Johnny Cowan II

Before coming to Hope Inspired Ministries, Johnny says his life was going in circles. It was difficult for him to find a consistent job, and he felt very limited in his ability to move forward. He was beginning to lose hope.

One day, as Johnny was going to the grocery store, he ran into our Career Coach, Darius. Darius has a unique perspective on the program, as he was once a H.I.M. student before becoming an instructor. Darius and Johnny discussed the program and how it had helped Darius in his own life. Johnny came to our office and says he was instantly welcomed into a friendly atmosphere of love and joy. He knew right away that he wanted everything Hope Inspired Ministries had to offer.

Because of H.I.M., Johnny feels that he is ready for any interview that comes his way. He is working on his character and has grown in soft skills. His outlook on life is brighter because of the tools he learned through the program, and he has also recommitted his life to the Lord.

He says, “One of the main things I learned at Hope Inspired Ministries was that no matter the task at hand, anything requires persistence. Jobs are no different.”

Johnny will be completing an internship with Grace Klein Community, and he is excited to share all that he has learned at H.I.M. with everyone he meets.

Joyce Fletcher

Before Hope Inspired Ministries, Joyce was working fast food jobs, where she never felt joy and didn’t have a real interest. She never understood that work could feel meaningful and be something you should look forward to doing everyday.

One day, Joyce attended a second chance job fair, where she received a brochure about Hope Inspired Ministries. The information intrigued her, so she called our office number. After several phone calls with Darius, Joyce made up her mind that she would attend this program. She even nicknamed Darius “Brother Persistent,” as she received so many phone calls from him.

She says if it weren’t for Darius’ persistence, however, she would not have started the program and be where she is today. Joyce is now employed with Buffalo Rock and truly enjoys her job. Joyce recalled the moment she was offered the job, saying, “Have you ever seen anyone cry because they got hired? Well, that was me!” We are so proud of Joyce and her accomplishments!

Antoinette Hollis

Antoinette says that while her spirit was longing for a change, she was not ready to give up or surrender some of her earthly ways. However, one day, she received a call from Darius asking if she would be interested in attending our program.

She half-heartedly told him yes, but she really had no intention of going to the class. After multiple calls from Darius, Antoinette decided to give the program a try. Once she got here, she says that she continued making excuses. But, after receiving help and encouragement from the staff, Antoinette decided she was going to stay and complete the program.

She learned several skills throughout the six weeks in the classroom and says that her favorite guest speaker was Tasha Scott. Tasha reminded Antoinette that she can still dream big, and if her dreams don’t scare her, they aren’t big enough. This instilled the mindset in Antoinette that she can still set goals and achieve them.

Vesta Richardson

In March of this year, Vesta began searching for a job. She knew she was ready to branch out and do something different with her career. She sent numerous resumes but unfortunately never received any calls for interviews. By this point, she says she was feeling discouraged, desperate, and insecurities were beginning to take over her mind.

Vesta prayed that God would open her eyes to new ideas and opportunities. One day, as she was scrolling through Facebook, she came across an ad for Hope Inspired Ministries. She says, “I felt my pulse race and thought to myself that this is the opportunity of my prayers.”

Vesta filled out our online student application, and Darius called her soon after. She says that Darius was the first person who she shared her personal life story with, outside of family, and she felt validated by his loving and compassionate response. After speaking with Darius, Vesta knew she would attend the H.I.M. program.

Through the program, Vesta learned many wonderful truths through the wisdom of speakers, teachers, and her peers. She learned that we are all more alike than we are different. She learned we are all broken, but more importantly, we are all forgiven.

Today, Vesta has the confidence she was lacking. After struggling with interviews, she now feels more prepared after learning the “One Two Punch” and “STAR Method” from our Site Director, Gene. In fact, she has already landed a job at Food Outlet! We are so proud of Vesta and excited to see her future unfold.

