Last November, Johnny was struggling to put a Thanksgiving dinner on the table for his fiancée. Through a recommendation from United Way, he came to Hope for the Inner City’s annual Turkey for Two.

At Hope, he found a turkey and some groceries. He also found something he needed even more: a job—and biblical training and caring support to keep it.

More Than a Job

Johnny had been out of work, and his record wasn’t helping his employment search. He had done hard time, and when it came to getting hired, his past seemed to always stand in his way.

But through Hope’s Jobs for Life program, Johnny found a way forward.

He soon acquired the soft skills and character building that employers prize. For Johnny, Jobs for Life meant more than jumping through hoops to get hired. It spelled a life change.

“They are teaching me the steps to find myself, not just find a job,” he says. “They have been giving me the tools and the foundation to climb back out of the gutter.”

To Tea and Beyond

In less than two weeks, God provided Johnny with a position as a prep cook at the English Rose, an upscale tearoom downtown. His hard work and dedication earned him a solid raise two weeks later.

Johnny still has a month until his Jobs for Life graduation, but already he has plans to continue his education.

“I have a passion to learn,” he says. “I just want to better myself.”

One subject that Johnny wants to learn more about is computers. And the Jobs for Life staff is ready to help him get plugged in with a computer program at Chattanooga State Community College.

To Johnny, Jobs for Life’s commitment to its graduates sets it apart.

“When you complete the program, that’s not just it,” he says. “They are willing to stick by your side for two more years to help you and make sure you are making it. Other programs say when you’re done, see you later. But not Jobs for Life.”

In journeying with its students before and after graduation, Jobs for Life’s mentors and instructors find a remarkable opportunity to share the gracious commitment of Christ to his followers."Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)