Exciting Next Steps

July 5th, 2023

God is at work! Join us in celebrating these success stories, and thank you for your continued prayer and support.

We recently celebrated three graduation ceremonies from our Good Dads 2.0 program: one at Lansing Correctional Facility (a prison), one at City Union Mission (a homelessness center), and one at Swope Health Imani House (a drug rehabilitation center).

Below are some testimonies from recent graduates:

One man, who graduated from Swope Imani House, grew up in a military family with a very difficult and abusive dynamic. He did not have a healthy biblical example of a father to emulate, and now has a son of his own. He has been in and out of programs, but nothing has helped him change the patterns in his life until he got involved with Good Dads KC. God has helped him complete the course and change the trajectory of his life from the path he was on. He has drawn a line in the sand and is determined not to look back.

The cycle of abuse will be broken with him, and his ex-wife and son can already attest to the changes in his life. His son said it is like he has a completely new dad and no longer walks in fear when around him.

One of the men from Lansing Correctional Facility also grew up in an abusive home, ended up in the Foster Care system, and decided that he never wanted a relationship or family because of what was demonstrated to him. He began Good Dads KC, saying he did not know why he was doing it because he never wanted to become a father. However, he completed the training and at the graduation ceremony, he testified that he now desires marriage and a family and was the first person to sign up for our next program, Within My Reach, which discusses how to pick a good life partner.

Some graduates from City Union Mission.

Two of the men from Lansing were unable to attend the graduation ceremony but wrote testimonies of how God is at work in their lives. Below are highlights from what they wrote, but I recommend going to the webpage (Testimonies) and reading the testimonies in full.

“She [mom] would always ask me if I wanted to see my dad and in those days I really didn’t know. When I was growing up on my own, I taught myself mostly everything my dad didn’t teach me which was very hard at times…But as for now, Dad, even if I don’t ever get to meet you, I want you to know I forgive you.” Read more here...

“Men of this community, it first starts with us and the responsibility of raising children is ours. Taking time to learn how to be a good dad is an investment that not only trains up your children but breaks a potential generational curse Satan put upon us to be absent fathers. Our children are our legacies and even though we’ve marred our names, we can make the names of our children good, for Scripture says: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)” Read more here...

We have already started another training program (Within My Reach) at Lansing Correctional Facility. The Good Dads 2.0 program is a precursor to Within My Reach, so all of the men starting this training either just graduated or graduated in January. Those who just graduated are ready to jump into Within My Reach, and the men from the graduation in January have been eagerly awaiting the next phase of training for four months. There has been some playful rivalry between the two groups, but they are all excited to keep learning more about God, themselves, and what it means to be a godly man and father!

Good Dads Kansas City is excited to announce an event in partnership with Dads Against Crime (DAC). On July 29th, we will join DAC for their second annual Christmas in July! It will be a day of ice cream, music, and fun with appearances from artists such as Fatha Figga, Levar Fletcher, Big Rob, and more! Click here for more information.

As always, thank you for your prayers and support! Please continue to pray with us that God would raise up more men to be facilitators, as the needs continue to grow.

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

Story by Havannah Foster

Thank you for all your prayers and support; we could not do this work without you!

You can make a financial gift to Good Dads KC here: tinyurl.com/good-dads-kc-giving
Learn about serving opportunities here: tinyurl.com/nwcvolunteer
To join our prayer team email: care@newlifekc.org

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