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Hope Inspired Ministries assists individuals with removing barriers to achieving their life goals. On Aug. 15, ministry leaders joined the Lowndes County Community in celebrating the graduation of three area residents, the fourth class to complete the program so far this year.

Floyd Gordon, Jr. Devin Caldwell and Santana Lee walked the isle during the commencement ceremony hosted by Lowndesboro Baptist Church. According to site coordinator Jessica Fails, the three had overcome some tremendous, life-challenging obstacles to reach the milestone of graduation.

“This class faced a lot of personal struggles,” Fails said. “These obstacles played a part in them trusting the process.

“Some of them went from being homeless to having a house to live in and personal issues with the law to facing those challenges head on and still finishing the program.”

Ministry career coaches walk alongside program participants, providing training and also tangible resources for overcoming obstacles.

“We help them find resources that will help them get the apartment they need,” Fails said. “We helped them with necessary paperwork and provided transportation back and forth to all appointments they had to attend to get the apartment. We even helped with the deposit. So, we did everything that they needed, just so they could have somewhere to lay their head at night.”

Fails pointed out the importance of guiding participants to face challenges head on. Career coaches remain alongside participants facing criminal charges, helping them realize there is no insurmountable obstacle to a changed life.

“We take them so they can turn themselves in,” Fails said. “We help them find a bail bondsman to get them out. We let them know that we’re there with open arms to welcome them back because they faced that issue instead of running from it. Everybody deserves a second chance.”

To learn more about the program, visit www.hopeinspiredministries.org.