The purpose of this barbershop project is to address similar concerns African American men face throughout the United States. Concerns such as mass incarceration, unemployment and underemployment, the lack of education, issues confronting the family, health issues, identity crises, and building a relationship with our Heavenly Father. These problematic issues prevent African American men from reaching their full potential in their community, their church and in the nation. This project seeks to address these issues and open a connection between the church and African American men that relishes the barbershop environment. The barbershop is more than simply getting a haircut. It's a place where a more significant relationship can be established by building bridges of trust, understanding and respect while getting a shape-up to make you look and feel good about yourself. It is my hope that through the formation of these relationships through this initiative, more meaningful conversations can be had concerning income, disparity, education, justice, righteousness and being men of God. A disconnect presently exists between African American men and the response of the church to the issues preventing them from becoming more productive in their homes, in society and as servants of the living God. This initiative shall serve as a connecting factor between the church and African American men. Through dialogue on issues like unemployment, educational challenges, and the like, it is my expectation that the stumbling blocks to progress in spiritual growth and mental maturity can be weakened in their lives just as the forefathers of the civil rights movement achieved years ago.

The Barbershop Ministry is so named because of what the barbershop and the barber has meant to African American men and their neighborhoods for so many years. Since the end of slavery, the barber has been entrusted with the African American male's appearance, life, and well-being. Since all participants make a solemn pledge to maintain confidentiality, this initiative provides a safe environment for African American males to talk openly and honestly about what they are feeling and experiencing in their daily lives so solutions may be devised and initiated. The goal of the initiative is to help change the current mindset of African American men and alleviate some of their pain. The ministry is not only meant to initiate this change by assisting African American men in the fostering of a new mind, but to facilitate their development into new men--men who strive for justice in their lives, in this nation, in their homes; men who believe that God is still in charge and trust that He is not through with African American men yet. Just as barbers are known for shaping men's heads by giving them haircuts that can change their outward appearance, the goal of the Barbershop Ministry initiative is to change the hearts and minds of African American men and give them a different outlook. The hope is that these men can foresee themselves living in the future righteously, justly and unashamed with God.