Perry Clark has experienced life on both sides of a prison fence.
He has vowed never to live on the inside again.
But he is committed to reaching back from the outside.
“I remember re-entering the community and not having anyone to embrace me,” said Clark, 55. “God has given me a vision to embrace men who are coming from a place that I understand so well. I want to help them understand that if they believe and trust in God, they can make a change and be productive citizens.”
That is the goal of Truly Reaching You Ministries (TRY) — helping men who have served their sentences make a smooth transition back into the community and reconnect with their families. The ministry was founded by Clark in 1999, two years after he was released from prison.
Since then, the ministry has evolved from providing encouragement to men released from prison, advice to youths locked up in juvenile detention and Christmas presents to the families of inmates via Angel Tree.
It now provides transitional housing at three locations, apprenticeships, employment and opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with other Christian men.
It has also expanded its reach to the families of incarcerated men through Angel Tree (a national prison fellowship ministry that works with families of inmates) and by providing Thanksgiving baskets, school supplies and connections to local churches.
In addition, it is a sponsor of National Night Out Against Crime, an annual crime and drug prevention event.
Three years ago, Steve Wewer joined forces with Clark. Wewer, who is TRY’s chief operating officer, said he felt compelled by God to make his commercial lawn and cleaning business part of the ministry.
That component provides training and employment opportunities for clients and generates revenue when TRY’s crews are hired for lawn care, cleaning, rehab and construction jobs.
Wewer, a member of Holy Spirit Anglican Church, has spent 27 years doing inner-city mission work. After volunteering with TRY, he felt called to do more.
“It just struck me that we could help widows and other people who need our help, but we couldn’t speak to a man’s dignity,” said Wewer, 45. “This ministry has taught me how to work alongside a man, help provide his basic needs and, as Perry likes to say, give him a hand up, not a hand out.”
TRY recently moved to new office space, donated by Alcon Tool Co., at 587 Baird St. The ministry is sharing space with Holy Spirit Anglican Church and Kingdom Builders, a ministry that seeks to reconcile men to God and each other.
Both the church and Kingdom Builders work in partnership with TRY. The ministry relies on partners, including churches, businesses, foundations, individuals and organizations, to help transform the men it serves.
“Truly Reaching You is doing something that nobody else is doing,” said Hank Richard, who established Kingdom Builders with the Rev. Jim Stetler in 1997. “These men need help and the Lord has seen fit to bless Perry with the gift to help them. We want to do whatever is needed to support this ministry.”
One man the ministry has helped is Coolidge Collins, 26. Collins spent a couple of days in the Summit County jail before being sentenced to a diversion program for a theft conviction.
During his six months with TRY, he attended the required three Bible studies per week and a service on Sunday; performed 15 hours of community service each month; and worked in TRY’s Life/Employment Skills Training Program, rehabilitating houses and working on lawn and landscaping crews.
Although Collins has graduated from the program and is working full time learning the machining trade at Alcon (a manufacturer of knife products and industrial cutting tools), he continues to volunteer at the ministry, doing community service. He is also purchasing a home that was rehabbed by the ministry.
“They helped me out at a time when I was questioning myself . They helped me get out of the rut I was in and helped me to see what I was capable of becoming, that I could do something positive with my life,” Collins said.
“It’s humbling to see how far I have come and it’s all because of TRY. It has truly been a blessing. I never imagined I would be in a position to own a home and be on such a positive path.”
TRY works to put ex-offenders on the right track by providing safe transitional housing and productive ways for them to spend their time.
The majority of the men are referred by prison chaplains, parole officers and others. The screening process includes an interview, in which they must exhibit a desire to change and to give back to the community.
Those accepted must agree to seven key requirements, including journaling, attending Bible studies and Sunday services, performing community service and pursuing employment after a 30-day coping period.
The coping period is designed to give each man time to work on himself. He must follow all of the rules and is allowed no visitors, no employment and no stipend.
The training period, which lasts six to 11 months, comes after the coping period. Participants learn employment skills, look for a job and receive a stipend.
Clients are required to give all paychecks to a financial counselor, who helps them manage their money in a way that provides for their current needs and helps them save for the future. While not employed, each client is required to work in TRY’s employment training program.
Randy Bullard, 46, entered the program last year, after what he describes as “30 years of drug and alcohol problems” that cost him two marriages and his job. Bullard is now on staff with the ministry as a crew leader.
“I was one step away from being on the street or being in prison. I had lost everything,” Bullard said. “My family prayed for me and loved me but they were at the end of their rope with me. My sister prayed for me to find a place where I could be surrounded by Christian fellowship, and that’s exactly what I found at TRY.”
Bullard likened the program to boot camp with a focus on growing a relationship with the Lord and other men who want to see you become a better person.
“Your days are really full, which means you don’t have time to get into anything that might knock you off track,” Bullard said. “Being here forced me to come face to face with how much damage I had done with alcohol and drugs. They showed me how to be accountable and how to build a healthy support system. Now, it’s my turn to help others.”
Helping others is a hallmark of the ministry. In fact, Clark stresses to all clients that it is not about them, but the men coming behind them.
“We are looking for men who have a real interest in change and want to give back,” Clark said. “I know that it’s a huge faith walk for them, but that is exactly what it’s been for me.”
Clark spent 10 years in prison for aggravated robbery. While there, he was asked to train fellow inmates on how to remodel homes via the Mansfield Central City Economic Development Council. The inmates rehabbed 11 homes under Clark’s direction.
After being released from prison, Clark started a private remodeling business, which he closed in 2008 to focus on the ministry.
TRY obtained its nonprofit status in 2007. Its employment training program provides apprenticeships for 46 men in house rehabilitation, commercial lawn care, commercial cleaning, auto mechanics, basic machining skills and inventory/logistics management.
“I never dreamed I would be doing something like this,” Clark said. “I asked God to show me who I am and I now know that this is my purpose — being able to love others, being able to serve those who are less fortunate.”
For information about Truly Reaching You Ministries, call 330-785-9294 or go to http://www.trulyreaching you.com.
The ministry is seeking donations for its upcoming school supply giveaway.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com
