Faith at Work
“I love sharing God’s grace,” exclaims Scott Jones. Eight years ago, he and his mentor, the late Russell Worrell, began volunteering with the Sav-A-Life Vestavia ministry. At that time the ministry primarily served women, supporting and building meaningful relationships with them through pregnancy. Jones and Worrell were the first male volunteers, offering encouragement to would be fathers. Seeing his passion to minister to men, Worrell encouraged Jones to start working with Brother Bryan Mission of Birmingham, knowing Jones would be a perfect fit. “He knew my heart for helping fathers to become who God created them to be,” says Jones.
To help meet this need, Jones started teaching classes at the Mission to help men become better fathers and husbands to their families. Jones has offered these men living proof that there is life after drugs, and because of his dedication and service, he has seen men’s lives change. He can tell story after story of the regeneration he has witnessed, from alcoholics becoming sober to families being reunited. “My favorite story,” says Jones, “is of an atheist who not only accepted Christ but now his mom, step-dad, sister, brother-in-law, and niece all go to my church weekly.”
As facilities manager and chaplain at Brother Bryan, Jones oversees the maintenance of two buildings, staffing, and discipleship. He leads morning chapel every Tuesday for the men at the Mission and oversees a chapel service and lunch every weekday for the homeless community. Jim Etheridge, Executive Director at Brother Bryan Mission, says, “Scott represents the best of our staff’s care and concern for those who come under our influence. Through firmness and love Scott prods others to seek a better life.”
Besides working at Brother Bryan Mission, Jones continues to serve as a volunteer at Sav-A-Life Vestavia, leading a Daddy Boot Camp. “The importance of volunteers like Scott is the fact that they just ‘get it.’ They understand the impact their volunteering makes and how it changes lives,” explains Shaun Barnes, Sav-A-Life Vestavia, Fatherhood Ministry Coordinator.
Through his volunteering at Sav-A-Life and his work at Brother Bryan, Scott explains he has received a huge gift. “I feel I have personally grown as a leader, as a Christian and as a man. I have learned how to share the love I have experienced through the forgiveness of God.”
Learn more about how you can make a difference at Brother Bryan Mission and Sav-A-Life Vestavia. Visit www.bbmission.org and www.savalife.org.
-Regan Green
