A Better Way Ministries believes every life can be redeemed.
In a town known to many for The Walking Dead, this ministry hopes to be known for something entirely different: The Walking Light.
For more than two decades, A Better Way Ministries has been helping men overcome addiction and life-controlling struggles through faith, discipline, accountability, and purpose. What began in 2005 with a small group of men and a calling to serve has grown into a ministry that has impacted thousands of lives across Georgia and beyond.
But this story is about more than recovery.
It is about transformation.
It is about men finding new life—and then turning around to serve others.
Where the Vision Was Born
Long before there was a campus, a program, or a thriving ministry, there was a prison cell.
Founder John Barrow knew firsthand the struggles that many of the men entering the program now face. Addiction had taken hold of his life, and incarceration followed. During an 18-month stretch in solitary confinement, Barrow found himself alone with time, reflection, and a Bible.
It was there, in one of the darkest seasons of his life, that the seeds of A Better Way were planted.
As he returned to Scripture and sought God, a new vision began to form—one centered on helping other men avoid the path that had led him there. The discipline of confinement, the power of faith, and the need for structure all helped shape the principles that would later define the ministry.
What looked like the end of one story was quietly becoming the beginning of another.
A Humble Beginning with a Powerful Purpose
When Barrow’s life changed, he partnered with Tony Ingram and Sir Philip Bowden to begin serving men facing similar battles. The ministry started in a farmhouse off Christopher Road with about five men, many with roots in Teen Challenge and faith-based recovery.
From those early days, the mission was clear: help men break free from life-controlling issues through the Gospel, practical discipline, and brotherhood.
Today, A Better Way continues to live out that mission every day.
Where New Life Begins
Many men arrive at A Better Way with very little. Some come directly from the streets. Others come after incarceration. Some arrive carrying years of pain, broken relationships, addiction, and regret. What they find is not condemnation.
They find structure, responsibility, and hope.
The 18-month residential discipleship program begins early—very early. Days start at 4:45 a.m. with personal devotion, followed by breakfast, hygiene, chores, inspection, and “The Morning Charge,” a daily gathering centered on encouragement and the Word. From there, the men head into work assignments throughout the ministry’s various operations. Evenings may include worship, guest speakers, church services, time spent in fellowship together, or the fan favorite free nights.
It is a disciplined environment designed to rebuild what may have been lost: consistency, character, trust, and faith.
And for many, it works one small step at a time.
Jordan Phillips, a recent graduate of the program who is now thriving, shared that growth often happens when men stop focusing on the full 18-month journey and instead focus on the next right step—overcoming a temptation, keeping a routine, encouraging a brother, or drawing closer to Christ.
Serving Men. Serving the Community
At its heart, A Better Way carries a two-part mission:
First, to serve men battling life-controlling issues.
Second, to serve the community around them.
That second mission is visible throughout Senoia and the surrounding area. Many residents have seen the men of A Better Way volunteering at local events, helping at community gatherings, or showing up wherever hands are needed.
They are not asking to be defined by where they came from.
They are working to be known by how they serve.
Businesses Built with Purpose
Like many ministries, A Better Way relies on donations and generous supporters. But the organization has also built several mission-driven businesses that help fund operations while giving men the opportunity to learn valuable work skills, responsibility, and confidence.
Those businesses include:
A Better Way Bargains
Thrift store locations in the Peachtree City and Senoia areas that help generate revenue while serving local shoppers with affordable finds.
Moving Services
A moving operation that allows men to work, serve families in transition, and build strong habits through physical work and teamwork.
More Than A Table
Perhaps the most recognizable of all is the ministry’s woodworking business, where handcrafted tables are built with excellence and purpose.
Many of those tables can be found inside Chick-fil-A restaurants, marked with a plaque that tells the story behind the craftsmanship.
It is a fitting name—because these pieces are more than furniture.
They represent second chances. Skill development. Hard work. Redemption. And lives being rebuilt one board at a time.
How the Community Can Help
A Better Way Ministries is proof that life change often happens through community support.
There are several meaningful ways local residents and businesses can get involved:
Support Their Businesses
Shop the thrift stores, use the moving services, and choose mission-driven businesses when possible.
Donate
Financial gifts are always valuable, but practical donations matter too. Hygiene products, groceries, soft goods, and daily-use essentials help meet ongoing needs for the 80–100 men in the program at any given time.
Volunteer Professional Services
The ministry expressed gratitude for community partners such as Dr. Artie Richaud, who has donated dental care to students in need. Skilled professionals who can give time or services can make a real impact.
6th Annual Golf Tournament
November 6 at White Oak Golf Club
Businesses can sponsor holes, donate raffle prizes, or enter teams. Individuals can register to play or volunteer. With approximately 200 golfers expected, the event has become a major fundraiser filled with fellowship, networking, and fun.
A Better Way Forward
In every town, there are stories people see—and stories quietly changing lives behind the scenes.
A Better Way Ministries is one of those stories.
It is men rebuilding trust. Families finding healing. Skills being learned. Faith being restored. Neighbors being served.
And perhaps most powerfully, it is proof that even a prison cell can become the birthplace of hope.
Sometimes, the brightest light begins in the darkest places.