Heads hang as the news echoes through the ears of dozens of the Macon men, it filters into the Uptown’s homeless community. “We’re closing…..can’t be true…..can it?......why us?......we can’t believe it!” The reality of our men’s programs closing left many, if not all of them, despondent and feeling dejected. Grown proud street toughened fellows breaking down in tears, others gazing with blank stares triggered by fear and, as the news sinks in, anger begins to slowly erupt.
Already despised, snarled upon and rejected from nearly every facet of society, this news was another brutal kick to a man already down. The “powers that be” had listened and heard the relentless pleas from a fearful and merciless exclusive club. Propaganda served as a powerful tool. No more funding!
They came, picked them up and transported over half of these tired men to another shelter just around the corner. Some were housed, some were left in transient locations and a small minority ended up lying under Chicago’s hazy stars or roughing many nights on the “red line” train. Most, though the promises were great, were still without a place to call home. Cornerstone’s normally noisy, chaotic and hectic cafeteria, (that nightly housed a hundred plus men), was hit with a ghastly screaming silence.
The words of emotionally charged individuals summed up the tension and fears that resounded through them all: “We guys are already the rejected, the dejected, the hated and despised. We are feared. We are the bottom of the barrel. People fear us, but they don’t know us, they don’t talk to us, see us as human beings, as husbands, fathers, sons and grandfathers. You gave us that. You spoke to us as human beings. As a friend who loves us. You gave us hope. Hope in God, hope in Jesus, hope in love, in community, in friendship and in family. You helped us believe we can do and be something – get a job, live drug-free and find stable housing. Man – we need you guys and you’re all some of us have.”
The words, fear and the emotion seen in these men added to the voice echoing in my head. “YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!” God will never forget or forsake these men, and neither must we! Jesus gave me a mission to keep in contact, uplift, encourage, share my love and be a voice for the voiceless.
Bringing Home the Macon started as Scott and I left the lonely cafeteria one day and wandered the busy streets of Uptown to start fulfilling this mission. We visited them on street corners, in various shelters, in their homes whether permanent or transient, under the trees, in the hospitals, libraries and wherever we could find them. We found nearly all of these men and were greeted by an overflow of hugs, handshakes and the gentle friendly exchange of fist to fist. They loved seeing our faces. We began offering these men glimpses of light in this world of darkness.
The bitter reality of incarceration was ever-present since the conception of the men’s programs. Parolee after parolee was being released to our doorstep; though they were being set free, they were now being forced to live in a homeless existence. We accepted them, but when we closed, a hot meal, a roof, a mattress and grey blankets became not even an option. It was the worst for our high proportion of parolees; they generally ended up being helped out less because of their records. When Bringing Home the Macon began it’s follow-up and outreach we discovered that through our constant searching and listening ears a high proportion of gentlemen (and ladies) were continually winding up back behind bars.
A felon’s imprisonment isn’t the only time they have been taken captive. “We’ve served our time and have been set free to live as a productive member of society” is an utterly false statement. Once a person is greeted into the cold angry cells of shame, that person’s rights are vanquished and they become a lifelong slave to societal fears, hypocrisy and prejudice. Guilty for life has been labeled upon the backs of ex-offenders. The first strike law of public housing, mandatory minimum sentences, parole, the internet and the easily available criminal background checks have placed huge X’s on every felon’s back, making the basic need of housing and employment virtually impossible. Thus, an endless cycle of grief and recidivism begins and the message of love, justice and hope is desperately needed to be preached to those hurting.
The countless number of individuals we know incarcerated, on probation, on parole and with felonies is astounding. Bringing Home the Macon has recently added a new dimension, knowing and feeling God’s leading, we have dedicated ourselves to writing and visiting prisoners we specifically know. We are going to many various meetings and seminars that address the multitude of issues felons face, working toward bringing about much needed reform in and out of prison and at looking at the various directions that the Lord would want us to go. So much reform and effort is needed to help these men and women rehabilitate and become a functioning productive member of society, they want to work, live in their own place and be a good husband or wife and raise their own children, but the crippling stigma needs to be erased. God forgives them, so must we!
The letters Darrell and I have written have blessed these men beyond comparison. We want to provide more for these guys as the needs arise, like books for them to read and study, but financially we’re not capable of doing that presently.
The lives these guys lead is a difficult and frustrating one, fill of hardship, addictions, obstacles and endless struggles. The most important thing we can do is: We present them with Jesus, with His love, forgiveness and hope. Nearly all acknowledge that true justice, true love and truth can only come through Him. We desire to keep them focused in their heavenward destination, by straining to be as Jesus to them. They are the least of these, and Jesus cherishes each and every one of them.
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