Wallace Sailem

Before coming to Hope Inspired Ministries, Wallace was working a short-term job, but he knew he had more to offer. Wallace was ready to break the cycle of working just to make ends meet. Wallace came across one of our H.I.M. signs that reads, “Can’t Keep A Job? Let Us Help!” Shortly after, his wife handed him a Hope Inspired Ministries flyer. This was the confirmation Wallace needed to take the next step and enroll in our program.

Wallace completed our program and was awarded Honor Graduate. This award is only given to one graduate per class and is a high honor at Hope Inspired Ministries. Currently, Wallace is working at Kamtek, and he has even offered to volunteer as a lunch provider for the students in our next class.

John Williams

Before Hope Inspired Ministries, John says he wasn’t doing much of anything. He mainly spent his days sitting around and drinking. He had been out of the workforce since 2006 due to a work related injury, but that all changed with a knock on his door.

One day, John’s friend stopped by to tell him about a free hotdog and hamburger cookout going on down the street. His friend had spoken with Darius at the cookout, and he shared all the information he learned with John. John says, “The next thing I knew, I was in the classroom!”

When class started, John felt a little apprehensive. He remembers feeling a little strange with all of the new faces to learn. However, as he and his classmates began to open up about their life journeys, he started to feel more comfortable.

Throughout the program, John learned many useful skills, but more importantly, his relationship with God grew. He enjoyed participating in devotion each morning, and he particularly loved when Dr. Latting came to lead devotion. John says, “Hope Inspired Ministries brought me out of a hole that I was in, and I know that I will always come back to this place that changed my life.”

Ramona Zimmerle

Ramona has lived at Pathways for the past 12 years, which is where she first learned about Hope Inspired Ministries. She enjoyed the program so much, that she was here early every single morning, and never missed a day of class, earning her the Perfect Attendance award.

Ramona says that she learned about behavior, life skills, and employment while she was at H.I.M. She enjoyed hearing guest speakers, like Jacquie from Bama Wellness, and she had fun creating and presenting her life map. Ramona says the life map exercise taught her a lot about herself, and she expressed, “It felt like I had a weight lifted off me.”

This week, Ramona will begin an internship with Grace Klein Community. Her goals are to get her own apartment and work part-time at a grocery store.

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Many of our students’ success stories are made possible because of this partnership. For instance, H.I.M. Class2021-2 graduate, Karlee Hollon, struggled with addiction in her past. Because of Sober Living and her dedication to the Hope Inspired Ministries program, Karlee is now sober, successful, and happy! Karlee came to H.I.M. ready for a life change, and together, we guided her towards a new future with unlimited possibilities.

We caught up with Karlee recently to ask what she learned from her time in the H.I.M. class. “Being in the classroom with 20 other people taught me that no matter what a person’s background is, anyone can make mistakes, and everyone needs a helping hand. Being with the other students helped me feel like I was not alone.” Additionally, the instructors showed Karlee the potential she has to be more than her past, reminding her, “Your past does not determine your future,” which is a line from our H.I.M. pledge.

Karlee wants to encourage anyone who may be interested in our program to apply today. Before Hope Inspired Ministries, Karlee could not keep a job and was living an unsustainable life. After graduating from our program, Karlee now has two jobs, friends, and a support system that helps her with every day life. To this day, Karlee still keeps in touch with her H.I.M. mentor, who calls frequently just to remind Karlee that she is loved.  Karlee says, “The life skills I learned in this program push me to be a better person, and for that I am so grateful.”

Thank you, Karlee, for sharing your journey with us, and thank you to Shoot for Life Sober Living for your wonderful partnership in serving this community. If you would like to learn more about how you can partner or volunteer with Hope Inspired Ministries, please contact the Community Relations Specialist for the campus near you.

