"Fresh Start" Mustard Seed at Great River Landing

We are building relationships. St. Mark’s Cathedral volunteers and the staff at Great River Landing in Minneapolis, which provides housing and the possibility of a hopeful future for seventy-two men recently released from incarceration, have formed a partnership. Staff assist each tenant in finding a job and a way to pay for their own apartment. To date St. Mark’s has provided bedding, t-shirts, hygiene and kitchen kits, and a new library and computer center.

St. Mark parishioners involved in this ministry gather monthly to listening to the mens’ stories. In October they listened to Robert. He shared how he was recovering from twenty years in prison. After seventeen “driving while intoxicated” (DUI) charges, the door to prison became a revolving door. Robert is now an advisor for our Fresh Start ministry and is asked for his feedback before any ideas move forward.

We are going “inch by inch” to foster a presence of hope and love of Jesus that we pray will last for many years. For those released from prison, the most common housing outcome is a homeless encampment or going back to addicted friend spaces. In time we will offer a prayer space after the meetings. For now we are building trust by simply showing up each month through May. These men have rarely had an apartment. Now they have dignified lodging and can attend to the basics of healthcare, mental healthcare, and sobriety.

I am looking for volunteers who will help to cook a Thanksgiving meal for about 30-40 residents and volunteers on November 25. I am also hoping there are people who can make some extra dishes for these men on their first Thanksgiving since being incarcerated. In December we are collecting new bedding including pillows and towels for men with no family connections. If you are interested in helping, please contact Linda Brandt at brandt.linda@gmail.com. We are a hardy group of dedicated twenty-plus mustard seeds, finding hope in action from and for Jesus.