Landon Dreyer

“Your kids are going to be the future; raising them up is very important,” said New Pathways graduate and father of two Landon Dreyer. Through the Good Dads program and his personal faith in God, he’s gained an appreciation for the importance of fathers in a child’s life.

“You’re raising future leaders, future members of society,” he continued. “The way you raise them reflects that.”

Good Dads equips fathers with the right tools they need to be the best dads they can be. These “tools,” such as healthy communication and anger management, stay in a father’s toolbelt for life.

For Landon, the lessons learned within the program, along with the relationships formed with participants and facilitators, are “a really good resource to have.”

Before discovering the New Pathways program, Landon spent years battling both addiction and mental health struggles. One of his biggest obstacles was the five-hour distance between himself and his eight-year-old son.

It was while Landon was interning for Kingdom Life Recovery in Ava, MO, that he learned about Good Dads. since May 2025. It was there that he learned about the Good Dads program.

“Kingdom Life Recovery saved my life,” Landon said. “It’s helping restore the relationships I have with my son and other family members.”

While Good Dads is not affiliated with a specific religious organization, the program is faith-friendly, partnering with local churches to provide classroom space. Many dads are just like Landon: They have spiritual journeys connected to their fatherhood journeys.

“To me, fatherhood means raising a child up in a Godly manner,” he said, “being honest, being trustworthy, and being filled with honor and respect.”

Landon’s paired what he’s learned in Good Dads classes with lessons from the Bible on taking care of your family as a father.

Landon continues striving to meet the needs of his children, and he says Good Dads has really helped him with that.

To fathers who are new to the program, he suggests paying close attention in class.

“Be receptive and be patient; it’s a process,” Landon said. “Soak up all that you can while you’re there.”

Good Dads 2.0, one of our classes, examines healthy communication skills and conversation topics for fathers and their children. Through these lessons, Good Dads has assisted Landon in closing the distance between himself and his son—both physically and emotionally. He says that there’s been a noticeable improvement in their interactions after completing the program.

“He’s warming up, starting to be more comfortable with me,” he said. “Communicating with him is easier, and he seems more eager to talk to me than he did before.”

Good Dads has also helped Landon to open the lines of communication with his son’s mother.

“My coparenting skills are a lot better,” he said.

Landon credits his class facilitators for assisting him in this process. They helped him answer his fatherhood questions.

“Having someone you can go to for advice, to get that counsel, was a huge thing,” he emphasized. “It brought comfort into the situation.”

Not only have class facilitators provided a support system for Landon, but fellow class participants have as well. Being around other men who are in similar situations as him allowed him to feel supported.

“Seeing and being around other fathers and sympathizing with what they’re going through helped a lot.”

Using the skills he sharpened with Good Dads classes, Landon says communication has gotten easier. Now, he regularly calls his son and coparent with updates, and there’s even a plan for an in-person visit in the near future.

Landon continues fostering his growth in fatherhood through regular communication with family and attending a local church with people he met through Good Dads. Fathers are raising the next generation of leaders, and Landon continues to be a positive example of a leader for his children.

“I hope my relationships continue to grow and be restored, and I continue to grow closer to the Lord,” he said.

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