About the Timothy Initiative

Our Story

The Timothy Initiative was founded in 2010 by George Wood. After his personal struggles with addiction, mental health, and suicide attempts, he set out with a mission to walk alongside other men and introduce a new way of life through Jesus. With the support of the Underground Network, the Timothy Initiative formed. The name “Timothy Initiative” comes from the relationship in scripture between Paul and Timothy. Paul worked side by side with Timothy mentoring and equipping him. Timothy was given the tools and direction to continue to share the message of Jesus Christ. Our community is sustained by men who have been experienced this transformation sharing their story and investing in the next guy.

In 2019, Timothy Initiative officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 continuing their ongoing ministry with the mission to serve men in recovery from addiction, homelessness, and other tough life circumstances. We currently operate in Tampa, FL with a total of four residential homes. Three of our homes provide affordable, sober living for men. These men also learn to rely on each other and support each other through struggles and celebrate each other in success. Our fourth house is our program home which can accommodate up to 14 men. These men are asked to make a one year commitment upon entering, but our program is open ended. Men work with our Work Therapy partners during the week and participate in different activities throughout the week - like our in house recovery meeting and weekly bible study, morning devotionals as a community, involvement in the local church, mentoring, and community service projects. We work with men to heal and restore all areas of their lives - physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

Our Approach

Our ministry model was developed through practice. By connecting men to community, to God, and to a bigger purpose, we are able to see substantially more effective results than a typical rehab environment. We strive to see men fully living healed as the father, brother, son, partner, and man that God created them to be. By addressing the sin, brokenness, and trauma that leads into addiction and mental health struggles, our men are truly able to heal. We work with men to develop their lives in a way that is full of purpose and submitted to God. This work is done through our four pillars - Recovery, Discipleship, Work Therapy, and Community.

This Statement of Faith is not intended to be divisive but to be an expression of God’s love and favor to all people. It is the standard by which we conduct our ministry. We believe God has called us to walk in union with Him and in unity with each other (Eph.4:1-6; 2Cor.13:11; Rom.12:18; Joh.17:21-23; Joh.15:1-8; 1Cor.12:12). As a Church and spiritual Family, we fully embrace the “Apostle’s Creed” and believe the following:

We base our faith, teaching and lifestyle on the uniquely inspired Bible as the final authority in our lives on the issues upon which it bears (2Tim.3:14-17; Heb.4:12; Isa.55:10-11; Matt.4:4; Matt.15:6; Joh.3:34; 1Thess.2:13; 1Pet.1:23).

We believe as the Bible teaches: there is One God, intrinsically good, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each possessing all the attributes of Deity (Gen.1:1; Deut.6:4; Mar.12:29; Joh.1:18; Act.10:37-38; Eph.4:4-6; 1Joh.5:7; Matt.28:19; 2Cor.13:14).

We believe God created the heavens and the earth, and He created humans to have fellowship with Him and with others as a spiritual Family (the Body of Christ; the Church) (Gen.1:26-30; Isa.43:7; Rom.12:5; 1Cor.12:12; Col.1:16; Eph.1:5, 22; Eph.2:10, 19; Eph.3:14-16; 1Joh.1:3; 1Joh.2:24-25; 1Joh.5:20). We confess Abba to be loving beyond measure (Rom.8:15; Gal.4:6).

Humans disobeyed God and defied Him by sinfully going their own ways. As a result, we need God's saving grace to restore us into a relationship with Him. Salvation comes only through God's saving grace revealed in the person of Jesus Christ—not human effort—and must be received personally by repentance and faith (Rom.5:12-15; Joh.3:16-17; Rom.3:23-26; Eph.2:8-9; 1Cor.15:4-8; Rom.10:9-10).

Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. This accomplished salvation for all who receive grace by trusting in Him alone. He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us. He will return to earth to consummate history (Heb.4:15-16; 2Cor.5:21; 1Pet.3:18; 1Tim.2:5-6).

We believe salvation through Christ signifies and includes forgiveness, healing, prosperity, deliverance, safety, freedom, blessing, and restoration for the whole person (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: Strong’s NT: 4991).

We believe that God can transform people’s lives into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, as they yield to the power and work of the Holy Spirit (Rom.12:2; Gal.6:15; 2Cor.3:18; Rom.8:29-30; Col.3:10; 2Cor.5:17; Eph.4:13).

We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation and the subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit (Joh.7:37-39; Joh.14:16-18); Act.1:8; Eph.1:13-14).

We believe God (as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) gives supernatural abilities (gifts) to people to do God’s will and to serve others with those gifts (Rom.12:6-8; 1Cor.12:1-11; 1Pet.4:10-11). We

believe the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers equip believers for their work of ministry (Eph.4:11-13). We welcome the fruit and gifts of Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22).

We believe that we are to seek the Kingdom of God above all else (Matt.6:33; Rom.14:17; 1Cor.4:20; 1Cor.6:9-10; 1Cor.15:24; Col.1:12-13).

We believe that our mission is to seek and save the lost, preach the Good News, and make people followers of Christ. We do this by going into the world (neighborhood, community, marketplace, and society), influencing people with God’s love, power, wisdom, mercy, and grace. The Church is called to be a visible manifestation of God to all people (Mat.28:18-20; Joh.17:18, 20-22; Luk.9:1-6; Luk.10:1-11; Luk.17:33, Mar.16:15; 1Cor.9:19-23; Rom.10:14-15).