Birmingham: MeLeah Bennett – meleah@hopeinspiredministries.org

Lowndes & Montgomery: Joleen George – joleen@hopeinspiredministries.org

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Cynthia Bush

Last year was a difficult year for Cynthia due to the coronavirus outbreak. Cynthia has an outgoing personality and considers herself to be a people person, so when COVID began, she felt broken and miserable. She missed seeing family and friends. While going to get groceries at Piggly Wiggly one day, she noticed an area outside of the store where Hope Inspired Ministries was giving away free hamburgers and hot dogs. She decided to go over and get her blessing, never really recognizing that this blessing was bigger than a burger. While waiting on her burger, Mrs. Farrah asked her if she would like to come and take classes at Hope Inspired Ministries. Since beginning the class, we have seen Cynthia grow leaps and bounds. She was always willing to help people and never took the time to focus on herself. With help from the staff encouraging her that it’s okay to say no sometimes, she finally understood what boundaries were and how important it is to guard her heart above all else. Now, she is happy and whole and is interning at Grace Klein Community where she thrives in helping others. We are so proud of her and know that God has a plan for her life.

Audre Cane

Prior to Hope Inspired Ministries, Audre had several unpleasant experiences, but God was always with her. She was working, but it was simply a job where she was trying to get from one point to the next. She heard about Hope Inspired Ministries through Pathways Women’s Housing. Mrs. Zeola and Ms. Sinika told her that she would love Hope Inspired Ministries and that we would help her find a job. They knew what she wanted and needed.

Since starting the class, God has opened many doors for Audre, and she has grown her relationship with God even more through this process. God also opened a door for Audre to continue her career in Cosmetology, and she is now working full time at Super Cuts in Vestavia. We are so proud of her accomplishments and how she continues to teach other people how to fish as well.

Sarah Cochran

Before coming to Hope Inspired Ministries, Sarah’s life was one of inconsistency and instability. She struggled with a severe addiction for the better part of her twenties. Having a little boy at 30 years old helped her to be determined and get better, but she always tried to do it on her own. “Something always seemed to be ‘off’ and missing,” she recalls.

In July 2020, Sarah and her son went to and completed a residential rehabilitation program for women and children. From there, they went to a women’s shelter called Pathways, which is how Sarah heard of Hope Inspired Ministries. Sarah eventually moved into her new home right when class started, which gave her time to work on herself.

With the encouragement of Mr. Darius Haney over the phone, she came to H.I.M. and immediately loved the atmosphere when she walked into the building. She learned that it’s okay to be broken but not to wallow in her emotions – good or bad. She learned that she’s not alone, and with God in her life, anything is possible. She learned to love herself again.

Since completing the class, Sarah has been actively pursing employment and has gone on several interviews. Her goal is to go to school through Generations USA, where she can study Information Technology. We are proud of her for being dedicated in pursuing her dreams.

Annette Robertson

In December, Annette ended a relationship with an abusive man that she had known off and on for four years (whom she tried to help). As a result, she was left alone on the side of I-65, while he took her van and headed north outside of Alabaster. This led her to live in a shelter in Columbiana. Within a few months’ time, she went from having a job, a vehicle, and a place to call home, to being all alone in a strange city. This was her wakeup call. Something had to change.

After a few months, Annette came to Birmingham. God led her here with an open heart and mind. She hopes that she can inspire and bring hope to someone out there feeling hopeless, alone, and lost, just like Hope Inspired Ministries did for her. Since starting the class, she has blossomed into a beautiful woman of God and went from quiet and shy to now confident and talkative. We are proud to announce that she has been hired at Springhill Suites near the Summit as a housekeeper and did an internship with Grace Klein Community along side some of her classmates. We are so proud of her!

Jackie Saunders

In early 2021, Jackie was homeless due to her health. While she was in the hospital, she contracted COVID-19.  Since then, she’s been in a lot of pain and has not fully recovered. She could not work, and the homelessness led her to Pathways, a shelter in the Birmingham community. There, the intake worker, Bailey, told her about Hope Inspired Ministries. She gave her a pamphlet to read, and that’s when she decided to enroll in the nine week class.

