“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.

What happens when freedom feels more like a sentence than a second chance? For thousands of men and women released from South Carolina prisons each year, “freedom” begins with nothing but the clothes on their back and the bus ticket in their hand. No job. No ID. No home. No one waiting for them. For many, it’s only a matter of days before desperation drives them right back through prison gates. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

🎨 It’s not about pencils or paper. It’s about presence. There’s no spotlight. No stage. Just a simple lesson. It often ends with a rustle of papers, a laugh about how “This isn’t anyone’s future career,” and a cheerful goodbye. From the outside, it may seem like an insignificant blip in the week.

Belonging is something that every human craves. A place to call home. A people to call your family. True connection to run to when things get tough. Tiffany's story is explored in this article focused around how she found her belonging in Christ.