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….

"I was broken, angry at the world, and even at God. Restart was instrumental in turning my life from one of destruction to one filled with purpose, hope, and opportunity. I am forever grateful for what God has done and continues to do."

"In August 2023, I graduated from Restart and stayed on as an intern.Then I was entrusted with the role of house manager. I am deeply grateful for God’s guidance and for Restart, which has been pivotal in shaping the person I am today."

"I reached a point in my life where I found myself on a dark and destructive path. I turned to drugs, believing they would help me get through each day. Restart gave me access to resources like counseling at CCARS and men’s group meetings at Main Point. I am deeply grateful to the entire Restart staff for their guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support."

"My journey to RTCM began while I was enrolled in a Christian program in Miami called Miami Power House. After I graduated from Restart, I immediately stepped into the next chapter of my life, working with The Potter’s House. My time at Restart laid the foundation for this new chapter in my life, equipping me with the tools to grow spiritually and serve others."

"For 36 years, I lived according to my own plans, bound by the chains of alcoholism, deceit, manipulation, and broken relationships. By God’s grace, my journey brought me to RTCM, where my life was transformed. God has turned my story of pain and loss into one of redemption and hope, and I am honored to live as a witness to His incredible power to heal and restore."

"I felt immense pressure to figure out my future, my dreams, and who I was supposed to be. Under the guidance of Pastor Jaime Santiago and the Restart team, I began to see myself the way God sees me—as His beloved child."

"My upbringing was marked by dysfunction and pain. Growing up without a Godly influence left deep scars and a lack of understanding about my worth. I am forever grateful to Pastor Jaime and RTCM for helping me rediscover my worth and purpose in Christ. I have been sober for nearly three years, and this has been the best season of my life."

"Since leaving Restart, Adam has remained sober from drugs and alcohol for over 3 years. The couple has been blessed with the opportunity to move closer to their church and into their own home, reflecting God’s faithfulness in their lives."

"Today, I am grateful for the love and relationships in my life, but my journey to this point has been marked by struggle and redemption. Broken and angry, I came to Restart where Pastor Jaime taught me about God’s unconditional love."

"My childhood was filled with opportunities to excel, yet unresolved behavioral and abandonment issues led me down a dark path. But God, in His perfect timing, met me at my lowest."

"I found myself in a dark place—spiritually, mentally, and physically. In March of 2016, I arrived at Restart. After graduating 4 months later, I stayed on as an intern for 6 months. God’s grace has been evident in every step of my journey."

"I am 35 years old and a proud graduate of Restart Ministry, a place that has profoundly shaped my journey. Life has brought its share of challenges, but knowing the Lord has been my anchor through every high and low."

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.

"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.”

"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!"

"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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