Man Turns Life Around To Help Others

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A man who made an incredible turn in his own life has labored on to do the same for others.

Rev. Josephus Foster knows all about life on the mean streets.

He knew the streets well growing up in Dayton and wound up in prison twice—four years in Mansfield and five years in the Ohio Penitentiary for armed robbery.

But during a series of riots in the 60s, Joe said he began to get his head together after being released on an education furlough to The Ohio State University, a degree at Xavier, a Christian conversion in 1977 and divinity degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He then became Rev. Josephus in 1982. Ten years later, he heard and answered the call to the inner city, opening the Fountain of Hope in 1992.

Seven years ago, Joe proudly showed off the after school program in action as the fountain celebrated its first decade.

Now, through economic ups and downs, it remains at the corner of Livingston and Ohio, keeping an open door in an area where choices seem few.

“Some of the guys that hung out on the corner came here to get away from the corner actually,“ said Sheraiel Echols, program coordinator.

Echols came to Fountain of Hope in the third grade. Now, 21 years old, she has returned to assist Foster as program coordinator.

More than 2,000 young people have come through the program for after-school tutoring, anger and conflict management, Bible study, for meals and camp in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

There have been tragedies. Joe said two young men have died in drug or drive-by shootings. Another man was shot and paralyzed, but there have been many more success stories.

One such example is 18-year-old Michael Harper, a computer whiz kid headed to Toledo on a full scholarship thanks to the fountain.

Michael said Rev. Joe has taught him the secret of success.

“Dedication gets you what you want. You have to be dedicated. He wants the fountain to succeed,“ Harper said.

Gerrika, another success story, will become the first African-American female to graduate from Shawnee State University with a degree in plastics engineering.

Carnell Robertson has been foster mom to 15 children including Lamar and Caddell, and said Joe is never too busy for anyone.

“He’s known all of my children, their strengths and weaknesses. He worked with them to … help them develop their strengths and deal with some of their weaknesses,“ Robertson said.

From food and clothing drives to after school, summer urban camp or trips to the wonder of the outdoors, Rev. Foster answered the call and stayed.

Now 70 years old, he hopes to turn over the reigns, but said he’ll never be far from the humble oasis of urban refreshment.

The ministry is looking to add arts-related programs in the new future.

They are a United Way designated charity and will have a Web site soon.

Anyone interested in contacting Rev. Joe can call 614-258-6528.