Susan Crans married Jack Crans, founder of County Corrections Gospel Mission, on May 7, 1971 and has been active in full-time ministry ever since. She served in all developing seasons of Chester County Prison’s Chaplaincy, the birthing of City Gate Mission, carried the many responsibilities of pastor’s wife at Hephzibah Baptist Church, the administration of County Corrections Gospel Mission and in initiating “first burdens” for ministry to Coatesville’s children in weekly Bible Clubs. She mothered the care and refurbishing of the Camp at Old Mill in 1992 and led in the disciplining of women related to the heart-cries of Coatesville’s at risk families. Sue continues to serve in faithful labors in fiscal administration, hosting countless visitors, leaders and friends, all while maintaining a rigorous balance of cooking, cleaning, and teaching. Her favorite Scripture is: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Josh Crans graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and Bible in 2003. After graduating, he worked at Community Youth and Women’s Alliance in Coatesville, PA, as a Teen Prevention Specialist while serving part-time with County Corrections Gospel Mission. He was employed in 2006 with the responsibility for Youth Outreach. This includes active involvement in Kid’sClub and Summer Camps.
Josh served on a plethora of initiatives including Chester County Communities Coalition, Chester County Planning Commission Steering Committee and the Coatesville Youth Initiative, all to better serve the Coatesville community. He is a weekly volunteer at the Bridge Academy and Community Center and his family has a history of over 30 years of ministry in the City of Coatesville. He is blessed with several talents, including writing and performing Christian rap.
Steve and Morgan Mayo met through Pastor Jack Crans and began dating after serving as camp counselors together at The Campus at Old Mill in 1998. Steve and Morgan married in Coatesville, Pennsylvania in 2003. After the birth of their 1st son, Steve and Morgan moved their family to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Steve began teaching at Calvary Christian Academy and has served more recently as Director of Discipleship and was ordained as a Pastor in November of 2021. Through the 15 years of living in Florida, serving at Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale, and raising three sons (Titus, Quincy and Maxwell), God has prepared them for a return to Coatesville and serving alongside of Jack Crans and County Corrections Gospel Mission. Steve will be taking on the position of “Critical Response Pastor” commencing June of 2023.
Please pray for the Steve Mayo Family as they now raise their full support and prepare to move into full-time missionary work and church planting.
Heinrich Botes was born and educated in South Africa. After completing a degree in social work at the University of Port Elizabeth, he completed 2 years of compulsory military service. He started his career in health promotion and community development in the Department of Health in 1985. Heinrich was the Director of HIV/AIDS Programs in the Eastern Cape Province in 1996 when he and Susan decided to become full-time missionaries.
Heinrich and his family lived and served on a large mission station in rural Kwazulu Natal. During this time he was also Coordinator of HIV/AIDS Programs at Doctors for Life, an organization of 1800 Christian medical doctors. He focused mainly on developing care for terminal patients in under-developed and under-resourced areas of southern Africa. His works to prevent HIV infection was done in schools, churches and large corporations.
Heinrich now serves as Assistant Chaplain at the Chester County Prison while Susan is the Administrative Assistant of County Corrections Gospel Mission.
Leon Brubaker was born and raised in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As a hands-on person, Leon originally supported his family as a cabinet-maker, but early in his marriage he and his wife decided to give themselves to the work of Christian ministry. In 1989 they began their work with Helps International Ministries. This ministry remains their sending mission organization. In January 2008 they were partnered with County Corrections Gospel Mission. In their time here, Leon not only had many opportunities to help with the maintenance of the grounds and facilities but also to minister to the incarcerated and their families.
Mary Brubaker was raised in a church that was very mission’s minded. After graduating from Bob Jones University with a major in Mathematics, Mary taught high school math at Harford Christian School in Maryland. A summer missions trip to Bolivia with Teen Missions was an important ministry experience. Their home church, Grace Baptist Church of Millersville, commissioned them to full-time missionary work in 1989 with Helps International Ministries. This ministry sent them to serve at different ministries in New York City, Connecticut, England, Iowa, New Zealand, and eventually at County Corrections Gospel Mission. Mary volunteers with Kid’s Club, Mom’s Club, summer camp activities, and also Homework Club at the Bridge Academy and Community Center.
Jim Bontrager, is a United States Marine and full time Chaplain with the Elkhart (IN) Police Department. He holds his Diplomate Chaplain credentials with the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) and serves as President-Elect of the organization. He is a recipient of the 2012 Wilbert A. Cunningham Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, a 2013 Excellence in Leadership Award from Pointman Leadership Institute, the 2016 recipient of the Richard S. Kassel Award, the 2017 recipient of the Pilsung Warrior Award, and a 2018 recipient of the John A. Price Excellence in Chaplaincy Award. Jim was appointed a Sagamore of the Wabash by IN Governor Mike Pence in 2015. He is author of the official law enforcement curriculum for the movie Courageous, is an IN State certified LE Instructor as well as an instructor with the ICPC.
Drawing off of his 28+ years of working with the law enforcement profession, Jim’s specialty is connecting with officers, their families and police chaplains to help them better understand the nature of their Heaven sent calling, how to do it in a way that gains Heaven’s favor and how to be victorious over the evil that seeks to destroy their lives and families. His innovative training has been well received throughout the country in groups such as the FBINAA, Concerns of Police Survivors, law enforcement agencies and LE marriage strengthening events.
Stephen J. Pacinelli, serves with Family Reentry Initiative, a program established by County Corrections Gospel Mission to help inmates at the Chester County Prison prepare for successful reentry into society. Special emphasize is placed on promoting effective fathering through pre and post-release mentoring and by applying some elements of Awana LifeLine’s Malachi Dads program. Steve was licensed as a minister by Hephzibah Baptist Church, East Fallowfield, Pennsylvania. Read Steve’s testimony here.
County Corrections Gospel Mission grew since its inception and the ministry implemented programs that can only make a lasting impact on its target audience with the involvement of many workers. Volunteers make up the majority of this work-force and they are the proverbial unsung heroes who donate countless hours of skilled and unskilled labor without receiving any reward in return. The statistics of hours donated by volunteers during previous fiscal years substantiate this statement: 4736 in 2011 and 5416 in 2012.
This volunteering is often organized and scheduled in a group context or simply done by an individual who responded to the ministry’s needs. This labor is applied in a wide variety of areas including maintenance of the facilities, administration, preparing and serving food, mentoring inmates and youth, counseling and preaching. Explore opportunities to volunteer at County Corrections Gospel Mission here and contact us for more information.
