The Downtown Ministry Center
Created in 2004, The Downtown Ministry Center is a building on our campus that has been committed to use for missions to our downtown area. Originally part of the Nashville Rescue Mission, this building was formerly known as "The Anchor Home." Thanks to the Door to the Future project and the fervent prayers of First Baptist Nashville members, specifically the efforts of the women of the church, this facility now has two ministries that are operating under its roof.
Christian Women's Job Corps
The Nashville Christian Women's Job Corps (link opens in a new window,) a ministry of WMU, provides a Christian context in which women in need are equipped for life and employment; and a missions context in which women help women.
The CWJC helps those who can be equipped for life and employment through the CWJC ministry. Persons with needs that cannot be met by a CWJC program are referred to program that can help them. The CWJC purpose, to equip women for life and employment, is fulfilled when a woman has basic life skills necessary for self-sufficiency, within her culture, which may include: sustained employment; adequate income; housing; transportation; childcare; and/or medical care.
The Next Door
The Next Door (link opens in a new window) is a program of transitional living, mentoring, and life skills classes designed to assist women in need with their physical, spiritual, emotional, and daily living needs. Statistics show that approximately 60 percent of women ex-offenders in Middle Tennessee will return to prison within the first year of their release. The mission of The Next Door is to break that cycle.
As a woman prepares to leave prison, she is taken to “Roll-Up One,” the door through which she will exit the prison and begin her new life. Our goal is to greet her at Roll up One and take her to THE NEXT DOOR, the name given to the Downtown Ministry Center's program of transitional housing and life-skills training. Through this six month program, she will live in a community where all of her needs will be addressed. She will establish a life plan, receive a mentor and case manager, receive on-site job skills/computer/GED training, find employment, and receive group counseling. There will be expectations of and responsibilities for each resident. We will be able to serve 23 women in this program.
