Meet Jarvis Guthrie.

 I thought I had my whole life figured out. I enlisted into the United States Army while taking college courses at Florida State College At Jacksonville in 2012. I recently graduated high school. This would have allowed me to leave as an E3 Computer Specialist. I had no idea that the road ahead of me would birth my purpose and passion changing my life forever.  

Incarceration was the last place I thought I would ever attend. On the night of January 21, 2012, I almost fatally lost my life. I was at a house party binge drinking. I woke up in clay county emergency room with welps on my head and a closed black eye. I discovered that I got the houses confused and kicked down the door of a police officer. The gun jammed and he pistol whipped until I was unconscious.

The case went on for 8 months. The judge gave me an ultimatum of pleading mercy or taking it to trial. I put my trust in God and pleaded mercy. I heard the Judges encouraging words and the gravel hit my heart with Two years in Florida State prison and Three years on house arrest.

My time in prison was where I began to grow and develop. I was hungry, ambitious and eager to see what God had in store for me. I was located at Lake City Correctional Facility with young men between the ages of 18-24 years old. On May 13,2013 I received my calling to become a preacher of the gospel.  Countless testimonies of the young men, timeless miracles and the glory that was shown to me, inspired me to find a solution to help young men after incarceration.

When I was released from prison, I had no idea that obtaining employment and housing was extremely difficult for ex-offenders. Without my family, church and support system, I don’t know where I would be. Those I met while incarcerated were so excited with dreams and visions before they were released. By the time I was on house arrest and probation, the hope was lost. Sitting in probation offices and seeing the hardships and cries from ex-offenders sparked me to greater heights of trying to find a solution for us.

I spent my time bettering myself by obtaining an associates and bachelors degree in supervision and management. I had the hopes of obtaining good employment. Still the barriers and discrimination of my past still was a strong hold. I didn’t give up. Both my parents died and went on to glory. Im at peace because my parents were able to see the man that they knew I could always become

I have dedicated my whole life to this cause. Ive realized after 6 years released from prison that a good paying job, education, and x amount of money doesn’t validate how successful you are. My goal is to help ex-offenders realize their God given abilities and change the any mindsets of how employers view us. My dream is that a small house and farm will rehabilitate the hearts and minds and produce some great men ready to take on the challenges of Life.