The name of the new store on Ga. Highway 85 South near Goza Road says Resurrection Clothing & More.

As an arm of Fayette County-based Action of Faith Ministries, the site is a multi-pronged approach aimed at filling a host of needs and turning lives around. Its proceeds provide a solution for recidivism in the criminal justice system. But more than anything, it is a symbol of a spiritual mission aimed at serving the whole person.

Located beside Big Daddy’s Motorcycles, Resurrection Clothing & More had its grand opening April 16 with a ribbon cutting attended by a host of representatives of Fayette Chamber of Commerce and well-wishers familiar with Action of Faith.

The new store sells clothing, shoes, furniture and more. But those are just the visible aspects of a growing ministry founded to help provide a Christian alternative to the high recidivism rate experienced in the criminal justice system.

The store also serves as a food bank and clothes closet for those in need and is the location for Bible-based Life Recovery meetings and budgeting and money management classes, all of which are open to the public free of charge.

The main focus of Action of Faith Ministries, however, is not contained inside the walls of the thrift store.

Action of Faith Ministries is geared toward helping to restore young men getting out of jail and helping them get back on their feet without going back into the same lifestyle.

Speaking about the two residential assistance homes in Fayette County run by Action of Faith were its two founders, Curtis Hindman and minister Harold Simmons.

“Curtis realized that the guys getting out had nowhere to go. So we started Action of Faith,” said Simmons. “It’s geared toward helping young men who have been incarcerated get a foundation when they come out of jail. Living in the residential assistance homes is voluntary, not court-ordered. When most of them come out they don’t have a driver’s license or anywhere to go. So we stepped in to help them help themselves by starting the residential assistance homes.”

Action of Faith currently runs two residential assistance homes in unincorporated Fayette County with four residents in each. They receive no state or federal funding. The money to operate comes from the finances of Simmons and Hindman and from donations.

“With the economy the way it is, we had to find a new way of coming up with funds. So the Lord laid on our hearts to start a thrift store, which we opened in Jonesboro,” Simmons said. “We kept it for a year. It wasn’t in a good location so we waited until we found this place. We always wanted to be in Fayette County. That’s where our hearts are.”

Hindman said the residential assistance homes includes living arrangements, transportation and nutritional assistance. “All support for the homes comes through donation,” Hindman said.

“Even though we have the thrift store now, the financial support is not enough. What we need is to have financial support for all the things like gas to go on job searches, dental bills, doctors appointments,” said Hindman. “Medicaid doesn’t pay for any of this. So now we’re in the middle of writing government grant proposals and business-sponsored grant proposals. The store just doesn’t cover all the overhead of running this ministry.”

Another component of the residential settings under the Action of Faith umbrella is Nails for Jesus. Hindman said it provides apprenticeships to residents to develop and refine skills that can be marketable in the home remodeling trade. Nails for Jesus also does yard cleaning, yard maintenance and mechanical work. That mechanical work also includes reduced-price car repair for single mothers, the elderly and underprivileged.

Back at the thrift store, the Life Recovery group meets at the Resurrection store on Thursday nights at 7 p.m., Hindman said. It merges the 12—step of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous with Biblical principles, he said. The sessions are open to the community, Hindman said.

Also open to the public at Resurrection on the first and third Wednesdays, the store’s accountant conducts free budgeting and money management classes.

“We want to open another store in the north side of Fayetteville,” said Hindman looking to the future. “The 85 South location will be the major donation center and from here it will be sorted, with some going out here and some going to the north side store. The items we can’t use will be given to other ministries or will be shipped overseas.”

Also in the future, hopefully by 2010, Action in Faith expects to open a residential assistance home for single women trying to overcome substance abuse and their children. The organization expects to contract with local therapy services organizations with funds received from grants.

Resurrection Clothing & More is located on Ga. Highway 85 South just north of Bernhard Road adjacent to Big Daddy’s Motorcycles. Store hours are 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information on Resurrection’s many offerings call 770-716-8294 or visit www.aofministries.org.

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