Governor Robert Bentley recently recognized Rev. J. Andrew Caldwell for organizing and presenting a conference on the family, that was held in Phenix City, Alabama during the month of September.
Rev. Caldwell, founder of Faith Outreach Ministry, presented a two day seminar titled: “The Time Is Now,” where he shared information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on HIV/AIDS education statistics; Domestic Violence, where Alabama leads number two in the nation; bullying / suicide among gays and lesbians; alcohol and drug addiction; and the alarming rate of incarceration of youth and young adults across the state and nation. “I have heard the voices of so many groups from various walks of life and different cultures, that are hurting, and in a state of despair but feel their cries are not being heard.” “Many feel they have no hope”, he said.
Rev. Caldwell stated he was overwhelmed with a spirit of urgency to organize and present this two day event and to start in his hometown where he was a pastor for many years before relocating to the city of Birmingham through the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “It is my desire to educate and motivate families across this state and this county, on the need to become more involved in the lives of our children and learn what we can do before these situations become an epidemic.”
Also present was the Russell County Crisis Center and information was shared from representatives from Columbus, and Fort Benning, Georgia, on Domestic Violence and other community services.
Rev. Caldwell is an ordained minister and has served the communities of Russell County, Randolph County, Lee County and Jefferson County for more than thirty-five years. He is a motivational speaker, group facilitator for domestic violence and a member of the Alabama Justice Network Ministry, where he teaches and counsels prison inmates.
