A decade ago, Matt Armbruster had a good job and so did his wife, Tara. They were living the American dream.

But it was the nightmare others were experiencing that kept nagging at him. A Bible study urging Christians to “stop playing church and start living a life of true faith and dependence on God” was the catalyst.

​It led the Armbrusters to found Ransom Ministries in Mobile in 2010, where Matt Armbruster serves as executive director.

“I just wanted to use our gifts help people. So we started Ransom Café at a church, a restaurant that charged whatever you can pay,” he said. “And that grew to seven churches here in Mobile that are still operating, and also to this ministry we run today.”

Ransom Ministries helps people end the cycle of poverty. Armbruster and his staff assist those who have left prison or have addiction problems with life skills, jobs and then independence.

“We offer classes on hygiene, budgeting, resume and work interviews,” he said. “Our program is 18 sessions, then we take them from classroom to an actual job where they work for an hourly wage. They put to practice what they learned in those classes.”

Ransom Ministries is an Alabama Bright Light shining in the Mobile area from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

The ultimate goal of Ransom Ministries is to take someone underemployed, or has problems getting a job, and teach them the steps to an independent life.

“We help them with housing, transportation, work and all that it takes for someone to be on their own,” Armbruster said. “And with the COVID-19 pandemic, more people need our services.”

The COVID-19 crisis hasn’t changed the needs that Ransom Ministries seeks to address.

“COVID-19 has only changed the way we did business,” Armbruster said. “We wear masks and we sanitize everything. The pandemic has made us realize the importance of community.”

This community the Armbrusters enjoy depends on support from others, including the Alabama Power Foundation.

“The grant we received from the Alabama Power Foundation especially helped us during the COVID-19 crisis. It has helped us take more people in when they needed our help,” Armbruster said.

Ransom Ministries is making a difference in Mobile. (contributed)

A Ransom Reprogram Class provides the foundation for the program. (contributed)

Matt Armbruster is co-founder and executive director of Ransom Ministries. (contributed)

A Ransom Reprogram Class provides the foundation for the program. (contributed)

Khristian participates in the Ransom Recycle Class. (contributed)

A Ransom Recycle Class provides job skills and training. (contributed)

Students in Class 31 of the Ransom Ministries’ Ransom Reprogram Class. (contributed)

A Ransom Reprogram Class provides the foundation for the program. (contributed)

Ransom Recycle graduation Class 31. (contributed)

Ransom Recycle participants at work. (contributed)

Helping more people from all walks of life also benefits Ransom Ministries.

“We now have all colors and all beliefs. We don’t discriminate against anyone. It’s about community,” Armbruster said. “One thing I noticed during circle time from 8 to 8:30 every morning, we talk about everything from politics to race to sports to religion. If you want to see how this world operates, come sit in our circle. It’s the perfect time to address racial issues.”

It’s a different type of fulfillment that Armbruster realizes he wouldn’t know if he and his wife hadn’t been willing to step out in faith more than a decade ago.

For more information, visit ransomministires.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. You can also listen to its podcast, Ransom Experience.

Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.