Ransom Ministries

Ransom Ministries was founded in 2010 by Matt and Tara Armbruster after they attended a Bible study urging Christians to stop playing church and start living a life of true faith and dependence on God.

The Armbrusters asked God to show them how they could use the gifts He had given them to bring glory to Him. God gave Matt the idea of a cafe where anyone could get a hot meal and pay whatever they could afford and Tara the word “ransom” with the scripture Matthew 20:28. When they began to dissect this verse, they discovered the Greek word that is translated “to serve” actually means “one that waits on tables,” and “ransom” meant “to liberate many from misery.” They opened the first Ransom Café in October of 2010 at the Hangar of West Mobile Baptist Church.

Since then, Ransom Ministries has planted several more Ransom Cafe locations, some of which have changed their names and all of them have taken on their own responsibilities of operating their cafe. This has allowed Ransom to focus more on Ransom ReProgram, a job readiness and life skills training course that helps participants move out of dependency and into fulfilling careers that Ransom first offered in the fall of 2015. In addition they also provide on-the-job training through Ransom Recycle, an electronics recycling business. We take old, broken, outdated, end of life electronics apart to harvest the things that are of value in them. In addition to the opportunity Ransom Recycle creates for ReProgram participants and graduates, it also generates self sustaining income for Ransom Ministries to be able to accomplish our mission to empower people to overcome spiritual, relational and material poverty through knowing Jesus and utilizing their God-given gifts and talents in their work.

Mission Statement

Ransom Ministries empowers people to overcome spiritual, relational and material poverty through knowing Jesus and utilizing their God-given gifts and talents in their work.

Vision Statement

Ransom Ministries believes following Jesus can break the cycles of poverty and transform individuals, families, communities, and the world.

Current projects of Ransom Ministries include Ransom ReProgram, Ransom Recycle, and Ransom Café.

Ransom ReProgram is a job readiness and life skills training program that seeks to help students move out of dependence and into fulfilling careers. ReProgram uses the Jobs for Life curriculum. 

Ransom Recycling is a social enterprise that provides ReProgram participants with entry level employment and mentorship in their journey to become quality employees.

Ransom Café is a donation-only restaurant model that operates in churches in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Guests pay what they can or volunteer for their meal.