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Jordan Jeske, the Co-Founder and Director of Cornerstone New Hope, has a deeply personal connection to the struggles faced by ex-prisoners. As a teenager, Jordan became addicted to methamphetamine, leading to a five-year sentence in the California prison system. After paroling out in 2010, he experienced firsthand the stigma that follows convicted felons, even for those striving to rebuild their lives through faith.

 

Though Jordan remained actively involved in church, the challenges of finding stable employment and overcoming societal barriers were constant. Determined to live a life free from drugs and crime, Jordan refused to let his past define his future. While interning at Calvary Monterey, a former prison warden encouraged him to return to the prison system—but this time, as a minister.

 

Jordan began working in prison ministries at Salinas Valley State Prison and Correctional Training Facility, partnering with organizations such as Prison Fellowship and The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI). During this time, he built lasting friendships with men nearing parole who had nowhere to go after release. Recognizing a need for support, Jordan and his wife, Antonette, opened their home to provide a safe and welcoming space for these men, offering the second chances he had longed for upon his own release.

 

In 2017, just months after the birth of their second child, the Jeskes welcomed their first parolee into their home. Within a short time, four more men joined the program, and the need for expansion became clear. They relocated to a larger property in Prunedale, California, where they have since hosted nearly twenty men, helping them rebuild their lives.

 

Today, Jordan continues his mission as an associate pastor at Refuge Bible Church, while leading Cornerstone New Hope, offering hope, guidance, and a fresh start to those ready for a new beginning.