Good Shepherd Ministries

Good Shepherd Ministries is a local non-profit ministry

Good Shepherd Ministries is a local non-profit ministry in the East Side of Dayton. The doors opened to clients in need January of 2001. We operate six recovery houses on East Side of Dayton. Three on Linden Avenue, one on Xenia Avenue, two on East Third Street and the Good Shepherd Thrift Store.

Our recovery program is initially a four-to-six-month program where guys go to class for check in groups, recovery coaching, and spiritual classes. To cover their program fees clients, perform service work weekly at the recovery houses, help at the Good Shepherd Thrift Store Life Enrichment Center, and local churches. They also work our micro businesses to make spending money.

Each program participant is provided with a clean and healthy living environment, good food, work therapy, leisure time activities, group and individual coaching, spiritual direction, and resources to develop life skills and a personal relationship with God as provided by Jesus Christ. The physical and spiritual care that program participants receive prepares them to re-enter society and return to gainful employment. Many of those who have been rehabilitated are reunited with their families and resume a normal life. The Life Recovery program is made possible through the generosity of those who donate goods that can be sold in our family thrift stores and provide services that are made available to the participants of our programs. And the generosity of donations from are local businesses, and churches.

We here at Good Shepherd appreciate life and strive to continue the effort to help provide a safe place to recover at our facilities.

  • A Message From The Director +

    "As you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done unto me," are the words of Jesus as found in Matthew 25, but we have to as ourselves, what does this look like in the 21st-century America? We are surrounded seemingly, on all sides by circumstances of life that demand our attention. The question I ask myself, to keep everything in perspective, is "If Jesus were walking our streets right now, where would He be and what would He be doing?" I believe Matthew 25 gives us a direct response to that question and that is where Good Shepherd Ministries exists. The tragedy of addiction is a scourge to people of every race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. It does not discriminate in any fashion. We hear of people with ruined lives and those who have succumbed to this disease everyday. Good Shepherd Ministries is acting as a bridge to those who are actively engaged in overcoming this cycle. We provide housing, job training and searches, crisis coaching, life coaching, and most importantly, spiritual guidance and encouragement to be over comers! We have served over 350 clients since our founding and we continue to expand ministries and facilities in order to accommodate those that God sends to us.

    Would you consider partnering with us as we continue to "walk the road with Jesus?"

    Blessings,
    Executive Director
    Edward Leiffer

  • HOW THE PROGRAM CHANGED MY LIFE +

    Having gone through a rough period in my life, I came to realize that I was addicted to Opiate pain medication and I needed to get help. It was likely the most difficult thing I have every done in my life. Never in a million years did I think that I would be in such a position. Yet, I was and I put my family in harm's way as well! The one thing I have learned about this disease is that it does not discriminate (rich, poor, white or black); no one is exempt. The experience of recovery has helped put life in perspective for me and taught me to not take life for granted. The time I lost with family and loved ones I cannot get back, but I can now work to ensure the future is much more positive.

    The experience has humbled me and enabled me to overcome my addiction and to now be of service to others. I am not the selfish person I once was any longer. With God's help and trust afforded me from the staff of Good Shepard Ministries, I am now a program director for a ministry that continues to help addicts reintegrate back to society as productive citizens. Staying involved helps me to not forget where I was and keep me focused on a better way of life. A poem I once read sums it up:

    I went crazy to find sanity, I lied to myself and everyone else to see the truth.
    I walk through hell to understand Heaven,
    I experienced death to feel life. Addiction could have been my demise and my lonely end, Instead it brought me to a beautiful New Beginning.
    The madness tore open my soul and introduced my Spirit to life.

    Shawn Trapp,
    Former client and Current House & Program Director

  • Norm Rich director for the Ignatian Spirituality Project +

    My name is Norm Rich and I am the director for the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) here in Dayton which offers weekend retreats for homeless men. The program was founded in Chicago in 1998 by Fr. Bill Creed S.J. and is now active in 23 different cities across the United States.

    On the weekend of September 21st, all four of the men staying at Good Shepherd Ministries attended the retreat along with eight other men at Bergamo Retreat Center from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. I was really impressed with how these men participated, engaged and responded to the various activities that took place. They not only opened up, but actively listened to other men share their stories. The retreat included prayer, meditation, small group sharing, movie/discussion, journaling, art and affirmation. The men from Good Shepherd Ministry were indeed a gift to the leaders and the other men who attended from other agencies.

    I am very grateful to Shawn who was so open, positive and responsive to the ISP Program. I appreciated how proactive he was in getting the information to the men, reminding them of the pick-up time and following up. Shawn went above and beyond to keep in contact with me as to the status of the men. I look forward to working with him in the future. I know the men spoke very highly of him at our meals.

    If more information is needed about ISP, please feel free to contact me or go to the website: http://www.ignatianspiritualityproject.org

    Sincerely,
    Norm Rich

  • Good Shepherd Ministries Board of Directors +

    1. Robert Caperna - Board President
    2. Phil Robertson - Vice President
    3. Glen Baldwin - Treasurer
    4. Anita Zengel - Director, Past Pres.
    5. Jerry Roerig
    6. Clara Muzechuk - Director
    7. Edward Leiffer - Executive Director
    8. Matthew Grushon
    9. Brandy Gleason
    10. Mike Baughman
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Currently 30 clients (10 working full time, and many more who graduated)
  • 350 United Way yearly Referrals, Ac­cess, Nova, and Woodhaven facility referrals
  • Initial program 6-8 months
  • We operate 6 recovery houses on Eastside of Dayton Ohio
  • Doubled our house ownership in 2015 and added a fourth house in 2018:
    209 & 213 Linden Avenue, 261 Linden Avenue (in 2016), and a fourth house at 709 Xenia Avenue.
  • Two more houses thanks to CLC Church in 2022. Located at 2525 & 2531 East Third Street.
  • Expanded ministry vision to include long-term housing for program graduates
  • Hiring of program graduates within Good Shepherd Ministries
  • Expanded Employment Program Dayton/Phoenix, Solid Blend, Matrix5, Choices in Community
  • 65% client success rate
  • Good Shepherd Ministries has been voted the winner in the 2023 Dayton Nonprofit of the Year Award from Dayton Magazine in the following Category: Addictions/Substance Use Disorder.

Awarded the WHIO Make A Difference Award

Dayton Beautification Award 2018

We can help you with our GSM Services

  • Grass Cutting, and Landscaping
  • Professional Painting, and contracting
  • Snow Plowing
  • Firewood Delivery and Sales

Feel free to call & thanks for helping us help others!
All money goes back to the ministry!

Brothers In Recovery

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