Ministry Update: Powerhouse Ministries, Folsom
By Jon Ingraham, Director of Development at Powerhouse Ministries, Folsom
When I was invited to present on behalf of Powerhouse Ministries at The Barnabas Group's August 2024 meeting, I had no idea what I was signing up for. What I did know was that I would have the opportunity to share one of our biggest challenges—and that others would come alongside us to help brainstorm potential solutions. What I didn’t expect, however, was the extraordinary support we received from the incredible coaches at Barnabas, like Eric Bergen and Dr. John Harris, and the transformative training session led by Bill Foster, which completely changed how we tell our nonprofit's story.
Powerhouse Ministries, established in 1992, is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to transforming lives by breaking the cycles of addiction, abuse, and poverty. Our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to overcome their circumstances, change their lives, and positively impact their communities. We accomplish this through four residential centers offering two-year, no-cost programs for men, women, teens, and children. The Crisis and Community Care Center provides essential resources such as housing support, medical care, and job training for individuals and families in need. Additionally, Powerhouse Ministries offers a Sunday Night Church Service and a Student Ministries program. Each year, over 15,000 people engage with us through one of our programs.
Our Challenge
Our challenge was a daunting one: how to engage the business community to offer vocational coaching and opportunities for our residents, so they can launch successful careers upon graduation. It wasn’t the most glamorous problem to solve, but it was a critical issue for us. Over 70% of our graduates were unable to secure career-level positions that would support themselves and their families.
For our residents, many of whom are overcoming years of addiction, abuse, poverty, and incarceration, this struggle is more than just finding a job—it’s about life-changing transformation. These individuals spend two years with us, undergoing a profound journey of recovery, hope, healing and restoration. We want to help them launch careers that reflect the hope and potential they’ve discovered.
The Solution!
At The Barnabas Group, through brainstorming and ideation sessions, a fantastic solution emerged: a three-pronged approach for business engagement, allowing people to connect with our mission at different levels based on their availability. Now, through our website, volunteers can “Take Action” and choose to “Reach” (volunteer one to two times per year), “Equip” (volunteer for four to six-week sessions), or “Empower” (volunteer on an ongoing basis) our residents.
What we’ve seen as a result has been incredibly rewarding. Our residents now have more opportunities to engage with the business community—whether through classes, seminars, or direct introductions to companies eager to give them a chance. Additionally, businesses are now more open to hiring our residents, providing career opportunities that were once out of reach.
For Powerhouse Ministries, this solution has transformed a longstanding challenge into something tangible that we can present to organizations and partners. It’s also given us a clear, consistent way to engage with businesses and individuals who want to support our mission—whether they’re able to make a small commitment or a larger, ongoing one.
The impact of presenting at Barnabas went far beyond the immediate brainstorming session. It gave us a fresh perspective on how we could better serve our residents, connect them with new opportunities, and strengthen the relationships that will help them thrive. And for that, we’re deeply grateful.
About The Author: Jon Ingraham
Jon Ingraham brings a diverse background in both the secular workforce and ministry, uniquely positioning him for success at Powerhouse Ministries. Holding a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Family and Children’s Ministry from Jessup University, Jon has served in various roles at Powerhouse, including Crisis and Community Care, Operations/HR, and Children’s Director, and most recently, Director of Development. Prior to his work at Powerhouse, he served as a Children’s Pastor. Growing up in Folsom, Jon developed a strong reputation and network, which has played a key role in effectively leveraging support for the ministry.