Around 1963 Bro. Barth, along with the Board of Directors, were able to lease some sixteen section land off Highway 49 North that was under the supervision of the Clinton School Board. This has been the sight of FOA since that time to the present.
With the ministry's move to this piece of land brought new opportunities to work with women instead of just men. A building was constructed to house twelve women with a staff of three. Betty McKenzie directed this portion of the ministry faithfully for a period of 15 years until the Lord took her home. She had Parkinson's disease and spent the last days of her life on the property of FOA. Several other godly women filled in the gaps when the Lord took Betty home but the women's division finally had to close in 1993. We tried re-opening the women's work in the year 2000 but could only keep it opened for a period of four months. Without the proper direction of at least three godly women, this part of the ministry will have to remain closed.
Alcohol was the main addiction to be dealt with until drugs came on the scene in the early 1970s. Because FOA takes a Biblical Approach to the problem of alcoholism the entrance of drugs did not affect our approach. As time progressed, drugs became the primary addiction with many of the men we help. Alcohol is probably still the number one choice of addiction for people in the world but those addicted to drugs, legal and illegal, make up the majority of our clients.
In October of 1993, at the suggestion of the Board of Directors, Bro. Barth appointed a new director of the ministry. His name is Mike Bonner. Bro. Barth served as Mike's mentor for the next five years when the Lord took Bro. Barth home on October 24, 1998 at the age of 70. Those five years were very valuable as the Lord groomed Mike to continue leading the ministry of FOA in the same direction that Bro. Barth had for the past 40 years.
Alcohol was the main addiction to be dealt with until drugs came on the scene in the early 1970s. Because FOA takes a Biblical Approach to the problem of alcoholism the entrance of drugs did not affect our approach. As time progressed, drugs became the primary addiction with many of the men we help. Alcohol is probably still the number one choice of addiction for people in the world but those addicted to drugs, legal and illegal, make up the majority of our clients.
In October of 1993, at the suggestion of the Board of Directors, Bro. Barth appointed a new director of the ministry. His name is Mike Bonner. Bro. Barth served as Mike's mentor for the next five years when the Lord took Bro. Barth home on October 24, 1998 at the age of 70. Those five years were very valuable as the Lord groomed Mike to continue leading the ministry of FOA in the same direction that Bro. Barth had for the past 40 years.
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The year 2009 marks 51 years that the ministry of FOA has been in operation. The Lord is faithful to meet the needs of this ministry each and every day.
