Central’s Restoration Center is a place

where relationships are built; hope reborn

Central’s Community Ministry Coordinator, Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, shows volunteer Nalani Lavedure how to find the best job posting sites on the Internet so she, in turn, can assist the many guests who come to the center to search for work.     Photo by Joe Bjordal

 

“Central’s newly-opened Restoration Center is quickly becoming a place that people in need are turning to for help in crisis times, reports Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, community ministry coordinator.  He says that on a typical day many people are in line when the doors open at 7:30 a.m., many of them mothers and children who have been “released” from homeless shelters for the day and have no place to go.

 

The Restoration Center, born out of Central’s strategic plan, combines previous community ministries, such as the Clothes Closet, in operation since 1967, with new efforts of hospitality, counseling, financial assistance and spiritual formation.  And, it does it all from a new dedicated space, something Rolf says is unique among the outreach ministries of downtown Minneapolis congregations.

 

“This is already becoming a place where community is being created,” said Rolf.  “People need community in order to succeed.”

 

He also said that having the Restoration Center in a church creates a “trusting environment” as people “trust a church and feel that a church can help them.”

 

Rolf said the ministry of center is to work for restoration both physically and spiritually, with counseling available from retired clergy to those skilled in offering financial advice.

 

Rolf says that he is personally involved in one-on-one counseling everyday and often it is about money. The center provides a variety of financial assistance for needs ranging from bus tokens to prescriptions to dental work.

 

Central has invested $69,000 of Community Ministry funds to renovate and furnish the space, including the purchase of two computers with Internet access where guests can search for jobs and file job applications online. A recent guest, an out of work immigrant in his mid-thirties, even used a computer recently to send a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, decrying the lack of state aid in helping those who are out of work and homeless.

 

Volunteers are key to ministry

 

While Rolf gratefully reports the involvement of over 40 volunteers to date, including many who are not members of Central, he says the need for more is great in order to fully staff the center, which is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

Volunteers are needed for the following tasks:  front desk reception, computer guide, spiritual guide, educator, Clothes Closet volunteer, community meal preparers and servers (served every Monday) and advocacy organizer.  Retired or part-time clergy are also needed to offer pastoral care.

Full information about volunteer opportunities is available by contacting Rolf at 612-767-9214 or rlowenberg-deboer@centralmpls.org.

 

“Being welcomed is the first piece toward restoration,” said Rolf, “from moving out of crisis to stability.  Our hope is that that is exactly what is going to develop here.”

 

“The Restoration Center is poised to do a whole lot of good in this community,” said Rolf.  “It’s something that Central can be very proud of.”

 

The Restoration Center is just one part of Central’s community efforts, which also include involvement in “Heading Home Hennepin,” a move to end homelessnes and “Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness.” Rolf will talk about Central’s community ministries at the Lifelong Learning Forum on Sunday, May 10.

More Information about the Center, Including Hours and Services, is Here

333 South Twelfth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-4416