Mission Spotlight March 2026: Before, During and After Incarceration (BDAI)

By Zeke Fleet, CUMC Missions Committee, and Kathy Sanders, BDAI Communications Coordinator

“Continue to remember those as if you were together with them in prison, and who are mistreated as if you are mistreated and if you yourselves were suffering’  -Hebrews 13:3

Mission Statement: Before, During and After Incarceration (BDAI) seeks to promote alternatives to incarceration, including restorative programming and support for those incarcerated and their families. BDAI advocates for the incarcerated by providing restorative programming, family support, and community education about alternatives to incarceration while engaging local and statewide stakeholders to improve the criminal justice system. Founded in 2016 by area residents Tom Bousamra and Toni Stanfield, this 501(c)3 all-volunteer organization is dedicated to jail ministry and other programs of support for those incarcerated and their families. As described in its mission statement, BDAI strives to promote restorative justice and helps individuals and families deal with stress, grief, emotional, physical, and mental health issues. BDAI can open doors for help for substance abuse, re-establish employment, and help arrange temporary and long-term housing. 

BDAI works in collaboration with several area agencies and non-profit organizations to provide help in times of crisis, transportation, veteran’s assistance, food, and clothing. Ninety-five percent of BDAI’s budget is directed to services and programs of support for people seeking restoration to community life.

BDAI volunteers actively participate in jail ministry by providing spiritual care, emotional support, and practical resources to incarcerated individuals and their families. These programs aim to bring hope and personal transformation to those behind bars.

 

Monthly Family Support Dinners at Central’s Fellowship Hall

On the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., BDAI hosts monthly support and fellowship meals for those incarcerated, their families, and volunteers. The gatherings are held at Central UMC’s Fellowship Hall.  In June, July and August the Family Picnic support dinners are held at the Boardman Nature Center pavilion off S. Cass Road and are open to all affected by incarceration. Attendees are encouraged to share their stories and learn about ways BDAI is able to assist. 

 

BDAI Initiatives

A primary goal of BDAI is to support and humanize those incarcerated and their families and change community attitudes about incarceration through education and advocacy.

 

 

• BDAI offers life skills classes at the Grand Traverse County jail.  More than 100 classes have been available for the past 2½ years and included 1,200 participants.
• BDAI has received high marks for its pre-COVID classes during the past six years.
• BDAI has participated in the Supported Release program for individuals who have recently been released from jail and given support to families for emergency assistance.
• BDAI has invested $13,449 to provide emergency support services for individuals at their time of release from jail.

Please Support BDAI!

A dynamic voice for restorative justice and legal system reform

Your financial contributions are needed to sustain and grow BDAI. 

• For one-time or recurring online donations, please select Central Missions on the dropdown and designate BDAI:
  • You can give now online by clicking here.
• Designate BDAI in the memo area on your offering checks.
• Drop off change, paper currency, or a check in the contribution bucket in the church gathering area.