Currently Terry is a volunteer Chaplain at the Indiana State Prison and is in the early stages of helping to establish a Faith & Character-Based Cell House within the maximum security prison. This is his way of thanking the many people who helped him in the late 1970's when he was released from prison.
After being released from prison, he wandered aimlessly trying to make sense out of life. Nothing made sense anymore. But God had other plans. A local Nazarene pastor named Artie Whitworth asked if his "soul was well with the Lord?" Then an Old Testament professor named Ken Hendrick believed in him until he could believe in himself. (Zichronam I'vracha - may their memory be for a blessing)
Both men encouraged him to pursue formal training in biblical literature at Olivet Nazarene College. So off he went to Kankakee to study computers! Why? Because he believed God would never use an ex-offender with his background for anything related to ministry. How bad could a background be? Well, Terry admits that he was even fired from a traveling carnival and asked to "hit the road." But that is another story in and of itself.
After the first semester he stumbled into the Religion and Philosophy department wanting to know if it would do any good to learn Hebrew or Greek. Just his luck, the secretary was out and only the professor of Greek, Dr. George Lyons was available for questions. Before long he was knee deep in commentaries, typewriter ribbons, research papers while struggling to learn a foreign language.
During his last year of undergraduate training Terry began working as a part-time chaplain with individuals suffering from chronic mental illness at the state operated Manteno Mental Health Hospital in Manteno, Illinois. The income generated allowed him to pursue graduate work while also volunteering at two different maximum-security prisons. When the state institution closed in 1984 he continued his chaplain work with the developmentally disabled at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. Terry still serves part-time at Shapiro. Since those early days Terry went on to complete masters and doctoral work in biblical studies and pastoral counseling. To earn an income to support his family he secured positions in drug rehabilitation centers and community mental health centers. He was always looking for unique ways to communicate the stories of the Bible. Eventually this led him to pursue training in theatre and drama. And that is when the study of the tabernacle started to take on new life!
So what is a counselor doing with all of this tabernacle furniture? In the early nineties he was "drafted" into a local play needing a Jewish priest. Terry believes he was cast for the role because the production company was short on beards for the actors and he already had his own! Since he did not know much about the temple or priests he did some research. He was fascinated by the garments of the High Priest. The next year he was asked to play one of the four priests that would carry the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy of Holies. His passion for the tabernacle was ignited!
Since that time he has continued his studies in counseling, biblical literature, theatre and drama. He started building props in his garage in 1994 for the "High Priest" presentation. As he would work in his garage he would dream about all the parts of the tabernacle. He wondered if it was possible to build the furniture, golden pillars and the veil. So he searched for information and looked for possible parts that might be used to build the tabernacle. Pictures, illustrations and other materials were made as needed.
Eventually, he designed and made his first costume for the High Priest. He never intended on parting with the only costume he had ever made. But then a friend introduced him to Juanita Bynum and by the end of the evening she had purchased the garment for her women's conference in Florida.
He made the second costume with even more detailed jewels, turban, and blue robe. After a few more presentations he found himself meeting with Dr. David Hamilton www.mishkanministries.com in Mobile, Alabama. You guessed it. Now he was trading the second costume for other tabernacle items. So it was time for the third High Priest garment, but this time he wanted even more details.
He commissioned a weaver named, Alissa Stern www.jewishweaving.com from Bethesda, Maryland to weave the ephod and breastplate. As soon as it arrived he constructed a life-like turban, gold wrapped jewels, Noah bells, pomegranates, and the hammered gold plate. This is the costume pictured on the website.
Before 2005 he would only speak on the High Priest garments. He gave his "talks" many times at the Indiana State Prison, several times at a local synagogue, and a few local churches in his hometown. His wife always encouraged him to think outside the box and to look for new ways to communicate more effectively. "You can do this," she told him. But like most men he didn't listen to his wife right away. So in 2005 it took a Rabbi named Michael Stevens and The Shofar Man (Jim Barbarosa at www.theshofarman.com) to convince him it was time to leave his workshop and take the teachings of the tabernacle to a wider audience.
Terry has always tried to remember where he came from and all the people who have helped him. If you find anything of value in this website it is because others have invested time, talent and even treasure in Terry's life.
Terry Harman and his wife Kim, two sons, Damon (California) and Aaron and daughter, Talia live in Northwest Indiana. He served as a part-time Chaplain at Manteno Mental Health Center in Manteno, Illinois in 1983 and 1984. From 1984 to 2005 he served as a part-time Chaplain at the Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee, Illinois. In 1994 he and his wife established, "Awakenings Counseling Center" in order to reach out to families struggling with substance abuse. They now serve clients from several large steel mills in Indiana and Illinois, Federal Probation, Family Court, and the Criminal Courts.
The preceding is a summary of Terry's work and educational experiences. If you have questions please feel free to contact him at kohanimministry@sbcglobal.net.
