William Washington's story is one of redemption, second chances, and the power of faith. Coming from a troubled home and battling drug addiction, he found himself serving a long-term sentence in the Charlottesville Regional Jail. But thanks to a compassionate judge and two Christian men who believed in him, his life took a dramatic turn.
"I was looking for just one day of peace within," William tells Stock and Hicksy. "Jail put me in a place of processing my life the correct way." After his conversion to Christianity, he opened his home to homeless individuals and struggling families in his neighborhood. He even took on the challenge of remodeling a home in a drug-infested area, saying, "The more I gave, the more I was empowered."
But everything changed after a meeting with Judge Jay Sweatt. That conversation set him on a path to create The Bridge Ministry in Buckingham County, Virginia—a place where formerly incarcerated men can break free from addiction and criminal behavior. At the ministry’s 17.3-acre facility, they gain valuable trade skills and rebuild their lives as positive members of society.
Joining William in this episode is his son-in-law, Jay James, a key leader at The Bridge Ministry. Together, they share how this transformative program is restoring lives and offering hope to men that many had given up on.
Stock puts it best: William Washington leads a very noble life. And because of his work, thousands of men are finding a new path forward.
William lives in Central Virginia and is the proud father of four children.
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