FAITHFUL OBSERVATIONS

By BOB SHILLINGSTAD

Staff Writer

Jail chaplain Rick Kahlbau started us on an inquiry into more ministries that are reaching out to those incarcerated and suffering with addictions. One of the first people we interviewed was Neal McClellan, who is a local Realtor but has also been a volunteer chaplain for more than eight years. Neal now has secured two homes under the title of a ministry called “Lazarus Homes” and we decided this had to be an interesting story and it is!

Neal, you started a ministry of halfway homes for those coming out of jail called “Lazarus Homes.” This is a fitting name when you recall the Bible story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. How did this begin?

I was volunteering as a chaplain at the jail when Larry Green had the position of jail chaplain. We faced a real problem of men being released with nowhere to go and they also needed counseling and direction in their lives. Larry told me that since I was a Realtor I should find a home where these individuals could go to. My first reaction was “You bet, everyone wants to rent to men fresh out of jail, and where could we find such a place!” It just so happened a co-worker heard my conversation and was moved by it and said that she had a house she would rent to us. That was the beginning of our first home and frankly a steep learning curve for all of us. I learned that an absolute reliance on God is the only way it works.

What is the program and schedule when the men arrive at the house?

First we had to start with basic rules, such as 9 p.m. curfew, midnight lights out, gaining employment, respect for each other, Bible study and spiritual guidance. everyone participate in basic chores around the home and keeping it up.

We work on developing a work ethic, money management and many other skills and have mentors that work with the men. It is a “tough love” environment but we have found that most of the men come from broken homes with no discipline or knowledge of basic life skills.

The Mantra is that “God is in charge,” it doesn’t work without him.

You now have two homes, how did that come about?

First of all the house we were renting was put up for sale a few years after we started the Ministry, so I came up with the funds for a down payment and we were able to purchase it. It is a smaller home, we were having some successes and as crazy as this sounds I literally had a dream one night about a larger house with a number of bedrooms, baths and a large dining room and kitchen that could hold more men. Later that week a listing came up that fit that exact description. I mentioned this to my wife in disbelief and she said we had better make an offer! I scrounged around for the money and tapped into our retirement savings, we made the offer and by the grace of God we bought the home! The new, much larger home needed a lot of work before we could use it. There were a number of people who donated a considerable amount of time and effort as well as furniture to get us started. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.

We have a full-time resident manager. He fits the situation like a glove. Another blessing from God. We continue to learn, accept the challenges as they come but we also see some real victories in our work. I see a lot of good coming out of the house. We see men that are lost but not hopeless. We look to Ezekiel Chapter 18 and 33 as a reminder.

Neal, this is an amazing calling that you have, much like the apostle Paul who earned his living as a tentmaker and yet was involved in a ministry. You are earning your living and yet have a real heart for these men. What are the needs you have and how can people contact you?

The homes are a good thing. Keeping men off of the street and pointing them in the right direction. I consider it a community service. Call us if you think of someone who might benefit from the homes. We can always use prayers, men that might want to be a mentor. God is so good, we’re even talking about opening a third home.

We can be contacted at lazarushomescda@yahoo.com.