible.
P1 PROJECT IN FEDERAL PRISONS
Among the 1,372 participants of the P1 PROJECT, 152 are in federal prisons, while the rest are in California state prisons. There are 122 federal prisons in the United States, housing approximately 155,300 inmates. Of these, around 10,000 are women, and there are 29 federal prisons designated for women. Notably, all participants from federal prisons in the P1 PROJECT are women.
Due to the growing number of participants in California state prisons, federal prisons were initially not included as part of the P1 PROJECT's focus. Additionally, there is a logistical issue: sending payments to federal prison inmates is not as straightforward as it is for California state prison inmates, where payments can be made online. For federal inmates, we primarily use Money Orders purchased at the post office, which must be filled out and sent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Idaho. This process is time-consuming, making it challenging to expand the P1 PROJECT into federal prisons. However, everything changed because of one person.
Sister Jennifer W. began participating in the P1 PROJECT in 2021. At that time, we were just starting the program and allowed jail (detention center) inmates to join, unlike now. Jennifer was in a federal detention center in Santa Ana, and we granted her permission to participate. However, we later decided not to allow jail inmates to join the P1 PROJECT. After her trial, Jennifer was transferred to a federal prison, where she actively encouraged her fellow female inmates to join the P1 PROJECT. She not only promoted the program but also taught others how to participate, ensuring a smooth transition for many inmates.
As a result, the program has expanded to prisons in Aliceville, AL; Waseca, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Minami, FL; Bryan, TX; and Bruceton Mills, WV. Most of these female participants began with Jennifer's guidance, which has significantly raised the quality of their participation and brought joy to many mentors.
Sister Jennifer W. was recently released from federal prison. Before her release, she completed all the requirements of the P1 PROJECT, making her the 14th graduate of the program.
P1 PROJECT COMPLETION
Two participants have successfully completed the P1 PROJECT. The first participant is Jimmy St. Clair, who began in June 2023 and completed the project on December 23, 2024. He is 77 years old and a war veteran. Currently serving a Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentence, Jimmy is an incredibly respectful person who lives out his faith. He has appealed his case in hopes of being released before he passes away to spend peaceful years with his younger sister. Pastor Key Han has mentored him, and the P1 PROJECT Fund was supported by Brother Seongmin Jo
from Savannah, GA. We are deeply grateful.
The second participant is Jamison Connor, 45 years old, who began the P1 PROJECT at the end of 2023 and completed it on January 3, 2025. He finished the project in just about 13 months, a remarkably fast pace. He was one of the most inquisitive participants, having just started reading the Bible. His many questions were matched by a deep emotional response to the Word. His reflections and applications(R&A) have been deeply inspiring to us all. Having spent almost 26 years in prison, he has lived his entire adult life behind bars. However, his depth of understanding and rapid acceptance of the Bible is truly remarkable. Jamison is scheduled to be released in early 2026. His mentor is Pastor Key Han, and the P1 PROJECT Fund was supported by Pastor Seongjin Park of Hope Church in Yeouido, Korea. We are thankful for their support.
We pray that Jamison's life continues to be transformed by God's Word and that he will live as a beautiful Christian, never returning to prison.
The LOCK Ministry News
MINISTRY RETREAT
The LOCK Ministry was established on August 8, 2018, and began its mission with an inaugural worship service on January 20, 2019. Our ministry is entirely volunteer-driven. All workers, including the board members who make key policy decisions and provide support, serve on a volunteer basis, as do those who come to the office every day to keep the ministry running smoothly.
Each year, our ministry team gathers for a retreat to reflect on the past year, make plans, and recharge spiritually and emotionally. During our most recent retreat, we rented a house at Arrowhead Lake for a 2-night, 3-day stay, enjoying a great time together. Attendees included Pastor John Lee, Mrs. Grace Lee, Pastor Key Han, Mrs. Kyung Han, Pastor Seongjin Park, Mrs. Mi-Kyung Park, Sam Choi JDSN, Mrs. Sonya Yi KSN, Mrs. Sydney Joo KSN, and Deacon Kenny Joo.
OFFICE LEASE RENEWAL
For the first two and a half years after our ministry began in 2018, we did not require an office. At that time, our main focus was visiting jails and prisons on weekends. Even after launching the P1 PROJECT, the number of participants was small enough that the work could be managed from home, with meetings held at the church.
However, when we initiated the Potter’s Hands Project and purchased embroidery and garment printing equipment, it became clear that an office was necessary. On February 1, 2021, we began operating out of our current office in Brea. The location was ideal, being close to our team members' homes and offering convenient highway access.
By the end of January this year, we had been using this office for four years, renewing the lease twice during that time. Early last year, as the four-year lease approached its end in January 2025, we began exploring the possibility of moving the office to the new Potter’s House-U facility. Consequently, we initially decided not to renew the current office lease.
