Band of Brothers

August 8th, 2023

Mentorship and teachings in Good Dads Kansas City help men become better fathers and foster a community of men that strive to do better in all aspects of life. The leaders of Good Dads KC, Pastor Don and Lee, have recently witnessed the power of brotherhood and Christ-like love in their training program at Lansing Correctional Facility. It’s hard not to see Jesus in this specific situation.

Brothers in Blue Reentry is a program that Good Dads Kansas City partners with. “Brothers In Blue Reentry is a faith-based program, designed to equip inmates to function as positive, productive members of society upon release. [They] serve members both inside the prison and after release.” BIBR provides a rigorous program “to assist incarcerated individuals with a change process that begins while they are in prison and extends beyond their release. This change will allow them to become responsible leaders in their families, churches, and communities upon release.” GDKC has been working with Brothers in Blue and our training is part of their program. In order to maintain their high standards, BIBR has guidelines that the inmates must follow in order to stay in the program. Recently, one inmate was removed from the program because he chose not to follow the rules. Below we share his story and how his group banded around him. (Names and important information have been changed for sensitivity purposes.)

"Yesterday at Lansing Correctional Facility an historic event took place within the Brothers in Blue Reentry program. Here are the details:

One of the inmates of group 28, James, was removed from the BIBR program due to an infraction of the rules. He has been out of the pod for one month. On Tuesday, the other 10 men of group 28 approached the leaders of BIBR requesting that James be reinstated in the program. The leaders agreed to welcome him back, under the condition that he start the program all over, which meant joining a new group. The men of group 28 insisted that James be reassigned to their group and not another. The leaders of BIBR agreed to that, under one condition - that all 10 fellow members of the group agree to make up the classes that James missed along with him. That meant these 10 men would be required to have extra classes on the weekends when they usually slept in.

All of James' fellow group members agreed to make up the classes with him, giving up their weekends and Tuesdays. They will make up 7 classes each week for the next six weeks which is a total of 42 extra classes for those 10 men, truly a sacrifice of their time!

In addition, James was brought in front of the entire community, approximately 100 men, and it was announced what the leaders of BIBR had decided, and the consequences that would result if James and the other 10 men failed to meet their requirements. If they, group 28, do not accomplish their goal, BIBR will never again allow something like this to be approved.

I am a volunteer teacher/facilitator for group 28 and can't tell you how proud I am of what these 10 men have decided to do. Truly they are a Band of Brothers."

The grace and mercy that James found among his classmates and leadership is a true example of the same loving hand that God extends toward all of us. Good Dads KC strives to create a community among all attendees that ultimately points them toward Jesus. Please consider donating to Good Dads Kansas City to ensure more inmates and men like James receive teachings and discipleship. We cannot do this work without you!

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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-donate
Learn about serving opportunities here: tinyurl.com/nwcvolunteer
To join our prayer team email: care@newlifekc.org

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Posted in Good Dads Kansas City, Brothers in Blue Reentry, Lansing Correctional Facility