Audio Faith for felons (story audio) Photos Matthew House residents and mentors share an evening meal. Mike Voorhees says a Christ centered program offers hope to convicts. Jesse Garza is struggling to fit at Matthew House. Respond to this story Talk about this story in the MPR News Forum Submit a commentary Help us cover this story

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Faith for felons
by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio
December 8, 2004

Matthew House residents and their mentors meet for a meal and Bible study once a week. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

Many people who are sent to jail serve their sentence and leave, only to return again. Studies show five to seven of every 10 prisoners released will be back. A new program in Fergus Falls is trying to slow the revolving door. Organizers say it's one of the first faith-based transition houses in Minnesota.

Fergus Falls, Minn. — Mike Voorhees has been a chaplain for 14 years, and he's seen convicts fail too often. He's watched countless people leave jail with the best intentions, but old habits catch up with them and they end up back behind bars.

"I know that these guys aren't any worse than I am," says Voorhees. "Most of them for the most part are good guys. They just made a mistake. I just want to see somebody give them a chance."

	Mike Voorhees says a Christ centered program offers hope to convicts.

Mike Voorhees envisioned a place convicts could go when they leave jail, and have that second chance. So he started Matthew House. The house opened about a month ago in a residential neighborhood in Fergus Falls. Each room was furnished by a different area church, and there's a waiting list of churches who want to help.

On a recent evening, several convicted felons and their mentors met at Matthew House for a meal and Bible study.

The big, two-story home has beds for up to eight residents. There are two living there now, they can stay for up to one year. Matthew House has graduation points at four, eight and 12 months, depending on how long convicts need the program.

Mike Voorhees says any convict who wants to change their life is welcome. They're expected to work and pay rent, follow house rules and attend bible study and church activities. They're taught how to handle money, and stay sober, but the central component of this program is faith.

Christ makes it work. He's the one that's going to bring the guys through this. - Mike Voorhees

"Christ makes it work. He's the one that's going to bring the guys through this," says Mike Voorhees. "We can set up as many programs as we want here, and guys can successfully go through those programs but if they don't have the change of heart and they're not willing to commit themselves to Christ, chances of going back to that old behavior, will probably happen."

Men like Dwight Robertson, 56, are well acquainted with failure. He's serving time for his fourth drunk driving conviction.

Dwight Robertson is a big man with a long flowing beard. He doesn't get too excited about things. He's hoping to soon move to Matthew House. He knows what he has to do to be successful.

"I found out quite awhile ago the minute I'd step away from God I'd just get slapped; you know what I mean? You stray away and trouble would start again. It is the only answer. As long as you walk the right path, things go good," says Robertson. It sounds pretty simple. Just have faith, live right and everything will work out.

But that simple idea grates a little on Jesse Garza, the first convict to move into Matthew House. He sits quietly through the evening bible study with his chin resting on his hands.

Garza is in his 50s. He's an alcoholic who's been in and out of jail much of his life. Tonight he's feeling down because he recently he fell off the wagon and had a few drinks. He confessed and the Matthew House staff let him stay. But tonight he just doesn't feel like being a happy Christian.

	Jesse Garza is struggling to fit at Matthew House.

"These people around the house, none of them mean anything bad toward me. They mean well. But I have my ups and downs and they don't seem to understand," says Garza, twisting his hands as he struggles to find words. "It's like for them you have to be happy all the time. What's wrong with if i don't want to be happy today? I mean, I struggle. I can't be happy all the time."

Despite his frustration, Jesse Garza wants to stay at Matthew House, because He believes faith offers the only chance for him to stay sober. He knows there are people here who want to help him. But like many ex-cons, he has a hard time asking for help.

Help at Matthew House comes from volunteer mentors like Chuck Tysver. Tysver is a pastor in Fergus Falls. He says people often leave jail with no money and no friends.

"I'm just letting them know that I'm their friend," says Tysver. "They sit here and they're feeling depressed they can give me a call and we'll talk about it and pray together and let them know they're not alone. A lot of them feel like they're kind of left out here all alone."

Tysver also keeps an eye on residents at Matthew House and doesn't hesitiate to call them to task if he sees them slipping into old patterns of behavior.

Matthew House founder Mike Voorhees knows changing lives won't be easy or quick. But he says those who want to change should be given a chance.

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