Luncheon Provides Connections for 'Returning Citizens'

Derek Mullen, Jackson Nichols and Joseph Jones are regulars at the Men of Purpose luncheon held twice a month on Wednesdays at Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church.

Like many of the men who come for the meal at the church in Grand Rapids, Mich., they are returning citizens, meaning they have spent time in prison.

They say that being able to attend the lunch — which is really much more than a lunch — has played an important role in helping them readjust to a new life from the world they knew behind bars.

"The lunch is awesome," said Mullen, who works as a bricklayer. "The lunch helps guys like me get on the right foot. The lunch helps you find what you need and connects you with people who can help."

The luncheon is an outreach of Step of Faith Ministries, a CRC congregation that meets on Sundays in the Sherman Street sanctuary. Step of Faith began more than a decade ago and was supported for many years as a church plant by Christian Reformed Home Missions.

About three years ago, Step of Faith started the luncheon as a ministry to men returning to the community from Celebration Fellowship Prison Church, a congregation based at the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia, Mich. Home Missions has supported the church in Ionia as well.

"We needed to find a way to help establish a network to receive these men," said Stedford Sims, pastor of Step of Faith. "We wanted someplace that simply valued them for who they are regardless of their past."

From the start, Sims has made sure to prepare a full-fledged lunch, including an entree, salad, and dessert, and to have it served buffet-style on good china. The men sit at tables draped with tablecloths.

Soon after the luncheon began, an unexpected thing happened.

"We had simply wanted to have a place where people from Celebration could come, feel accepted, and have a good meal," said Sims.

But then friends started inviting friends — and people from various walks of life, not just returning citizens, began to show up.

Representatives from social service agencies, owners of businesses, pastors from various churches, and others now sit at tables with the returning citizens, said Sims.

"What we see happening is that some of the people of influence in our community are at the lunch, showing that they are conscious of the needs of the 'least of these,'" said Sims. "They are helping to give returning citizens a break."

As the luncheon has evolved, the organizers have developed table leaders who help to guide conversations.

Often, the table leaders are returning citizens themselves who are trained to become mentors. In many cases, they are now in a position to help someone fresh from prison find work or a place to live and are willing to be there for a phone call in the middle of the night, said Sims.

"To see this ministry happen is great. The lunch has given us as a church a way to network into the city," said Sims. "It has also become a side door that many of the men can take into a local church."

Rev. John Smith, vice president of Central Bible Ministries International, a mission organization, was at a recent lunch, sitting at a table and listening to a young man from prison share his concerns.

In the minutes before lunch, the young man talked about how hard it is to find work and transportation, and especially how painful it is not being allowed by his child's mother to see his child.

Without saying much, Smith simply showed compassion for the man's struggles.

Smith said he appreciates the chance the lunch gives him to meet with returning citizens, to hear their stories, and to occasionally give advice.

In addition, he said, he has been helped himself by connecting with other pastors who attend the lunch.

"I know God's Spirit is at work here at the lunch in so many ways. I have felt it," said Smith.

Jackson Nichols, who spent more than eight years in prison, said he has also felt the Spirit of God at work, touching and blessing him in surprising ways.

"It has sharpened me and inspired me to get involved in going back and doing ministry in prison," he said.

Meanwhile, as another returning citizen, Joseph Jackson, stood by the buffet table, he said that just being able to come for the meal twice a month has played an important role in stabilizing his life after getting out of prison.

"This lunch has been my saving grace," he said. "It helped me to become a Christian and put me on the right path. I believe in myself again and enjoy helping others."

Just before the men filed up for their food, Sims stood in the front of the room and spoke for a few minutes, sketching the history and purpose of the monthly lunch.

“We did this because there are not enough gathering places for like-minded brothers who want to love God, love their families, and serve their communities,” he said.

He explained that the men would have a chance that day to pray and share concerns and discuss a biblical principle as they ate. As always, the goal, he said, would be to grow closer to God, who is the one who can bring about lasting change in a person’s life.

“We want you to know that God loves you — and that happens even if you’re not thinking about him. He is always the Daddy to his rebellious children,” said Sims.