Local ministry hits national airwaves

NANCY DERRICK

When Joy El Ministries'Nancy Derrick signed up for training in teaching on Biblical Worldview, she never expected to receive national attention for her work with the Released Time Bible Program, but that's exactly what happened. Because of her interest in studying the differences in worldview, Derrick decided to enroll in Break- Point Ministries' "Centurions" program.

The Centurions Program is a distance-learning/ networking program that equips Christians to engage their culture with the choice of biblical truth. Only about 100 applicants are selected each year. When Derrick recently attended a luncheon during a residency weekend for the program, she found herself providentially seated next to Chuck Colson himself.

Centurions Program Director Martha Anderson, seated at the same table, immediately introduced Derrick to Colson as "the lady who does Released Time" having remembered Derrick's occupation from her program application. Colson, interested in knowing more, invited Derrick to tell him about the Released Time Bible Program.

By the time the conversation ended, Colson had made the decision to feature Released Time and Derrick in his nationally syndicated radio column "Breakpoint." The feature recently aired on March 27. Interested persons can still read the text of the column from the program's archive on Colson's website at http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle. asp?ID=7680.

The Released Time Bible Program is a legal, state-approved program that allows public school students to be dismissed from school for religious instruction with parental permission. Classes are held off school property and are usually held for an hour once a week. Joy El Ministries of Greencastle is a Released Time provider in south central Pennsylvania for students in grades 3 through 12.