The Lighthouse Overlook: Open Door Ministry of Lansing

Open Door Ministry of Lansing has been serving people for nearly 30 years.

By RJ Walters, Editor

What is it?
Open Door Ministry is a broad-based, ecumenical community ministry built upon Lansing Central UMC’s years of ministry working with the homeless and poor.
The ministry runs out of the church and it strives to meet people wherever they are in their lives and give them basic necessities and a support structure.
The ministry offers everything from a daily hospitality suite that includes drinks and snacks to walk-in showers to laundry, clothing, etc.
The church also offers people help with things like prescriptions and bus passes through its “ministry of kindness.” Open Door Ministry will help people obtain personal records, find referrals to other helpful agencies and always offer a listening ear and prayer.

How did it start?
According to Open Door Ministry Executive Director Cris Bobier, the church intentionally started a “fellowship lunch,” — a community meal once a week to reach out to people — almost 30 years ago.
As a steady stream of people continued to stop by the church with expressed needs, the ministry evolved.
“They had it in a small, little room called the tea room and then it just started growing and growing and growing,” Bobier said. “Since it’s located downtown a lot of people would just get out of jail across the street, or get stranded in the bus station or something — and they would find their way into the church. And it was the policy of this church to always keep its doors open, thus the name of our ministry.”
In 2004 it became an incorporated non-profit 501(C)(3) that runs out of Lansing Central UMC, but has a separate board and budget from the church.

What type of progress has been made?
Bobier is the only full-time paid staff member and there are two 15-hour/week employees to help her. But more than 30 churches — United Methodist congregations as well as other denominations —give directly to the ministry, and there are dozens of volunteers who help out when they can.
Bobier said the goal of the ministry is to be able to grow and transform as new needs arise.
“People that came in needed more than just a meal. A lot of times they needed showers, so we started a shower ministry,” she said. “So we had that for people walking in the door but then we realized they were throwing their dirty clothes in the trash, so we started a laundry ministry because it’s more responsible to take care of your clothing rather than throwing them away.”

What churches/people can do to help?
Open Door Ministry has an annual budget of approximately $140,000, which they get through apportionments, Conference Advance Specials donations via the conference treasurer and grants from local foundations like the Greater Lansing Food Bank.
Groups and individuals are always needed to assist with the Fellowship Lunch that takes place every Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Daily volunteers are also utilized in a variety of ways, and those interested should contact Bobier at 517-485-9477 or crisODM@yahoo.com.
There is more information available at www.opendoorlansing.org and the ministry’s Facebook page under “Open Door Ministry of Lansing.”

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The Lighthouse Overlook: Haitian Artisans for Peace International

By RJ Walters, Editor

What is it?
HAPI stands for Haitian Artisans for Peace International. It is an initiative of The Advance that was co-founded in 2007 by West Michigan Conference Council on Ministries Staff Office Manager Valerie Mossman-Celestin and Paul Prevost, a former mayor of Mizak, Haiti. It is a United Methodist Women-supported project that was founded as a fair trade artisan co-op focused on women’s economic development and empowerment.
The goal is to help skilled Haitian workers earn just and fair wages to help stimulate economic growth.
HAPI’s work extends into the community through community-based health care and programs for youth and its four major areas of focus are: economic opportunity, children, health, healing and wholeness, and building capacity.

How did it start?
Prevost introduced Mossman-Celestin to an artisan cooperative on her visit to Haiti.
Mossman-Celestin said it was not a sustainable business model, but the women earned a paycheck and had the dignity of their work.
“The effects were transformational; children were in school. Women were respected at home and in the community,” she said. “They didn’t have to travel long distances on risky and costly public transportation to sell products in dangerous urban areas. The women were happy.”
Prevost and Mossman-Celestin have helped people in Mizak make partnerships with local churches, local civic bodies, media outlets and even North American organizations.

What type of progress has been made?
Mossman-Celestin wrote the following about one Haitian woman’s experience in the August edition of the UMW publication Response:
Artisan Leonne Ridore’s husband once held traditional views of a woman’s role. He did not see the value of a woman going off to work, and instead believed Ms. Ridore should stay home. But he changed his mind when he slipped in a muddy field and severed his wrist on his machete. Ms. Ridore had just received her first paycheck from HAPI, which enabled them to pay for the transportation to rush him to the hospital.
“If I had not gotten there as soon as I did, I would have bled to death,” Mr. Ridore said, as he exposed the scar on his wrist. “Now I am happy HAPI is in the community.”
Some of the anticipated long-term outcomes of HAPI are more households living above $2 per day, the empowerment of women and girls, a reduction of emigration to other areas of the country and improved health and mortality numbers.

What churches/people can do to help?
There are plenty of ways to get involved.
As with any project, funding is essential. People can donate through The Advance by donating to special project #3020490. Tax-deductible donations can also be made at www.haitianartisans.com, where individuals or groups can choose specifically where their money goes.
HAPI is also looking for people interested in serving as long-term volunteers in the areas of business, creativity, medical, agricultural, photography and more.
Prevost can be reached at Hapiest2007@yahoo.fr and Mossman-Celestin can be contacted at valeriem@wmcumc.org.

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