Saved in a prison cell and transformed into a minister of the gospel, John Stroup shares a testimony of God’s grace. Once homeless and on drugs, John is now being used to make disciples and reach the lost for Christ. God has given him a burden to see communities ravaged by drugs and crime be transformed through the power of Jesus Christ.

Since 2011 John has helped to develop an outreach design that is targeted at reaching one broken life at a time by partnering with local churches. With the help of the local church, Freeway Ministries can reach the overlooked and forgotten in society. With training, churches can effectively reach this people group and play a major role in transforming lives and communities negatively affected by drugs and crime.

Freeway Ministries is a non-profit organization that reaches an average of 1,000 people weekly with the gospel of Jesus Christ in seven locations across the states. They are committed to providing care, counseling, and discipleship to transform the addict’s life from hopelessness to hope. Weekly, Freeway provides meals, clothing, and Bible services to this hard-to-reach population, extending to within the walls of prisons and jail cells.

As the director of Freeway Ministries John oversees the discipleship ministry as a whole. The discipleship houses currently hold an average of 30-40 disciples (men and women) in Missouri and is recognized as an alternative to prison in seven counties in his home state. The affiliate programs in Kingsport, TN; Snyder, TX; Orlando/Sanford, FL; Chickasha, OK; and Cape Town, South Africa, house an average of 20-25 men. The houses help to provide an environment that fosters self-sufficiency and a relationship with Christ.

John Stroup is passionate about preaching revival throughout the United States and across the globe. By stirring the hearts of the church towards revival, John believes that the local church is then one the most effective tools to reach the lost. John shares the hope that he has found in Christ through revivals, high school assemblies, and other events, and he believes that we all can be a part of reaching one broken life at a time.

John continues to be recognized throughout the community by local and state government officials for his contribution to making real change. His story has been highlighted on multiple media platforms. He was highlighted in the Missouri Baptist convention newspaper, The Pathway, in local newspapers nationally, and in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a published author with three books:  From the Pit to the Pulpit, Stop Loving Your Kids to Death and Time By The Brook.

John currently lives in Springfield, MO with his beautiful wife Sharla. They have four children Ashlyn, Chase, Keith, and Zynleigh.