The Men of Nehemiah was born out of a Pastor’s heart-wrenching desire to save his wayward son from the grip of addiction and dereliction.

As a result of his relentless love for his son, coupled with the power of God, Pastor Louis Harrell, Sr., a former Colonel in the US Army and a Superintendent in The Church of God in Christ, established The Men of Nehemiah in the city of New Orleans, La. in 1994. As a participant in the Discipleship program his father founded, Louis, Jr. was eventually set free.

In 2005, following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, Louis Harrell, Jr. moved his family to Weatherford, TX where he met Roger McCasland, the president and CEO of Operation Relief Center, a Community Development Corporation in South Dallas, TX. Additionally, Roger served as a mentor to many of Dallas’ most prominent Pastors and Christian leaders. As their relationship grew Roger began to mentor Louis as well.

In February 2010, under Roger’s leadership and direction, Louis Harrell, Jr. and a core team of God inspired individuals followed the call to execute The Men of Nehemiah in South Dallas, TX. The MON Mission that guided the team is taken from Matthew 25:35-36, “…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to Me.

Louis Harrell, Jr. battled addiction for 20 years and has experienced the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has over seventeen 17 years of experience working in ministry and the social service arena. He served as the Program Director of the community social service organization that evolved from the Men of Nehemiah program founded by his father. The organization provided the following services: a weekly clothing and feeding ministry for the homeless, a residential substance abuse and transitional housing program for homeless men, a Community Technology Center, a weekly job training program for at-risk youth, a developmental program for adolescent females, and a Weed and Seed after school tutorial and literacy training program for youth. Additionally, Louis, Jr. served three (3) years as the Facility Supervisor of the New Orleans Mission which provided services to over 100 homeless individuals daily.