Newspapers / Fotofax (Brevard, N.C.) / March 1, 1981, edition 1 / Page 1
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FOTOFAX BREVARD PLANT PHOTO PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT irul SMf of ^.The KesiJeiil's l^The Kentucky Bureau Of Ccrrec+ions terel)/ ftw^rds Ih’S Certificatt Kenton Cope The Bearer is desiunated 7 / ^ ■ Inmaie rr lono / VOL. 14, NO. 2 1} MAR./APR., 1981 AN UNUSUAL "DIPLOMA " makes Kenton Cope an honorary inmate of one of the prisons to which he's carried his faith. KENTON COPE BIBLE BEHIND THE BARS If you overhear a man talking about his last time in solitary confinement, or the toughest prison he's ever been in — relax, it's probably Kenton Cope. He's one of the good guys. Ken goes to prison voluntarily and pays his own way. He's one of more than 2,000 people who work as members of a Christian Prison Ministry that spans the U.S.A. Ken is a volunteer counselor for Bill Glass, a pro football player turned evangelist who has headquarters in Dallas, Texas. When Glass brought his crusade to Brevard in May of 1977, Ken volunteered to help. "And when I heard about the pri son ministry, I knew it was something I wanted to do," says Kenton. "Since then. I've been in a lot of prisons. "It has been the most exciting and rewarding time of my Christian life. Frankie Jean, my wife, has helped me since the first. Together we've gone into 15 different prisons in 8 states. We visit the Transylvania County Jail once or twice a week. When the Bill Glass team visits a prison, we go in on Friday afternoon and stay through noon on Sunday. We take our meals with the inmates sornetimes visit them in their cells! Our concern is for their spiritual lives, but if they want to talk about something else, that's o.k. - we care- we want to be a friend. "Many of these people have no con tact with the world outside the walls They're locked up and forgotten " Some of the people Kenton works with are famous sports figures. "It's impressive working with the Christian Athletes," says Kenton. "They all have interesting and moving testimo nies. But you also get to work with others who have powerful things to tell. There are reformed gamblers and ex convicts, even a former hit man for the Mafia. "Very few people have any idea what prison is like; even fewer give any thought to the people inside. It's a whole world of people who need Christ, and need someone to bring Him to them. "You learn not to be shocked by what they say. Sometimes they want to talk about what they've done. One man told me about locking his wife and children in their home and burning it. Another told me about several people he "had to kill." "Probably one of my greatest experi ences was when 13 of us went into a maximum security lock-up with 182 inmates, all of whom were murderers or worse. When we left, 109 had accepted Christ." What happens when the visitors leave? Members of the evangelistic team conduct a follow-up of at least seven weeks, says Kenton. "And there are Bible studies going on now which date back to the first Bill Glass crusade in 1972", he adds. Kenton has a slide show assembled by fellow worker Ron Koontz, a DPI photographer. When he isn't in jail somewhere, Ken talks to clubs, churches, civic groups and anyone willing to learn about the work in which he's involved. "Several people have started working with us since hearing about the prison ministry," he says. "And it's important, challenging work to do. "It isn't for everyone. As a matter of fact, I was a little bit surprised to find out it's for me. But you never can tell. In 1981, Bill Glass is going to visit 40 prisons, and I hope to be in several of them. "And if anyone else wants to spend a weekend in jail, all they have to do is let me know!" CREDIT UNION: $ MILLION MARK IS COMING The Annual Meeting of the DuPont Employees Credit Union disclosed an other year of steady growth in assets, shares, loans, and membership. At the close of 1980, assets were $927,564.34, making the Million Dollar mark an easy objective for 1981. Six new directors were elected fol lowing the report of the nominating committee and nominations from the floor; they are: Jack Hall, Jim Jacobs, Dana Mason, Janet Murr, Oppie Owenby and Lena Saunders. Refreshments were served after the committee reports and election of directors. Charles Greene and Preston Brown won door prizes of $25; Oppie Owenby won the $50 first prize. Later, the newly-elected Board of Di rectors called a special meeting to elect officers. Major officers and committee heads for 1981 are: President Jack Hall Vice-President Dana Mason Secretary Janet Murr Treasurer EllaSurrette Office Manager Libby Light Education Jimmy Jacobs Membership Lena Saunders Delinquent Loans .... Preston Brown Publicity Oppie Owenby
Fotofax (Brevard, N.C.)
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March 1, 1981, edition 1
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