James and Corie are the kind of people who listen carefully. They laugh easily. They speak thoughtfully. And when they talk about faith, it is clear that following Jesus is not something they have added to their lives. It is the lens through which they see everything. Married for 26 years, with three children and five grandchildren, James and Corie carry a quiet steadiness shaped by years of walking with the Lord. Their faith has been formed over time through prayer, Scriptur

Gentleman says he never stopped believing in God, even when his life didn’t reflect it. “It wasn’t in my heart to reject God,” he explains. His return to faith wasn’t dramatic. It was gradual. Sermons. Conversations. Wrestling with hard truths. Eventually, Bible studies and church attendance on the inside became part of his life again. “God did it for my good.” he says simply. 

“My primary focus for getting into JUMPSTART at that time was parole. That was my motivation. That’s all I wanted. But when I was denied, I had a choice to make. I said, do I quit? No. So I stayed.”

“I am still trying to figure that out,” he says, reflecting on a life marked by hard work, risk, and seasons of change. Raised in McBee, South Carolina, John attended high school in Hartsville and later Clemson University. In the years that followed, his path was anything but linear. He started a men’s shirt company that saw both success and failure.

When most people think about volunteering, they imagine teaching a class, serving a meal, or mentoring someone in faith. For Dr. Thomas Balint, his calling looks a little different. He uses his medical practice as a ministry to restore dignity, meet needs, and bring hope to all his patients, including those who have walked through incarceration.

Some people grow up in church. Others grow up around it. Jeremy Johnson was one of those kids. From VBS programs to Sunday mornings with his family, he was always near the things of God. He learned the songs. He knew the stories. He showed up to all the activities. But like he says today, “I was aware of God because I was close to Him. But I didn’t yet know what a true relationship with Him really meant.”

Meet Battalion Chief and JUMPSTART Volunteer Lindsay McDade. Alongside her therapy horse, Muffin, they are on a unique mission: to raise awareness around substance misuse and mental health. Instead of waiting for another overdose call, Lindsay and her team are stepping in earlier. They are meeting people where they are with prevention, education, and compassion.

Joe Santana, a 77-year-old participant recently released from a 6-year prison sentence, understands the significance of living his life entirely guided by the whispers of direction from the Holy Spirit.

Craig Penland is no stranger to building things that last. But beyond his role as President and CEO, Craig is a husband of 35 years, a father, and a man of faith. His story reveals how God has used both business and generosity to impact lives far beyond the walls of his company. “Second chances. None of us deserves them, but God gives them anyway. If He offers us a second chance, who am I not to do the same for others?”

How Wateree Correctional Facility Is Cultivating Hope and Hard Skills Through Brilliant Stewardship and Resourcefulness: Donald Beckwith serves as the warden of Wateree Correctional Institution, a medium, level 2 security facility for incarcerated men in South Carolina. Established in the 1890s, Wateree is the oldest prison in the state and carries a rich legacy of offering second chances through its distinctive agricultural and farming programs.