The Least of These, July 19, 10:30am

First Baptist Church of White Plains
456 North Street, White Plains NY

http://www.firstbaptistwhiteplains.org/

Guest Preacher:
Rev. Hector “Benny” Custodio
A reflection on Matthew 25:31-46

When men, women, children, and families are treated as assets to fill quotas that will fatten the dividends of the shareholders whose greed has no regard for the dignity of those created in God’s image, the systems of unjust detention of our nation are spitting in the face of GOD. When the formerly incarcerated, who supposedly have paid their debt to society, are denied food, employment, health, job opportunities, adequate housing and education, the systems of unjust detention are denying “the least of these” a better quality of life.

Here are links, which include lyrics as well music, to some of the songs we will be singing:

Blessed Be Your Name:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk
Beautiful Stranger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zP8Uqs2PiE
10,000 Reasons:
http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/10-000-reasons-bless-the-lord

Fellowship follows worship. Free Parking.

About Rev. Custodio: Rev. Hector “Benny” Custodio is a native of Brooklyn and the Dominican Republic. He dropped out of school in the 6th grade, and wound up in prison at the age of 21. During the 20 years Pastor Benny spent inside the human warehouses of New York State as a wrongfully convicted man, thanks to many mentors and his own determination, he earned his GED and his BA degree from the International Bible College and Seminary.

He furthered his education by becoming a certified paralegal, a certified HIV/AIDS Peer Counselor, and a Social Living Skills Counselor. In 2006, he was accepted in the New York Theological Seminary Master’s Program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility and graduated in 2007.

Afterwards, Pastor Benny became the inmate coordinator of Rising Hope, a college level program, at Fishkill Correctional Facility. On September 27, 2011, he was finally released. Since his release, he has continued his education by becoming a substance abuse counselor, earning his CASAC license. Subsequently he became a certified New York State Chaplain and was recently ordained as a reverend.

His desire is to earn his Doctorate in Ministry and work as a prison chaplain. He’s an activist and works with the mental health, substance abuse, and re-entry population. Pastor Benny is in the process of creating a nonprofit organization, Never Forsaken Re-entry Ministries, Inc.