Testimonials

Change is happening.

WHAT THEY SAY:

A word from the men whose lives have been impacted and transformed by the work God is doing through RTCM…

Here’s what people are saying about Restart Training Center Ministry, Inc….

Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams has announced that six community-based drug and crimefighting programs in Lancaster County will receive donations totaling $82,500 from the Lancaster County Drug Task Force’s forfeiture funds. Restart Training Center Ministry was blessed to receive $10,000.

“I am so pleased to be able to use drug forfeiture funds to strengthen these community-based programs,” District Attorney Heather Adams said. “The sharing of asset forfeiture proceeds allows us to meet the broader intended goal of forfeiture and that is our duty to assist community-based efforts to address drug addiction, rehabilitation and the prevention of crime – all of which ultimately increases public safety.”

Restart Training Center Ministry (RTCM) will utilize the contributions to provide recovery support to substance abusers of illegal drugs with the goal of preventing further abuse and crime related to that use. RTCM is a community-based program with international certified alcohol and drug counselors on staff. These counselors have over 15 years working in drug addiction environments that help drug users reach recovery and become productive citizens. Restart Executive Director Jaime Santiago said the program will use the funds to address the epidemic of substance use disorders in the lives of the citizens in our community. “This will help our community members by helping them achieve and maintain sobriety, reducing crime and improving family safety and relationships,” Santiago said.

"When I was in 10th grade, the four branches of the armed services came to my school. Their mission was to have us enlist when we graduated from high school. I served in the navy for six years and when I was honorably discharged, I went home, and started a family. We have five beautiful children—four boys and one girl. After 25 years of marriage, I went through a divorce. I never thought that would happen and it totally took the gusto out of me. I started hanging with the wrong crowd and began drinking occasionally, which eventually became daily. One day, I was sitting in a bar drinking and two of my sons came in. They said, “Dad, it’s time to go. You’re killing yourself.” I obeyed. I started working hard in my building business and slowed down drinking to just about quitting. Then one day this call came in to build a garage. I didn’t answer it, I was busy. She kept calling. I finally picked up, and today, I am married to her. But then I started drinking again and my wife cannot stand alcohol. This went on for a long time. I ended up with my 3rd DUI, and at my court hearing, I was granted permission to go to Restart. My sentencing is December 12, and my prayer is that the courts will honor my graduation here at Restart to be time served. Since I have been at Restart, my God has created in me a clean heart (Psalm 51). God has renewed my mind of the Word that the Lord planted in my life many years ago. He has restored the JOY of my salvation. I pray daily for God to apply his word to my life, so when my opportunity arises, I’ll be ready. Isaiah: Who shall I send, who will go for me? Here I am, send me."

"Six years ago, when I came to Restart, I was a broken man whose hope had diminished to nothing. As a child, raised in church, I asked myself, “How did I get to this point?” With the help of Pastor Jaime, God revealed what was keeping me from turning back to Him, which was a man full of pride trying to do things on his own. When I realized I couldn’t do it on my own and that I needed God in every aspect of my life, things began to change. Today, I’m going on my third year in Bible college, engaged to be married to a wonderful, God-fearing woman, and although life still happens, I’m able to give everything to God in prayer, knowing that whatever happens, God is still with me. If you have not given your life to Christ, I urge you to do so and watch God make changes that you can’t do on your own."

"My name is Benito Morales. Before I surrendered my life to the Lord, I was a broken man living in darkness, living in lies, serving the devil, serving the world, living for the desires of the flesh, and living in my sinful nature. I was empty; nothing could satisfy me. I cried out to God for help. To take me out of my misery. He answered my prayer by putting me in prison. During my incarceration, more tribulation came into my life. I pushed people away and when I pushed everyone away and didn’t have anyone to turn to, I turned to God. I started to pray and to read the Bible. The Lord started to reveal my past to me. That’s when the Lord’s peace, joy, and love came into my life. My faith and my trust grew stronger every day. Here at Restart God showed me how He is faithful and merciful to those who are obedient to Him and the ones who serve Him. I thank God for putting Pastor Jaime in my life. At Restart, God has prepared me to minister to others, as a representative, a servant, a Light for Jesus Christ, and everything for His glory."

