Ministry grows strong men, fathers from prison

Ministry grows strong men, fathers from prison

By Anna Keller
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist

Fathers who are incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest — northwest of Huntsville — have the opportunity to learn skills to help them be better, more present parents thanks to an initiative spearheaded by the Alabama Justice Ministries Network (AJMN).

The 24/7 Dad fatherhood program that’s offered at Limestone Correctional Facility is based around the National Fatherhood Initiative’s curriculum, whose intent is to “integrate fatherhood programming into rehabilitation and reentry efforts.” While the program contains a distinctly Christian slant it is open to both Christian and non-Christian men.

“We’re trying to get people ready to get out [of prison],” said Donna Doyle Singleton, executive director of AJMN. “It’s not just about being a good father — it’s about being a good man, a good person, a good husband, a good boyfriend.”

The program is patterned after God, “the best Father there is,” Singleton said. It uses biblical principles to pass along skills such as how to get an education in prison, pursuing job openings upon release, changing bad habits and working on inmates’ relationships (with their wives, girlfriends, children’s mother, children, etc.).

The fatherhood program has been going strong at Limestone for the past eight years. It’s been so popular, in fact, that it had to be split in half and each class of 35 men rotates to meet every other Friday for an hour each session. It’s one of the most attended program options the correctional facility offers, according to Singleton.

Upon completion of the program, participants are given a certificate that can help them in custody and visitation situations in the future.

Success stories

“We had one gentleman who completed the program two years ago and earlier this year he was awarded full custody of his granddaughter,” Singleton said. She says it’s these types of stories that keep her and program volunteers motivated and encouraged.

Curtis Reynolds, now a chaplain at Brother Bryan Mission in Birmingham, used to volunteer with the fatherhood program through AJMN in 2013 and 2014. He gained full custody of his daughter because her mother was addicted to drugs and this personal experience attracted him to the program. Volunteering allowed him to connect with the incarcerated men in meaningful ways.

“I’ve always said a picture tells more than a story,” he said. “If they can see what you’re saying, they can understand what you’re saying.”

Reynolds said the program teaches participants that God takes care of His children, no matter what, that He never abandons them.

‘So beneficial’

“We remind them how helpless they felt before they had a relationship with Jesus and let them know that’s how their kids feel without a relationship with them,” Reynolds said. “This program is so beneficial. I’ve seen lots of men change their concept of responsibility and commitment by taking the class.”

Singleton is proud of the course and is especially glad it can act as a way to share God’s love with the inmates who participate in the program.

“If we can feed those people the Word of God and He changes their life because of it, they’ll be better people when they come out,” she said.

For information about Alabama Justice Ministries Network or becoming a volunteer, contact Donna Singleton at dwdoyle@ajmn.org. For more information about the fatherhood program, visit www.fatherhood.org.