Success Stories

Mission Behind Bars and Beyond (MB3) reconnects families, provides support and mentoring to returning citizens during their first year of release, and helps reduce isolation by listening and helping to solve problems. 

Volunteers serve as positive role models, encouraging and helping restore positive relationships within the community. Here are some of our success stories:
Anita Barrera
Anita Barrera, a recovering addict, shares her powerful story on how, after some failed attempts, she successfully transitioned from incarceration back to society with the help of a Mission Behind Bars and Beyond Nurture, Support & Accountability Group (NSAG).
 
Anita was a resident of Dismas Charities-Diersen, a women's detention facility in Louisville, and became a member of New Life in Christ, MB3's affiliated church located inside Diersen. Women who wish to participate are set up with an NSAG and meet with their mentors before their release to make a connection and build trust for a successful re-entry into society.  Anita's life was changed because of people who donated their time, talent and treasure to the mission of MB3.
Watch as these returning citizens talk about how their lives were changed because of
Mission Behind Bars & Beyond:
Read what these returning citizens have to say about how Mission Behind Bars & Beyond changed their lives (names have been changed to protect the privacy of those whom we serve):
William
Dorothy
When William was released on probation, he immediately found transitional housing and part-time work.  Things seemed to be going just fine until he began a relationship with a young woman who had issues of her own yet to resolve. William lost his job and his housing as a result of poor decisions he made with her and soon found himself starting at square one to rebuild what he had accomplished during his first four months on release. 

He was connected to a trained Nurture, Support and Accountability Group at Jeffersontown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and with the help of those members, William was able to establish a plan and set goals that would put him back on track.  Today, William has a new job, has purchased a vehicle and has an apartment of his own. 

After working with this NSAG for over a year, William remains in contact with several of its members.
Dorothy was 44 when she was released from the Diersen House after completing a substance abuse program as required to be paroled. She had met the members of her Nurture, Support and Accountability Group during Tuesday night worship services at New Life in Christ Christian Church, the congregation affiliated with Mission Behind Bars and Beyond.

Prior to her release, Dorothy had met regularly with the congregation's pastor for counseling. Upon her release, her NSAG, affiliated with a Disciples of Christ congregation, began meeting with her and stayed connected with her through daily text messages. Struggling not only with addiction but mental health issues, members of her NSAG were there to provide support during rough patches after her release. Directing her to resources in the community, offering a listening ear and loving her unconditionally, Dorothy's NSAG has provided her with a healthy support she never had before. Employed and receiving mental health treatment, Dorothy has been living in the community for nearly a year as she reconstructs her life.
Bob
Bob has been a life-long criminal.  His criminal history appears to be related to his history of substance abuse. Bob was a resident from another state. Consequently, he knew no one in Kentucky where he was to be released. Referred to Mission Behind Bars and Beyond by a prison case worker, Bob began meeting with his NSAG, which was comprised of members of several different Disciples of Christ congregations.  

In his application to work with a NSAG, Bob wrote, "I am new to Christianity--so I get a little nervous when people are overly nice to me."   After eight months of meeting with his NSAG, he thinks of them as his extended family.  They all celebrated when Bob went to his first college class. The NSAG keeps close tabs on him but after six months have reduced their meetings to once a month because Bob has made such remarkable progress.  He knew no one in Louisville when he was released from prison.
Former Executive Director and Founder of MB3, Rev. Dean Bucalos, along with Jessica and David, both clients of MB3, appearing on the Dawne Gee show on WAVE 3 in Louisville and raising awareness of MB3's successful work while promoting its annual fundraiser, Reveal 2018.