We believe in the Lord’s Supper (1Cor.11:17-30; Act.2:42-47) and the baptism of believers by immersion in water (when possible) (Mat.28:19; Rom.6:3-6; Mar.16:16; Act.2:38; Col.2:12). We also believe in the preeminent ministry of prayer (Eph.6:18; 1Thes.5:17; Act.6:4), the covenant of marriage as stated in the Bible between one man and one woman (Gen.2:22-24; 1Cor.7:2; Mat.19:5; Eph.5:28-33; 1Pet.3:1-9), care for the poor (Isa.61:1; Luk.4:18; 2Cor.9:9; Gal.2:10; Jam.2:2-6), and total devotion to God through various pathways of worship (Joh.4:24).

We believe in the ministry of signs, miracles, and wonders. We believe in divine healing and that Jesus Christ commanded all believers to lay hands on the sick so they can recover; ours is a ministry of love, words, actions, and power (1Cor.2:4-5; 1Cor.4:20; Rom.15:17-19; 1Thes.1:5; Mar.16:17-18; Mat.8:10; Mat.4:23).

We believe we must live in humility, wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, and above all, in love, with all people. Love always wins. (1Cor.13; Col.3:12-17; 2Tim.2:25; Tit.3:2; Jam.4:6; 1Pet.5:5; Eph.5:15; Gal.5:13, 22; 2Cor.6:6; 2Pet.1:7; Eph.4:2, 32; Joh.13:34-35; Rom.12:9-12; Heb.10:24; Gal.6:10).

We are committed to Church as Spiritual Family. We raise up spiritual Moms and Dads (through Holy Spirit transformation) who mature spiritual Daughters and Sons to be the next generation of spiritual Moms and Dads (1Cor.4:14-17).

We believe that, in the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and God’s righteous judgment. Those forgiven through Christ will enjoy eternal fellowship with God (1Cor.15:29-42; Phil.3:10-11; 2Cor.5:6-9).

We believe God continues to reveal truths to His Church through Holy Spirit, never inconsistent with the Bible, and we embrace every direction or leading He intends for us to follow (Joh.14:26; Joh.16:13; Gal.5:16, 18, 25; Rom.8:14; 1Cor.2:12-13).

Staff

Lindsay Carr

Executive Director

Lindsay has been around since the beginning and has been a support to our men and program in various ways throughout the years. She is passionate about serving people and ensuring they feel valued and welcome to create the life God intended for them. In her professional career, she been an operational manager in hospitality and tourism and has used her experience to coach our staff, leaders and men in their journey.

Jeremy Bogar

Operations Manager

Mike Malpede

Recovery Home Manager

David Corby

Recovery Home Coordinator

Board of Directors

We are proud to present our board of directors, a team of committed professionals who desire to see Jesus on display in the lives of our men.

Michael Maddux

President

Mr. Maddux is a board-certified criminal trial lawyer who practices personal injury and civil rights litigation as well. In his nearly 30 years of practice, he’s had the good fortune of helping Timothy initiative men surmount legal hurdles. His love of Jesus inspires him to help bring “freedom to the captives“. Whether it be men struggling with homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges, we are called to serve. For Michael, TI provides a powerful way to make a difference. You can learn more about Michael and at his firm’s website www.madduxattorneys.com

Will Barrett

Secretary

Will was a part of the original team that started the Timothy Initiative alongside George Wood. At the time, he was a USF student with a passion for helping those affected by homelessness. He has since graduated with degrees in Economics and Finance and he is now on his third start-up venture. He is now the VP of Content at Threshold 360, a tech startup based in Tampa. He lives in the neighborhood and loves connecting with our men when he's not chasing around his son, Liam.

Russell Johnson

Board Member

Russel T. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Tampa’s non-profit business management class. Russel started the ministry God’s Pedal Power in 1997. Through his ministry’s efforts, over 6000 residents were provided with bicycles, bibles, helmets, and laws honoring the disabled, poor, and neglected. In 2001, Russell began working with Young Life as the area director to impact the lives of inner city teens and introduce them to Christ. He and his wife Leslie, along with their family, are a part of the greater Tampa Bay community. Russell volunteers on the Hillsborough Education Foundation, the board of New Springs Development, and as a co-chair with the Oasis Board.

Tiffany Katter

Board Member

Hi, my name is Tiffany and I have a marketing degree from Penn State University. I have worked in several fields and held several titles, but I currently hold my favorite titles: follower of Jesus, wife to Jarrod, and stay at home mother to Matthew, Charlotte and Anthony. My passion for The Timothy Initiative grew out of immense heartache from the tragic drug overdose death of my brother in January 2021. Several of my family members have struggled with addiction and I have witnessed how addiction destroys families. George was a light to me in my darkest hours following my brother’s death, and I am excited to support him as he continues to shine the light of Jesus into the lives of addicted and broken men. 2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Alisa Rehn

Board Member

Alisa is originally from Florida and has lived in 2 states and now up to 3 countries. She has been working in administration and customer service for the past 14 years with a high focus on administration as ministry for the past 9 years. Alisa has served administratively with ministries such as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Underground Network and the National Christian Fellowship, empowering people in their calling and serving others to see their goals accomplished. She now works for COhatch helping with operations in the Tampa Bay area. When left to her own devices, she probably reads more fantasy novels than is strictly healthy and regularly considers ice cream a full meal. Having family members who have fought for sobriety has highlighted the importance of programs like the Timothy Initiative and the resources they provide for those who want it.

Ernie Sampera

Board Member

Ernie has over 30 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industry. His background spans several disciplines with experience, from Sales Leadership roles to CMO roles and, lastly as co-founder of a co-location company (recently sold). He and his wife Samantha and family have made Tampa their home for over 15 years. My focus has been on issues that matter most to me and our family regarding addiction. It impacts the family’s well-being tremendously. Bringing this focus with my faith as an integral healing process for my family – I was blessed with an opportunity to contribute through TI. This is my journey to pave a forward path with God and Christ as my shining light.