Founder, director of Shepherd's Fold Ministry explains program to city council

Steve McCracken, left, speaks to the Cardwell City Council about residents concerns with Shepherd's Fold Ministry being introduced to the City of Cardwell. McCracken informed the city that no individual, with a history of a violent, crime would be taking part in the program. (Staff photo by Joshua Payne)

Steven McCracken, Founder and Director of Shepherd's Fold Ministry, recently met with the Cardwell City Council to discuss a building in Cardwell being used for the program, along with answering questions and concerns the council may have with the program.

McCracken noted that the intentions of the program was to basically run an eight month Christian transitional facility.

"The goal is to turn people who are a drain on the society and cost money for incarceration into productive tax paying citizens," McCracken said.

Shepherd's Fold Ministry will focus on individuals with addiction issues, whether they are addicted to meth, pornography, or alcohol, according to McCracken.

He added that individuals with a record of a violent or sensitive crime would not be staying in the house.

"We don't want people to be afraid of what they think may be occurring over there," McCracken said. "This will not be a facility where we will have to run razor wire."

McCracken explained that he believed that the program would be able to benefit Cardwell and the surrounding are.

"Since Southeast Missouri is nationally recognized for its meth addiction, I think this is a good place to start," McCracken said.

The program has the support of several local churches including The Upper Room, Forest Grove, and Trinity, according to McCracken.

"There is a window of time once a person goes to jail, between the time they get out of jail and when they return to the behavior," McCracken said.

"We have got to get to these men and introduce them to different avenues of productivity."

The program is designed to aid individuals in receiving high school education equivalencies, job training skills, financial skills, life skills training, biblical study, and housing, according to McCracken.

He added that the program will be all male and begin the first year with four to six individuals.

McCracken noted that the program wanted to develop a partnership with the community and as part of the program, the males involved will be picking up trash, painting porches, and completing other service tasks needed in the area.

"Part of the training is to give back to the community that they have pulled and drained off of for so long," McCracken said.

He added that the individuals would be under supervision 24 hours per day and would not be allowed to go anywhere without supervision.

McCracken noted that the program was currently seeking volunteers to speak, teach, and pastor, the group of individuals.

The Shepherd's Fold Ministry mission statement is to create an environment where men are inspired to connect to their God-ordained destiny through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, grounding them in the message of God's unconditional love and grace.

McCracken explained that 90 percent of those incarcerated in Greene County are there on drug-related charges and 75 percent of children removed from families in Greene County are due to drug related abuse or neglect.

The program is recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization.

Anyone interested in helping the ministry can contact McCracken at (870) 450-5679.