Ministry Update

On April 7, 2010, as all living things do, St. Francis Inn Ministries grew. Br. John and I (okay, mostly Br. John) developed a new idea for ministry. We were no longer satisfied with the stagnancy of the Urban Center ministry, feeling that we were not making any sort of long-term change with the work we were previously doing. If our goal was to break the cycle of poverty, it wasn’t going to happen within the existing framework.

Our ministerial venture was (is) overwhelming. In April, we signed papers for a 3-unit house with the hopeful vision to fill it with single mothers and their children. We had been planning for months; making forms, program-developing, doing some legal and logistical leg work, and anxiously awaiting the day that we could get in, get some work done, and get started.

Some major renovations had to take place, such as a rotted bathroom floor, new tile, new carpet, and twelve rooms to be painted. April 8, we were in the new house, assessing the work, making plans, and bracing ourselves for our new titles as contractors, homeowners, and handy-people.

We both got to work and now, three months later, putting the last mini-blind up and sweeping and mopping the third floor apartment, we are ready to start our supportive housing program. Supportive housing is defined as “a combination of housing and services intended as a cost-effective way to help people live more stable, productive lives.” Our target population is single mothers because we knew that by providing support and life skills to the mother, the child(ren) could be raised in a stable household, therefore breaking the cycle of poverty.

We’ve already begun this new ministerial venture with a mother and her 3-year-old son. We are all really excited to get to work; for me and John- to give this woman the tools she needs to make good choices in her life, and for her, to be in a safe, stable place for her and her son. Over the next couple of months we hope to fill the other two apartments and are energized by seeing our vision come to life!

Please say prayers for us and for our families!