However, delays in securing Potter’s House-U meant we had to reconsider. Thankfully, the landlord agreed to extend our lease for another year without increasing the rent, alleviating some of the financial burden.
The new lease will expire in January 2026, and we are praying for the completion of the office move to Potter’s House-U before that deadline. Currently, the office is packed with embroidery equipment and garment printing tools for the Potter’s Hands Project, as well as countless boxes of Bible transcriptions and letters collected through the P1 PROJECT. The lack of a proper meeting room or gathering space highlights the urgent need for relocation.
We remain hopeful and prayerful that God will guide us through this transition and provide the resources to create a space that meets the growing needs of our ministry.
POTTER’S HANDS PROJECT
Finding churches that can effectively welcome and support individuals who are newly released from prison or recovering from addiction has been a challenge. Many churches lack experience with these groups, making it difficult for them to establish lasting roots. However, Hillside Church and All Nations Mission Church are exceptions. Both have a history of active involvement in homeless ministries and have demonstrated a deep concern for those transitioning from incarceration.
Brother Jayson has already settled into this church community, engaging in various ministries. It is a tremendous blessing to see so many members of these churches who understand and care deeply about prison ministry. Recently, when we introduced Brother Is and Sister De to Hillside Church, the pastors and congregation welcomed them warmly, showing immense interest and enthusiasm. This support has helped them quickly find their place within the community.
What began with the Potter’s Hands Project has blossomed into a meaningful partnership with these churches, and we pray it continues to bear beautiful fruit.
Through the Potter’s Hands Project, we have also been able to collaborate with other organizations by providing printed shirts for events such as Beautiful Church’s Youth Retreat and EM Winter Retreat, as well as for Sanctives Group, Food Camp, and Bethel Hotel. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships and the opportunities they bring to expand our ministry and outreach.
The Potter’s Hands Project focuses on providing vocational training in embroidery and garment printing for formerly incarcerated individuals while offering discipleship to help them achieve full independence.
One of our participants, Brother W, who has been with us for over a year and a half, has now reached a stage where he is fully self-sufficient. In October, we welcomed Brother Is and Sister De to the Potter’s Hands Project.
Initially, communication with Brother Is was challenging, but now, his transformation is evident. He frequently smiles, has become more proactive, and takes pride in his work, even contributing his own creative ideas. His progress has been truly remarkable, and a key factor in his growth has been the support and involvement of the church community.
Hillside Church recently merged with All Nations Mission Church in Fullerton, relocating their services to 117 Pomona Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. What makes this partnership particularly special is the close connection both Pastor Sam Koh from Hillside Church and Pastor Peter Che from All Nations Mission Church have with our ministry.
Potter’s House-U Project
In early 2024, we made the decision to lease a house for Potter’s House-U while also using it as an office space to reduce costs. With our current office lease agreement set to end in January 2025, we began searching for rental homes in November 2024.
During this search, we encountered significant challenges. Private homeowners renting their properties were often hesitant about allowing individuals recently released from prison to stay for short periods, preferring a single family for long-term tenancy. In addition, many neighbors expressed discomfort with the idea of formerly incarcerated individuals living in their area, making it even harder to find a willing landlord. Further concerns arose about the house being used as both a residence and an office, with frequent visitors potentially causing damages.
We focused our search within a 15-minute radius of our current office location in Brea and found a promising property on Carbon Canyon Road. The house was large—4,200 square feet—with six bedrooms and five bathrooms. One of the upstairs rooms could accommodate 4 to 6 people in a shared setting. An additional advantage was the house’s secluded location at the very end of the neighborhood, with no nearby homes, reducing the likelihood of neighbor complaints.
However, once the owner learned about our prison ministry and the intention to house individuals recently released from prison, he made unreasonable demands and set an excessively high rental price. Despite several attempts to negotiate more favorable terms, we were unable to reach an agreement and decided to discontinue discussions. Interestingly, the house still remains vacant. Over the past year, the owner has been unsuccessful in both renting out and selling the property.
As a result, we are considering reopening the conversation at the appropriate time, possibly exploring a rent-to-purchase option if God allows it. We kindly ask for your prayers as we seek God’s guidance in this matter. We trust that He will provide the right solution in His perfect timing.
Prayer Requests
1. For the establishment of the Potter’s House-U Project facility.
2. For more dedicated volunteer mentors to support the expansion of the P1 PROJECT.
3. For the continued revival and spiritual growth of the P1 PROJECT.
4. For abundant fruit and transformative impact through the P1 PROJECT, the Potter’s Hands Project, and the Potter’s House-U Project.
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
