Our Mission
Mission Statement
Leading men out of addiction into lasting freedom and transformation through a Christ-centered model of accountability, healing, and hope.
Our Beliefs
We believe in one eternal God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect, existing in three persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, which are inspired by God and written by men, and are the basis for which we live.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, who was crucified, dead and buried, and rose again on the third day and sits at the right hand of God, the Father, in heaven. Jesus Christ was the final sacrifice and redeemed us from all of our sins and gave all who believe the same power, faith and authority through His name to overcome and to give service to His commission to us (Mark 16:15-20).
We believe that the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit and Power of Christ, and our comforter, teacher, healer, deliverer, guide, equipper, convictor and gift-giver, and empowers us to live holy lives in service to God. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a whole Person and dwells in every believer and all of His Spiritual giftings are available for use upon His will, as the believer yields to Him.
We believe that no man can come to the Father but through faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ; that only through Jesus Christ can one be saved, healed and delivered. We further believe that we are being perfected and prepared for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, to gather His believers, to live and reign with Him in the Kingdom of God and live eternally with God.
Core Values
F.R.E.S.H.
F – Faith
We build everything on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, guiding men toward spiritual renewal and a personal relationship with God. Faith is the anchor that empowers lasting change.
R – Restoration
We are committed to the restoration of lives, families, and futures. Through counseling, mentorship, and community, we help men rebuild what addiction has broken.
E – Empowerment
We equip men with the tools, skills, and support systems needed to achieve emotional, spiritual, and practical independence. Empowerment leads to dignity and long-term success.
S – Sobriety
We foster a structured environment that encourages and sustains long-term sobriety, rooted in accountability, discipline, and grace. True sobriety is more than abstinence—it’s transformation.
H – Hope
We cultivate a culture of hope, reminding every man that no story is too broken for redemption. Hope (in Christ) is what keeps the journey going, even when the road is hard.
Our FRESH Family
Our clients experience a true brotherhood of support while reaching life-changing milestones in their journey and making memorable experiences together.
Our Story
Our Founders, Joe and Kelly Cordovano
Joe and Kelly Cordovano are the founders of Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida, faithfully guiding the organization from 1986 through the end of 2024 in its mission to lead individuals with life-controlling problems out of darkness and into the light. With decades of combined experience in Christian rehabilitation ministry, Joe helped establish and operate Fresh Start’s residential discipleship program for men and, in the early years, oversaw a women’s recovery center. He also led 12-Step support groups, provided family counseling, facilitated community education, and equipped pastors through training and seminars.
Before founding Fresh Start, Joe trained and served as a rehabilitation instructor at Dunklin Memorial Camp. Together, Joe and Kelly’s lifelong dedication has helped thousands find hope, healing, and lasting transformation.
Our First House
This humble Orlando house is where Fresh Start truly came to life. At one point, as many as 17 leaders and clients crowded under this single roof—sharing meals, prayers, setbacks, and breakthroughs—while the ministry found its footing. The walls carried the sound of transformation, and the home became a launching pad for changed lives. But as men kept coming and hope kept spreading, it became clear that what God was building could no longer fit within these four walls. Fresh Start was outgrowing its beginnings, and the search for a larger property—one that could support the vision ahead—quickly became the next step in the journey.
A New Property
In 1999, Fresh Start took a bold leap of faith and purchased a small trailer park—a patchwork of aging mobile homes that, in God’s hands, became a place of genuine transformation. Classes, Bible studies, and discipleship meetings took place in one of the trailers, often with men squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder, hungry for change and hope. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was sacred. The ministry grew, lives were being rebuilt, and the trailers became a community where men discovered purpose and brotherhood.
But after seven years of packed rooms, worn floors, and more men arriving than the space could hold, it became undeniable: Fresh Start needed a permanent home built for the vision God had placed before them. The dream of constructing a true campus began to rise—setting the stage for the next chapter in the story.
Our Current Building
.As the vision grew beyond what the trailers could hold, Fresh Start stepped into an unusual but faith-filled season. The entire ministry temporarily relocated to a nearby hotel—an unexpected home base that became a holding place for what God was preparing next. While men continued classes, discipleship, and recovery work in borrowed rooms and makeshift spaces, the familiar trailers on their long-time property were torn down to make room for something greater.
In 2006, construction officially began. Foundations were poured, walls rose from the dust, and the dream that had lived in the hearts of the founders for decades finally started taking shape. After months of prayer, perseverance, and anticipation, the doors opened in 2007 to a brand-new, purpose-built facility. It offered room for up to 68 men, a commercial kitchen, a full dining hall, and a recreation room designed to build community and hope.
What began as a temporary detour in a hotel became the bridge to a permanent home—one that would define the next era of Fresh Start’s mission.
Sober City
By 2014, Fresh Start had grown far beyond the dreams of its early days, and yet one need remained clear: men leaving the program still needed a safe, structured place to land. The Board began praying earnestly for an aftercare community—somewhere graduates could continue their journey, maintain accountability, and rebuild their lives without the pressures and temptations of their old environments.
In that same year, the Chairman of the Board discovered a promising opportunity: an apartment complex less than half a mile away, right on the shores of Lake Fairview. Sensing God’s provision, the Board moved forward in faith and purchased the property—marking one of the most significant steps in Fresh Start’s history.
What began as a simple vision soon became Sober City: 20 two-bedroom apartments complete with living rooms, bathrooms, and full kitchens. A substance-free community where graduates could live affordably, stay connected, and continue growing in accountability and purpose.
Sober City became more than housing—it became the bridge between recovery and independence, a place where men learned to stand strong on their own while never standing alone.
Where We Are Now
As you look across this collage of moments—from the humble Orlando house where Fresh Start began, to the crowded trailers, the hotel season, the construction of the main campus, and the launch of Sober City—you see more than buildings and timelines. You see stories. You see faces. You see God’s faithfulness stitched into every chapter.
These pictures capture men in recovery, staff pouring out their hearts, volunteers serving, families being restored, baptisms, celebrations, graduations, work crews, prayer circles, holiday meals, and the everyday miracles that often go unnoticed but never unvalued. They remind us of where we came from, what we’ve survived, and what continues to drive us forward.
For nearly 40 years, Fresh Start has stood strong—growing, adapting, and transforming lives through seasons of plenty and seasons of challenge. And through it all, we remain deeply grateful. Grateful for those who prayed, those who served, those who gave, and those who believed that freedom was possible for every man who walked through our doors.
This collage is more than memories—it is a testament to a mission that is still alive, still thriving, and still changing lives one story at a time.