"My name is Jake, and this is the story of how God changed my life. I was adopted at age 4 along with my older biological sister who was 6 at the time. When I turned 5, she started acting out on me and touching me inappropriately. Fast forward to my teenage years. I started going through a lot in my head. I jumped around from sleeping in my truck, to a friend’s house, and then in my car. The whole time I was living homeless I was smoking weed and drinking. Eventually, I got into popping pills, then snorting cake and smoking meth. Then I got into a situation where I hit someone, and I didn’t even think twice about it because I’d gotten into fights before. So, I just went about my day. I had gotten a job at Ephrata Turkey Hill, and a week went by, and the manager told me I was suspended. I didn’t know why at the time, but I soon figured out I had a warrant out for my arrest for aggravated assault. A week later, I turned myself in and went to Lancaster County Prison. Eventually, I got it worked out to come to Restart. God has been changing my life ever since. Thank you!"

“I was born in another country by parents that gave me up for adoption at age 7. I was orphaned in South Korea and adopted into an American family. I lived with an abusive mother, was sexually abused by 3 brothers, was raised in an all-white community, felt rejected, and always tried to belong. I was drenched in the muddy mire of sin and darkness, suffocating my childhood traumas with alcohol, pornography, drugs, smoking, and finding acceptance in this world by believing the lie that I would never be destined for greatness. I came to Restart on January 3, 2022. During the 6 months here, I saw God demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ through Pastor Jaime and many others. I was able to accept my failures, forgiving myself, but also forgiving others, and embracing the love of Jesus to allow the Holy Spirit to heal all my childhood traumas and truly begin the process of restoration. I thank God for Pastor Jaime and Restart for now I have found my hope and identity in Jesus Christ.”

“I grew up in a pretty regular way, but I had some early childhood trauma from close family members and being introduced to pornography. I was in a car accident, and it affected my self-esteem for years, making me an outcast almost overnight in 4th grade. I began to adopt the ‘loner mentality’ and grew up with deep insecurities. Fast forward to 2019…I was filled with mistakes and a cringy history. The weight of my sin and decisions began to catch up with me. I didn’t want to drink, do drugs, or fornicate anymore, but sadly, I fell back into sin… This time seven times worse. Completely trapped in my sin, living in my car, and completely mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically drained. I called out to God almost daily. Little did I know, God had already ordained me to go to Restart. This is where God taught me to become a disciple and how to lay my life down. I have learned my purpose and destiny, what God wants me to do, and I am serving the Lord stronger than ever today.”

“My name is Derrick Simmons. I am from a small town in South Jersey. My father died when I was seven, so my mother and my two older siblings were like my only father-figures growing up. I was mostly a good kid and got into sports around 10/11. In my junior year in high school, I was well-known for the parties I threw after the games. I got into an accident which prevented me from playing football in my senior year. This is when things started turning for me. I started partying more and losing focus on God and what was important. At the age of 21, I started taking pills, which quickly turned into heroin. At this point in my life, I had drastically changed. The Holy Spirit then led me to this guy who was working for a church, helping addicts and displaced persons. He asked if I needed help, and I said, ‘Yes!’ He gave me a number to call a pastor from Miami Power House. So, I started my recovery journey in Miami, where I served four months. I got renewed and rebaptized. When I got to Restart, I truly believe that this place was God-sent. For the six months I was here, the renewal and restoration that was done was the true meaning of faith. This program showed me so much about my HURTS, HABITS, and HANGUPS. But God. I am redeemed and saved!”

