Forgiven Ministries

What Forgiven Ministries does

Forgiven Ministries, Inc. is a faith-based nonprofit founded in 2000 by Scottie and Jack Barnes, headquartered in Taylorsville, North Carolina. The organization operates the One Day with God (ODWG) program, which delivers 3-day camp-style events inside correctional facilities to reconnect incarcerated parents with their children and caregivers. Since 2004, the program has served 9,110 inmates, 14,437 children, 7,257 caregivers, and engaged 38,921 volunteers across 9 U.S. states.

The core product is delivered through in-person, facility-based events rather than a software or platform architecture; technology is not a substantive component of the operating model. Per-child program cost is reported at approximately $250, and the program is administered through a small staff of 27 employees supported by two named ministry coordinators (Mitch King, August 2020; Les Bonnett, April 2024) and a broader volunteer base.

The business model is donation-based. Revenue is generated through individual donors, church contributions, ministry partners (including the Billy Graham Center), and ancillary fundraisers such as regional BBQ events. There is no pricing model, fee-for-service structure, or commercial customer base; the "customers" are the inmate families and caregivers served, and the paying counterparties are donors and partner ministries. The organization marked its 25-year operating anniversary in October 2025.

Name

Forgiven Ministries

Legal name

Forgiven Ministry, Inc.

Website

https://forgivenministry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forgiven Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit that runs One Day with God, a 3-day in-prison camp program reconnecting incarcerated parents with their children, operating across 9 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Prison Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Prison ministry services
• Faith-based programs
• Correctional outreach
• Religious education
• Nonprofit ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Taylorsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The ministry operates entirely on donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Standard donation amounts offered on website are $100, $150, $250, $500, $1000, or custom amounts.
2. Church and Organization Support: Local churches and ministry organizations provide volunteer support, facility access, and financial contributions. Texas fundraiser events have raised over $8,000 from BBQ cookoff events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forgiven Ministries operates One Day with God (ODWG) camps and faith-based programs inside correctional facilities, providing religious education, mentoring, and family support services to incarcerated individuals, their children, and caregivers. The organization delivers in-person ministry services through dedicated facilities such as Ezekiel's Room and the Adam's Center, and runs targeted programs including the Caregiver Program, Godly Dads Seminar, and Godly Moms Program to support spiritual growth and family connection.

Product overview

Forgiven Ministries operates primarily as a faith-based prison ministry with its core offering being the One Day with God (ODWG) Camps—three-day events held inside prisons that reconcile children with their incarcerated parents through structured activities, entertainment, food, crafts, and faith-based teaching. The ministry also runs a Caregiver Program to support family members who bring children to camps, and offers the Godly Dads and Godly Moms seminars on Fridays before camps. The organization operates physical facilities including Ezekiel's Room at Alexander Correctional and Adam's Center in Taylorsville, NC. Camps are conducted across multiple states including Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, Florida, and Louisiana, with each camp typically requiring 70-80 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One Day with God (ODWG) Camps

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows faith-based programs can reduce recidivism rates by up to 20-30%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Billy Graham Center Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing prison ministry resources, training, and support. IPM is part of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.
• Central Church of God Prison MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch-based prison ministry partner contributing volunteers and support to ODWG camps.
• Conquerors International Strength TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner supporting prison outreach efforts.
• Christsong MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner contributing to camp activities.
• Crossroad Prison MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison ministry partner organization.
• Daughters of DestinyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner supporting camp programs.
• Dribble for DestinyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports ministry partner that has supported ODWG camps, with Lisa Cobb mentioned as a key contributor.
• Faith ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based ministry partner.
• Free in ChristminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison ministry organization. Jeff Rudd served as Director of Free in Christ Prison Ministries for 15 years.
• Go FishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment/ministry group that has performed at camps.
• Joe McDonald MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual ministry providing volunteer support and spiritual guidance at camps. Joe McDonald has provided insights on the Father's Blessing program structure.
• Kevin Davis MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual ministry partner.
• On Wings Like A DoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner providing support.
• Rising Star MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner.
• Rocco Morelli Ministries InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational ministry partner.
• Sportsmen's OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports-focused ministry partner that has supported camp activities.
• International Mission BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2003, Scottie and Jack Barnes were invited by the International Mission Board to travel to the Philippines to share their testimony, which led to the founding of the ODWG camp program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• InnerChange Freedom Initiative: Faith-based prisoner reentry program operated under Prison Fellowship, focused on prerelease programming inside correctional facilities. Comparable in faith-based transformation approach and correctional partnerships, though focused on reentry rather than family reconciliation.

Direct peers

• Kairos Prison Ministry International: Faith-based prison ministry running multi-day programs inside prisons, including the Kairos Inside program aimed at incarcerated individuals and Kairos Outside for families. Closely comparable to Forgiven Ministry's ODWG camp model in structure, faith-based approach, and intensive volunteer-driven weekend format.
• Yokefellow Ministries International: Faith-based prison ministry where co-founder Jack Barnes previously served at Alexander Correctional Institution before founding Forgiven Ministry. Runs Bible study and mentoring programs inside prisons, representing an early influence and direct comparable in prison ministry programming.
• Free in Christ Prison Ministries: Faith-based prison ministry where Jeff Rudd (creator of Forgiven Ministry's Godly Dads curriculum) served as Director for 15 years. An existing partner operating in the same faith-based prison ministry space with similar in-prison programming.
• Crossroad Prison Ministries: An existing partner organization of Forgiven Ministry providing in-prison Bible study correspondence courses. Operates in the same faith-based prison ministry space with overlapping correctional facility relationships and donor bases.
• Angel Tree (Prison Fellowship): Prison Fellowship's program specifically serving children of incarcerated parents through Christmas gift delivery and year-round mentoring. Direct competitor in the children-of-incarcerated-parents niche that Forgiven Ministry serves through ODWG camps.
• Straight Ahead Ministries: Faith-based organization serving at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, with a component of ministry reaching incarcerated juveniles and their families. Comparable to Forgiven Ministry's work with children of incarcerated parents and its youth-focused family reconciliation mission.

Broad incumbents

• Prison Fellowship: The largest faith-based prison ministry in the US, founded by Chuck Colson. Operates the Angel Tree program serving children of incarcerated parents, which directly competes with Forgiven Ministry's core mission of family reconciliation during incarceration. Both organizations deliver faith-based programming inside correctional facilities.

Others

• International Network of Prison Ministries: Aggregator and connector organization for faith-based prison ministries globally. Comparable ecosystem player providing resources and coordination that competes for the same donor and volunteer base supporting Forgiven Ministry's mission.
• Billy Graham Center Institute for Prison Ministries: Part of Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center, providing training, research, and resources to prison ministries. An existing strategic partner of Forgiven Ministry; operates as an enabling/ecosystem player rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd9R8J4r1X52_qNTysD9Q8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/OneDayWithGodCamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forgiven-ministries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forgiven Ministries