Who we are

WWJDEW Ministries started as a spiritual calling to give back, to show those who are suffering that they don't have to continue to suffer. It has since grown to offer several programs, including multiple speakers passionate about sharing their inspirational stories with others, and a one-of-a-kind Athletes in Addiction program, focused on the particular challenges athletes face while trying to overcome an addiction.

We're here to give hope to the hopeless.

Sharing Our Stories

Our speakers love to share their stories with others. Their journeys are truly inspirational – each overcoming individual challenges of addiction and hearing loss. They speak to high schools, colleges, athletic groups, jails or prisons, church groups, recovery or treatment centers, conventions and more.

To arrange for one of them to speak to your group, please contact us.

Dewey L. Foster

Dewey’s life experiences include time spent as multi-sport athlete, class vice president, football captain, University of Toledo football player, sales manager and business owner – and a cocaine addict. When he evaluates his accomplishments, the greatest is deliverance from cocaine. Dewey describes his journey “to Hell and back” in a concise and truthful manner, including the good, the bad and the ugly. Those who hear his story internalize his pain, as well as his hope. View his full profile.

Mark Mays

Mark Mays was diagnosed with a hearing loss in 1965 due to ear infections and childhood illness. He was often told he wouldn’t be able to achieve most of his goals in life, yet he went on to play football at the University of Toledo, receiving an undergraduate degree there, and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Dayton. He speaks about the obstacles he had to overcome and how he turned his hearing loss into a positive aspect of his life. Read more here.

Athletes in Addiction

Addiction is difficult for athletes because of the way they are raised, trained, how society perceives them and how they perceive themselves. Those of us in addiction normally follow a variation of the 12 Step Program. The first step says: “We admitted we are powerless over our addictions and our life is unmanageable.” For athletes, the idea that they are “powerless” over anything goes against everything they have been taught to believe since pee wee league.

WWJDEW Ministries Founder Dewey L. Foster has personal experience as a collegiate football player, high school football coach, business owner, chaplain – and delivered addict. He believes that for the athlete, the road to recovery must include:

  • Behavioral modification
  • The 12-Step Program
  • The Spiritual 12-Step Program
  • Spiritual deliverance

Dewey is a successful product of this combination and now shares his program and experience to help others live a more successful life.

Dewey goes beyond describing the cycle and symptoms of addiction; he insists upon examining the root causes – and solutions. Because of his history, he is especially passionate about serving fellow athletes who find themselves caught in a downward spiral. He does so in group presentations as well as one-on-one encounters and mentoring.

Jail/Prison Ministry

How do we change how society looks at us? We first have to change how we look at ourselves.

That is the foundation behind WWJDEW’s jail and prison ministry.

When asking a group in jail or prison, “How many times has someone said to you, ‘You’re just like ____ [somebody negative]’?” Every person would raise their hand. They were fighting the stigma in their mind of who they were.

Most of us think of ourselves the way society views us, how we were told who we were, how we were raised. We have to see instead how God views us so we can change how we view ourselves. That’s the key.

Dewey offers a message of hope, encouragement, forgiveness and restoration through his ministry.

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.”
– Romans 3:23

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
– Romans 10:13