OUr Story

Jesus Is The Way Ministries was founded in 1977 by Jesse and Edith Mathes. 20 years later, in 1997 New Beginnings Aftercare Center came to be and thus began the ministry you most know today as our residential aftercare program. JITW was created to provide chaplain support to the correctional facilities in Douglas and Ford counties as well as the 3 Champaign county facilities at that time. They would hold regular services in 6 of the 26 State of Illinois prisons. Jesse traveled all over the country and the world to correctional facilities bringing the gospel and being a willing vessel to change lives. Truly an example of “here I am Lord, send me”

Today at Jesus Is The Way Ministries our goal is to see men live into the fullness of the call that God has placed on their life. We do this by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ while putting HIS love in action via our evangelistic ministry and through discipleship and mentorship in our aftercare program. Our long term goal is to increase our ability to support these men as they grow in their relationship Lord and to be support them as they work to heal family relationships.

We are so thankful to Jesse and Edith for the many years of dedication to this ministry and reaching men for Christ.  Our prayer is that this ministry will continue to reach many lives for Christ in the years to come.