The Heart of Hand Up Ministries
OUR CHAPLAINS
Serving with Faith, Leading with Compassion, Restoring Lives,
Available 24 Hours a Day* 7 Days a Week* 365 Days a Year
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THE HEART OF HAND UP MINISTRIES
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Our Hand Up Ministries Chaplains
Otis Cole/Chaplain Campus 2
Steven Yani/Chaplain Campus 1
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Gary Buday/Chaplain Campus 3
Serving with Faith. Leading with Compassion. Restoring Lives.
Available 24 Hours a Day • 7 Days a Week • 365 Days a Year
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The Heart Behind the Mission
Every resident who arrives at Hand Up Ministries carries a different story. Some come broken, some come fearful, some come alone. Our Chaplains walk beside them through every step of their journey—offering prayer, guidance, friendship, hope, and the love of Jesus Christ.
Hand Up Ministries is blessed to have three dedicated Chaplains—Otis Cole, Steven Yani, and Gary Buday—who have answered God's call to serve. They understand the struggles many residents face because they have experienced hardship themselves. They serve as spiritual leaders, mentors, counselors, encouragers, and trusted friends.
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A Ministry That Never Closes
Our Chaplains are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Whether a resident needs prayer in the middle of the night, a hospital visit, counseling, encouragement after a difficult setback, or someone simply to listen, they are there.
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Serving Every Campus
• Prayer and spiritual guidance
• Bible studies and worship services
• Hospital and hospice visitation
• Drug and alcohol counseling
• Marriage and family counseling
• Crisis intervention and emotional support
• Mentoring and discipleship
• Support for residents' families
• Encouragement for former residents
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A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
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The Chaplains represent the living heart of Hand Up Ministries. They remind every resident that their past does not define their future, that hope is real, and that through faith in Jesus Christ lives can be restored. Their ministry reflects the mission begun by Founder David Nichols in 1996: offering a hand up, not a hand out—one home, one job, one second chance at a time.
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“Sometimes people don't need someone to solve all their problems—they simply need someone who genuinely cares, who will stand beside them, and remind them that they are never alone because God has not forgotten them.”
MEET OUR CHAPLAINS
Resident Testimonies
Brad Bary
Former resident Hand Up Ministries
59th Street campus 1
Brother Otis is a dear friend in his services to myself and my family at Hand Up Ministries. Always praising the Lord and lending an ear for prayer and Thanksgiving.
We are blessed and truly thankful to have him lead us as our chaplain. It is a privilege and an honor to have him in our lives.
God Bless Otis
David Rupert
59th Street Campus 1
Otis has been there for me through some rough times. From stressing over my bills to the death of my fiancée.
I appreciate everything that he has done for me. He is a wonderful man of God and we are lucky to have him.
God Bless
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Josette Storms
Family Campus 2
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Otis is a real blessing and inspiration. He does many things for the people here at Hand Up Ministries.
For me it’s his morning and evening prayers. The prayers are a real inspiration and help me make it through the day.
I consider him a friend and a brother.
God Bless
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Randell Fawcett
Former resident Hand Up Ministries
59th Street campus 1
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Hello, my name is Randell Fawcett. I have known Otis for quite a few years now. He has been a close brother in Christ and friend.
Over the years when I’ve been struggling spiritually or just having a bad day, he is always there with encouragement and uplifting prayers that are always answered by God.
Otis comforted me in my time of grief when my dear dog Coco died in my arms last September.
God Bless my brother Otis
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Rodney Jaspers
Shields Campus 2
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Brother Otis is a good chaplain and is always open to help and talk as well as pray with you if you are going through issues.
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Numerous times I was going through it, and he always made time to talk and pray with me.
I encourage anyone at Hands Up Ministries to call on Otis if they’re having spiritual battles.
He’s always there and will make time.
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Sam and Heather Davis
Shields Campus 2
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We really appreciate Otis Cole. As a chaplain he has helped me and my wife in a lot of different ways.
Otis is always available and truly loves people the way a Christian is supposed to.
There’s much more we could say, but to sum it up, Otis is a blessing to all of us.
God Bless
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Victor Houston aka "Mr. Cool"
59th Street Campus 1
Former resident of Hand Up Ministries
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​Victor Houston aka “Mr. Cool”
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Otis as chaplain means a lot to me, as a friend and as a brother.
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I used to live at Hand Up Ministries, where I had the chance to get to know Chaplain Otis.
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I can say a lot about Chaplain Otis, but it would be a long message and would take a few days to explain how he is.
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Like I said, he is a good friend and excellent rother in Christ Jesus.
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Otis was always around the BBQ Grill helping me whenever another great friend couldn’t help me anymore.
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Whenever I got too hot grilling, he would always be there as he would walk down to the store and pay for waters and energy drinks for me.
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My health started getting bad because of blood clots. When I was unable to take care of myself, I couldn’t stay at home, Otis was always there.
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My health issues got worse and I had to move away from Hand Up Ministries. Otis still visited me at the hospital and stayed by my side praying that God will help me recover. He also prayed with my mom that was with me mostly by my side helping me heal. When my mom was weak, he prayed for her, giving her strength to stand by my side.
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Today, Otis still prays with her, giving her the to go on. Otis still prays for me and whenever I go through a storm he prays for me to God. God would answer me through his prayers, in real time.
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I’m in tears of joy right now as I am writing this. I thank God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for using Otis to comfort me.
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Otis still writes to me each day, morning and night.
One day I had to pray for Otis. God asked me to pray for him at a time that I knew he would be asleep. When Otis answered the phone, I told him the Lord asked me to call him. This time it was God working through me.
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Otis is a good friend and excellent brother in Christ. I thank God for answering some of my prayers through him. I will testify day and night and everything in between, Otis is a great chaplain.
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I pray that God bless Otis and continues to watch over him and his family.
Bernard LaGrow
59th Street Campus 1
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Brother Otis is a good Christian man who willing helps you in any way through prayer or through physical labor.
He loves the Lord very much. He is also an encouragement to others like me.
God bless Otis
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