Nelson Coblentz, who, along with his wife, Sarah, answered God's call to form Gospel Express in 1984, has some words of advice for married couples. "A happy marriage is a union of two forgivers," said Nelson, who is in his 49th year of wedded bliss with Sarah. "The whole theme of forgiveness is one of the biggest things in a marriage relationship." With a chuckle, he added, "Keep forgiving and give flowers."

Nelson and Sarah will sing and share their advice at the eighth annual Restart Training Center Ministry (RTCM) Valentine Banquet to be held at Faith Mennonite High School, 5085 Woodland Drive, Kinzers, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and a fellowship meal, catered by Shady Maple, will begin at 6:30 p.m. RTCM is an organization that strives to help men who have turned to abusing chemicals or have developed other kinds of addictions.

Gospel Express has focused on prison services and crusades, evangelism, revival meetings, discipleship materials, and more in the United States and Canada, as well as internationally. Nelson and Sarah and their five children traveled and lived for many years in a 40-foot bus. "How do you keep a marriage alive on and off the road?" asked Nelson. "You are doing marriage living in a glass house, which means you're visible to everybody and you are under the microscope." Nelson and Sarah have negotiated the years successfully, bringing their adult children and now grandchildren into the ministry. "We have been able to minister three generationally for the first time stateside and internationally," said Nelson. "That has been a dream."

Jaime Santiago, founder and executive director of RTCM, noted that the Coblentz team is a good fit for the banquet because of the couple's devotion to each other and experience with prison ministry. "(Gospel Express) helps people in prison, and a lot of people in prison suffer from trauma and addiction," said Santiago, who added that the organization evangelizes and disciples inmates in the U.S. and Canada. "We are trying to evangelize and disciple broken people," explained Santiago.

Currently, RTCM is graduating about a dozen students a year and mounting a capital campaign with the goal of purchasing the former Strasburg Elementary School. "The old elementary school building would be a good fit for us, and it would allow us to expand and add a second phase to the program," said Santiago. Goals for the second phase, which would offer 12 beds, are to provide rooms students could rent while working locally. RTCM would continue to provide meals, transportation, and a supportive environment. "We could house 40 students and up to 10 live-in staff members," said Santiago, who noted that the goal is to raise $1.3 million to purchase the building and a total of $1.6 million with renovations included.

Seating at the banquet will be limited. Table sponsorships are available. Readers who would like to purchase tickets or sponsor a table may call or text 717-304-3291 or email officemanager@restartministry.org. Tickets may also be purchased at http://www.restartministry.org/events.