“In 2019 I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ while in McDowell County jail in Marion, North Carolina.  At that time, I had been struggling with addiction for 24 years, but while in jail, I joined a prayer circle accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. After that moment I knew something was different. I wanted to dig into scripture but found it impossible to get a bible. That’s when, as I know today, God put it on my heart to address the need for Bibles in jails. Another inmate and I were going to start pedaling for Jesus when we got out; ride our bicycles and work to get raise money to get bibles into McDowell County jail. 

Fast-forward three years, my wife surprised me and filed a nonprofit with the state of Florida.   Peddling For Jesus For People Like Us Inc was launched. Our mission is to help those stuck in the grip of sin and bondage of addiction, and those incarcerated find hope and freedom through Gods word. 

Last November I was able to deliver 250 Bibles to McDowell County jail, one for every inmate. My wife and I currently bring about 25 to 30 Bibles into Centerstone addiction treatment center every month and have for the last year. My wife brings in about 10 Bibles a month to First Step Recovery Center’s mothers and infants’ unit as well. I actively work with local recovery homes where I share my testimony about how Jesus saved me from addiction and sin and give Bibles to everyone in the house.  We work with people coming from homelessness, jails, prisons, and drug treatment centers to help them establish residence in Sober Living facilities.  

My long-term vision for Peddling For Jesus would be starting a faith-based treatment facility and transitional housing; that is where my heart is. Since starting the ministry, we have had people from all walks of life reach out to us in need of Bibles or direction in their next steps. We also provide bibles to other ministries in need, we even delivered a few cases of French bibles to New Hope Ministries for their growing community. We’ve cultivated relationships with ministry partners from Kenya as well and hope to be able to fulfill their need one day too. This Friday a group of us will be going to Salvation Army to give out 100+ Bibles and share our testimonies.” – Jesse McKinney