When she started class, it was more than what she thought.  She has learned a lot about interviewing and the ten things that require zero talent that all employers are looking for in employees. Some of those things are: a  positive attitude, showing effort, being on time, and having passion for what you do.

Tasha Scott, a guest speaker, talked to us about setting goals and making new habits. She said, “To get different results, I need to make new actions.” For Jackie, that meant going back to school and finishing her bachelor’s degree in human resources, and eventually studying to become an R. N. Jackie is ready to get back to her church, get back into the full swing of things, find a job in healthcare, and get her life back on track. She thanks Jesus for allowing her to go through this process at Hope Inspired Ministries.

Hellen Vasquez

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Dewayne recalls the week he met Nate, stating, “One night that week, I was a lost sheep, in the cold, homeless, and sleeping by the McWane Center. The cold was unbearable! It was one of those nights that was the coldest we’ve had this year. I was so cold that I couldn’t think straight, much less sleep. It was so cold it hurt. I couldn’t stop shivering or relax enough to go to sleep. Yet, for the first time in my life, I spoke to God. I told God that I knew if I called on Him for comfort, He would be my comforter. I’m glad to say that He touched me that night with comfort, warmth, and sleep.”

It was then that Dewayne’s renewed life began, and God’s blueprint for his life started to reveal itself. The very next day was his first day at Hope Inspired Ministries.

Through Hope Inspired Ministries, Dewayne learned that God has a purpose and vision for his life. Additionally, he learned character building and behavior modification skills, how to fill out a job application, and what to expect in a job interview.

Dewayne also gained invaluable wisdom from our volunteers who serve as guest speakers and mentors. Dewayne’s mentor showed him unconditional love and reminded him that our past does not define our future. One guest speaker, in particular, gave Dewayne an immense amount of hope. He says, “Brother Matt Bostic gave us a powerful illustration of the importance of guarding our heart at all costs and to constantly ask God to open the eyes of my heart. I learned through Christ Jesus who strengthens me, I have the courage to walk the straight path of God’s inheritance.”

Dewayne is so appreciative to all of the volunteers and staff members at Hope Inspired Ministries. During the program, he received glasses and was able to obtain his driver’s license. He is currently working in construction and considers his H.I.M. classmates as family.

Dewayne says, “Some may ask, how can a person with my past testify that God answers and finds his lost sheep? The answer is because I was a lost sheep. I pray that if the day comes where I come across a lost sheep, I can lead him/her back to our wonderful Father.”

Watch Dewayne share his story here.

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We caught up with one of our newest mentors, Elizabeth Roth, recently, to ask her about her experience as a H.I.M. mentor.

The post Mentor Makes A Difference in Her Community appeared first on Hope Inspired Ministries.

Johnny (pictured left) came to Hope Inspired Ministries unemployed, depressed, and at a stand-still in life. He was searching for a change. After reading a pamphlet about Hope Inspired Ministries, Johnny was intrigued by the information about God and education, and he knew this program was what he needed. After the first day of class, Johnny was filled with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell his friend and roommate, Rickey, about H.I.M.

Similar to Johnny, Rickey (pictured right) was in a hard place in life before Hope Inspired Ministries. He was stuck in a day-by-day routine, not working, and only inviting what the street had to offer each day. When Johnny explained his experience with H.I.M., Rickey knew he had to see what this program was all about.

We are proud to report that through Hope Inspired Ministries, both Johnny and Rickey have turned their lives around. They learned about work ethic, body language, interview skills, character development, and behavior management. They grew in their relationships with the Lord, and both men are now employed through Waffle House!

Rickey says, “If it wasn’t for Johnny, I definitely would not be where I am today. Hope Inspired Ministries has been a wonderful and positive learning experience for me.”

There are many other individuals, just like Johnny and Rickey, who need your help. By donating, you are helping us put men and women back to work and allowing them to push the reset button in life. To contribute today, please click here.

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