Sylvester Mitchell, A.D.C, is the Founder and Executive Director of M.A.N.U.P Rehabilitation Services, a graduate of Metropolitan State University, where his bachelor’s degree focuses on Substance Abuse and the Criminal Justice System and a master’s degree in public and nonprofit administration.  He has been an active minister of the gospel for 25 years. He has devoted his life work to mentoring and being an example to men that are actively recovering from addiction or reacclimating to society, this after being trapped in a 25-year crack cocaine addiction and going to prison nine times.

Sylvester was born November 16, 1964, in Bayshore, New York. He was adopted at birth and to this day he has no knowledge of his biological family. At the age of eleven, he was told he was adopted, but it came without conversation. There were no explanations and no opportunity for questions. This left a significant hole in Sylvester’s world and ultimately left him filling the hole with anger and rebellion. Within months, Sylvester would begin to get in trouble in school and be sent to several juvenile detention centers. As time passed, Sylvester’s anger, resentment and insecurities were numbed by drugs. Drug use turned into addiction and addiction led to a life of crime to fuel the habits. 

For 25 years, Sylvester allowed the spirit of rebellion to take residence in his life, causing him to endure the nine trips to prison all the while fighting a crack cocaine addiction. On his final trip to prison Sylvester, finally surrendered his life completely unto the Lord and began taking full advantage of the seminary education opportunities that were available to him. After his release from prison in 2002, he was ordained as a minister of the gospel. 

His intense study of the word of God, along with the Holy Spirit, began to reveal to him the need for mankind as a whole to be informed of who he was created and designed to be through the Image and Likeness of God. This journey imparted the movement and curriculum of M.A.N.U.P. 

As a delivered addict and former inmate Sylvester is fully aware of the challenges that men face upon leaving prison. His street background, deliverance walk, and heart for God’s people makes him a genuine jewel and strong tower in the kingdom. His desire to see others liberated in all facets of life has further fueled his mission and assignment towards mentoring men in the gospel. Sylvester is a living example of a man that is allowing God to use him and how God will enlarge your territory.