Rooted in Faith. Growing in Hope. Dick and Maggie Witherow began their ministry in 1989 on a small farm in Okeechobee, inspired to help women struggling with drug addiction and facing criminal charges. Through that work, they became thoroughly acquainted with the justice system and Florida’s prison system. They soon recognized that men returning from incarceration also needed their help, and the ministry’s mission expanded. In 2009, Dick and Maggie relocated to our current property, where a much larger campus allowed them to serve more returning citizens. Here, they built a community supported by full-time staff and dedicated volunteers. Although Dick passed away more than ten years ago, Maggie remains a firebrand for the ministry. She serves on our Board and leads our communications, carrying forward the mission they began together. A vacant church already stood on the property. Restoring the building and bringing in a full-time pastor to lead the “flock” felt like a natural next step. Mike Henderson became that pastor and has now led Jacob’s Destiny Church for more than fifteen years. The church gives our residents a place to put down roots, grow in faith and begin to bear fruit in their own lives. Restoration Destination today is a complex tapestry: staff, residents and volunteers; locals and returning citizens living together in harmony; and foundations and individuals whose private support sustains the ministry. Woven through it all are faith, hope and gratitude. As we carry this work forward, our message remains: every life has meaning, and every believer is worthy of redemption. Every life has meaning.
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Our Story
How It Began
A Ministry Takes Root
Faith Put Into Practice
The Work Continues
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