"From day one, life was a battle. Born on May 24, 1988, in Jacksonville, FL to a pair of drug addicts on the run. By the time I was three years old, I had been through 10 different foster homes. Physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused in all of them. When I was finally adopted, I smoked pot for the first time with my next older brother as a 'welcome to the family' gift. I remember him telling me 'You’re one of us now.' This started off many years of addiction to drugs, alcohol, and sex as a means of escape from pain. It was in the midst of my most recent legal issue, sitting in a jail cell, completely broken to the point of thinking it would’ve been better if my dad had killed me at age 9, that God spoke to me. He told me that He put me in jail. When I asked him 'why’, He said it was “for My glory'. And, when I tried to argue that there was nothing glorious about this, He simply, calmly, lovingly said, 'I AM'. That started the roller coaster ride that led me to Restart, where God would prove how glorious He is."

"My name is Alan. I grew up in Monocacy, PA and lived as a happy, well-loved, normal boy till the age of 12. My mom was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, would say things that didn’t make sense, became so angry and violent, was verbally abusive, and even threatened to kill my little sister. The day I intervened to stop her from doing that in 1979 I left home and spent years in full-blown alcohol addiction. I found drugs and ended up single, homeless, eating chicken wings that KFC threw out, and drunk 24/7. I got sober in 1989, but once again turned to drugs. Losing my wife to cancer in 2010 and feeling responsible for a severe burn accident my daughter had led me to a heavy cocaine addiction for 1.5 years. On August 10, 2021, I was sitting in my apartment and saw this verse when I opened my Bible: “Deliver those who are drawn to death” (Proverbs 24:11). I got a gram of meth and was going to smoke it as fast as I could in order to die, but the second part of the verse said, “And hold back those stumbling to slaughter”. The next day I entered Restart where God showed me Ephesians 6, I dedicated my life to Christ, got baptized, am thirsty to learn about God, and will follow through with God’s plans for my life."

"My name is Joshua. I suffered extensive trauma while still in the womb, was in foster care until about 3 years of age and was adopted around 6 years old. Not fully knowing how to raise a family of 14 kids, my parents were lacking in knowledge how to help me with my brain trauma and seizures. This led to years of problems between us and a short prison term. I’ve always had a relationship with God, but really drew close to Him and studied His Word while I was in Lancaster County Prison. Then God opened the door for me to attend this program where my relationship with Him, my family, and others is so much greater than it was just 6 months ago. After graduation, I will continue being a disciple of Christ and allow Him to shape and mold me into the man He wants me to be. I’m going to serve Him and others every chance I get. And I’m going to praise Him with my every breath!"

"My name is Steve. My home environment was very chaotic and dysfunctional growing up. I was exposed to drugs and alcohol as well as physical, mental, and sexual abuse. I struggled with alcohol and chemical dependency off and on my entire adult life. Since I’ve come to Restart, I’ve been able to quit drugs and tobacco as well as get a handle on my anger and codependency issues. I no longer talk down to myself or get my self-worth and value from other people. I have learned that I am infinitely valuable to God, that I no longer have to live a life shamed by the sins of my past. I want to lead others to the same freedom I have found in Christ."

"Hi! I’m Joseph and I am 21 years old. I was born in China. My first memories are traumatic one from my foster family. When I was 8, I was placed in an orphanage where I stayed until I was 10 when I was adopted by an American family. Growing up in a Mennonite home has a lot of benefits and I thank God for giving me my family. Through my teenage years, I made wrong choices and I only did what I wanted to do. I put gaming at the center of my life instead of God. I gamed all day, but never find satisfaction through any of them. I entered into Restart, and I have learned much here, but the most important one was “practice what I learn – that is wisdom”. I am going through the traumas that I have experienced and replacing lies with truth."

"I was born in the mountains of Ukraine and raised from birth in an orphanage. I was adopted at age 7 by an American Mennonite family. It has been a process growing up and adjusting to the world. I’ve made so many mistakes that seem to ricochet and shatter all my stability. No matter how many times I fall Jesus raises me from the ashes. Pastor Jaime has taught me that I definitely have hope. So here I am, David, born from brokenness and mended by Christ Jesus."

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