His name is Darryl Washington.
He loves his job at Jubilee Ministries in Lebanon. He also lives a quiet and happy life in his brand-new home, one of the new residences at the Canal Street Affordable Housing Project, owned and managed by Community Homes of Lebanon County. He moved in on February 1, 2025. His friend, former Pastor Thom Keller of Calvary Chapel, Lebanon, helped find Darryl’s residence.
Lots of people can claim to be blessed with jobs they love and a roof over their heads. But few can claim to have followed a path like Darryl’s to get where they are today. That’s where the miracles come into play.
Early life
Darryl was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, in a nice neighborhood. His parents were good role models—Olivia, a Minister, and John, a police officer. However, the neighborhood was near a tough one, and Darryl was frequently bullied as a “snitch” because his father was a policeman.
His life was affected by the fact that he was a good basketball player, which led to associations with gangs. Life for Darryl became complicated and troublesome. Temptations like drugs and alcohol were too prevalent. He “stayed in his lane” and did the best he could but succumbed to some temptations. Over time, he beat the odds of his environment and tried to live a clean life. He struggled to find a clear career path and eventually found a home in the military.
Military life
Darryl joined the US Marine Corps and served for six years. His most memorable duty was in combat during Desert Storm.
Adjustment to civilian life after his military service was complex for Darryl, which led to some bad life choices, resulting in incarceration and a serious assessment of his life.
At his core, Darryl is a good and caring person, and he accepts that by letting God into his life.
Turning in the right direction
Now that his debt to society is paid, Darryl’s life is happy and productive. He has settled in Lebanon and is focused on helping others. He considers his life miraculous, starting with his current life connections.
Life coach
Darryl has used his own life story for the good of others. Each week, he works as a Jubilee Life Coach, advising individuals and groups struggling with addictions to find the path to a better life with God at the core. He still relies on his counselor for advice and leverages his coaching skills with Calvary Chapel in Lebanon. He also benefits from an ongoing connection to FRAT (First Responders Addiction Treatment) in Bensalem, PA.
Jubilee Ministries
Darryl considers a prison rehabilitation path that led him to Jubilee Ministries as an employer a miracle. He is in a work environment with peers who share similar backgrounds. Jubilee Ministries CEO Ryann Newswanger says, “Darryl considers a prison ministry path that led him to Jubilee Ministries as an employer a miracle. He can use the messes of his past and turn them into messages of hope for others.”
Community Homes
Community Homes CEO Charlie Rush was among the first to welcome Darryl to his new home, which he got through a friend’s referral. The house had just become available. Darryl looked at the place first and said, “It took my breath away. This is the first home of my own in over 40 years.”
Charlie Rush concurs.
“Darryl’s story is miraculous. He is already becoming a positive force for building a strong community through sharing the hard-won lessons learned through his struggles.”
Family
Darryl stays in touch with his mother and six children via FaceTime weekly. Darryl’s mother and sister visited recently, and added “a woman’s touch” to the home.
For more information about Community Homes, visit www.communityhomespa.org or call 717-273-1711 x 100
Community Homes of Lebanon Valley, in partnership with others, provides housing, related facilities, and supportive services so that each person, whose life we touch, may realize more fully his or her potential for physical, social, and spiritual well-being.
