'God put me through everything I've gone through for my testimony and to help someone else'

By Jennifer Menster - Record Staff Writer - Thursday, March 22, 2007

HICKORY, NC - Ron Eddings wants to change men’s lives.

Before he gets there, Eddings says he must help himself.

The ex-convict still struggles with past addictions and depression. As a felon, the Hickory resident also is having trouble finding a job.

But Eddings isn’t giving up on his dream. He hopes to start a nonprofit organization to help offenders in his situation. He would call it the Offender First program.

“I want to work with people because I have compassion for them,” Eddings said. “I feel what they are feeling. I’m not going to pass judgment on them. God put me through everything I’ve gone through for my testimony and to help someone else. I admit my mistakes, and now I want to use it for the good.”

The program would help offenders find jobs, homes, cars and clothing. Eddings believes you can’t have one without the other. Eddings said the program would work with companies that are willing to hire rehabilitated convicted felons. He also would like to have ex-convicts mentor those still in jail.

Eddings believes Offender First would change lives.

“It’s geared just to help offenders get back on their feet,” Eddings said. “(An offender) will go back to jail if he doesn’t get the help he needs.”