Business owners are well aware that improvements and maintenance of the premise is an ongoing occurrence. Sometimes the owners elect to do the improvement projects themselves and other times they bid it out to contractors to get the job done. Ann Miller, owner at Ann’s Bright Beginnings began the bid process for improvements needed at her preschool and daycare in Paulding, Ohio. My Father’s Hands Handyman Services was one of those bids. Not only was their bid the lowest that Miller received, she was inspired by the story behind the creation of this handyman service.
Jeffrey Beam is the owner/operator of My Father’s Hands Handyman Services. He is from Sherwood and has walked a long “road less traveled” full of pot holes and ruts, and has found himself coming out the other side. His story is wrought with addiction, prison, recovery, baptism and rebirth, and the launching of a ministry to help other people who find themselves in the same “pit” he was stuck in for years.
This journey that Beam is on, sparked an idea in him through his work with Renewed Mind in Napoleon to continue helping others like himself.
Miller found Beam while listening to a podcast that hosted special guest, Paulding County Judge Tiffany Beckman. Resurrection Recovery is a weekly podcast available through several streaming services (like Spotify). Intrigued by what Beam was saying during this episode, she looked them up and discovered an inspiring ministry that she wanted Ann’s Bright Beginnings to support.
My Father’s Hands Handyman Services hires individuals who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions, and many of these individuals have a felony record. Their mission is “People helping people. Empowering our employees through faith, affirmation, love and truth.” Employees of My Father’s Hands begin each day with prayer before they head out to their project sites. Travel time gives Beam an opportunity to just talk with his employees and be an encouragement for them. Beam decided to focus on hiring people with a felony record because many employers are not inclined to hire felons. Beam believes that people should not have their past dominate their identity, they deserve to have the chance to start again. Working on these handyman projects give many of these individuals a sense of accomplishment that goes very far in their recovery process.
Beam is no stranger to DIY and household construction projects. He grew up watching and helping his father fix things, construct things, as he was a construction worker in New York State. “My dad taught me how to do it and God saved my life.” This, he says is the motto of My Father’s Hands. My Father’s Hands has approximately 13 guys and they are usually split up according to how many projects and how large the projects happen to be. Ann’s Bright Beginnings’ project involved three workers of My Father’s Hands. “After hearing his [Beam] story, it was just so powerful. These guys were being given a second chance, and I wanted to be a part of that,” commented Ann Miller.
If you would like to know more about the work of My Father’s Hands or Resurrection Recovery, you can find them on Facebook or Spotify. Or you can contact Jeff directly at 419-770-0242.
