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Decision made on giving ex-inmates a second chance in Maysville

"A second chance" versus "Not in my neighborhood." 

A decision was made Thursday night about whether ex-convicts will be allowed to joins a faith-based program in one small community.  

TORCH Ministries, an outreach arm of Victory World Outreach Ministries in Huntsville, was behind a proposal that would offer approximately 50 men the chance to earn a job, undergo training, study to obtain their GED, and receive Christian counseling, to make them productive, taxpaying members of our society and to not re-offend.

Those admitted through a selective process, would also have to want to change.

VIolent offenders and sex offenders would not be considered for this program.

If the plan was followed through, this faith-based program would minister to these men starting mid-late 2008.

But the site on Brownsboro Rd. where Pastor Bobby Sledge and TORCH director WIll Horton chose, which the church happened to own, did not sit well with neighboring residents and those throughout the small community of Maysville.

WAFF 48's Jeanie Powell was at the meeting Thursday night called by Senator Lowell Barron.

State Representatives Butch Taylor and Randy Hinshaw and Madison County Commissioners Jerry Craig and Roger Jones were there to back the majority, which happened to be opposed to idea of ex-convicts moving into town.

The director of the ALabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs regretfully informed the pastor that his vision wasn't going to happen in Maysville.

The pastor, who addressed hundreds at Thursday night's meeting, wanted to get residents' input much earlier, but says when he approached local leaders initially, he was advised not to do that and to just to go on with renovations.

Soon word has spread and residents got very upset.

The ministry didn't want these emotions to get this far.

Hundreds left the Maysville Church of Christ in Gurley with standing room only.

Maysville resident Shelby Jones, who lived next door to the proposed site, tells Jeanie:  "Me living by myself, it was scary not knowing what would live or go on."

Residents and state and local leaders represented opposition to the possibility of an ex-offender re-entry program at an old church on Brownsboro Road.

Senator Lowell Barron, who represents this district, says, "All of us intend to do what it takes to stop this facility from being put in the Maysville area."

TORCH Ministries proposed using its property in Maysville as a venue to turn the ex-criminals lives around, who might have the chance of reoffending by having no place to go.

Concerns were that although this program has good intentions, Maysville wasn't the place for it, having no police force or organized city government.

It was clear with signatures and bodies the answer was no.

State officials told the pastor and audience that without community support, these programs don't succeed.

Pastor Bobby Sledge just wanted to know that all along...

Sledge says, "There is no intention or effort ever designed or intended to do anything without the consensus of this community.   It really wasn't necessary to sign a petition.  All we needed to know was how you felt about it."

TORCH director Will HOrton told the crowd, "We are not going to force anything into this community that brings fear upon the people of this community.  That's not the will of God."

Bill Johnson, director of ADECA, says his agency did lend moral support to Sledge's outreach program, but again, without community support, it couldn't exist.

ADECA offers no funding.

ACCording to Johnson, it acts as a facilitator, identifying churches willing to help these types of people.

Johnson says, "I hope this meeting today got some attention to their program and what they're trying to do."

Maysville resident, Todd Gangl, who attended the meeting, was initially concerned about the possibility because he has six children:  "I think that the program's a very good program.  I think the inmates need a place to go, but as they stated very well in the program, it needs to be supported by the community."

Lisa Craggo, who lives directly on Brownsboro Rd., just houses down from the proposed site, says about Pastor Sledge, "He did really take into consideration the entire community, so I am really thankful."

Maysville resident Charles Maricic agrees:  "He's a great man.  I've got a lot of respect for him."

Maysville sits in County Commissioner Jerry Craig's district.

Craig says he opposed Sledge's idea from beginning to end.

He said this about the close knit community:  "I think the community will be better a community by coming together and supporting each other."

Perhaps bigger things are to come for TORCH Ministries.

Pastor Sledge says, "Everything happens by divine providence and so all of this was the Lord's doing."

Horton says, "We're excited that this community stood up for what they believe in but we're pressing on.  This ministry is going to help individuals who are returning to our communities and society."

The ministry is exploring ideas of turning the old church property in Maysville into possibly a community center.

Meanwhile, church leaders are looking for a future site to continue their vision in changing these men's lives.

Through contributions and grants, no taxpayer dollars they say, they won't give up.

Their site won't be Maysville, but TORCH Ministries will give these people a second chance.