At City House, offering spiritual direction involves a constellation of relationships that together form a triangle -- the triangle consisting of an agency representative, the spiritual director and the client or "directee." The following series of interviews offers insight about spiritual companionship from the unique perspective of each person forming the triangle. We hope this offers you an idea of how spiritual companionship through City House works.

The first interview is with Sue Gunder, Career Development Manager at Project for Pride in Living Industries (PPL Industries), followed by interviews with City House spiritual director, Joyce Finch and directee, Brenda. PPL Industries is a non-profit organization that provides employment to men and women -- 47% of the population have recently been released from prison, 22% have a felony.

The interview begins with Sue Gunder, Career Development Manager, PPL Industries

INT: Can you tell us about your experience with City House?
Sue: I met with City House about a year ago and the connection was positive right from the start.

INT: How have you supported the spiritual life of your clients in the past? Have you considered it a part of your mission? What evidence, if any, do you have that supporting your clients spiritually makes a difference in enhancing their self sufficiency?
Sue: I have worked with this population for 17 years and my experience has been that the cure for these people is Spirituality. I would call them "career criminals" this is part of my terminology. They have experienced a high in committing crimes so how do you find another way to get that same high? As a non-profit organization we can’t call it religion we call it spirituality. I am a licensed social worker, if the person has a belief in a higher power, I try to help them. If someone is suicidal and believes in a Higher Power than you have something to work with. They have a purpose for living if they have a spiritual background. They need something else -- spirituality is an important part. If they don’t have spirituality...it's hard. Currently, we have a men’s group, women’s spiritual group, and AA group every week.

INT: How do you measure success with your agency, and with specific programs?
Sue: As the career development manager, spirituality is important. Our mission is to rehabilitate people back into the community. One of the tools that I use, if they have expressed interest, is spirituality. We received a grant from the United Way and our success is measured by how many people pariticipate in our group and their retention rate. Our rate is very high and we’ve met a lot of our goals. A lot of the men here have never worked over 6 months in their life. If we can keep them working beyond 6 months, and out of jail, this is good.We take the little steps.

INT: How do you know that City House is helping to this or not?
Sue: City House involvement is consistent and stable and this is very important. For example, one person in the women’s group was impacted positively in a difficult time. Brenda has changed in a lot of ways. Before the group, she was in a relationship with this guy and this defined her. This guy was a street person and acted like a street person. Now she is more liberated, out of her shell. She is more confident, she knows what she wants and how she wants to live her life and there is a direct link to City House with these changes. When she lost her husband, City House was real good help to have and good support, support that Brenda really needed. Overall we have had a very positive experience with City House and hope to continue with the relationship and expand into a men’s spirituality group.

The next interview is with spiritual director Joyce Finch. Joyce was trained through Christos.

INT: How long have you been involved with PPL?
Joyce: My first session was in late October of last year.

INT: What called you to this ministry?
Joyce: I was looking for clients to help and wanted to have a group experience, I was looking for meaningful volunteer work for some time and joining PPL was a nice fit for me. It was the answer to what I had been looking for.

INT: What are the sessions like?
Joyce: The sessions have ranged from one on one direction to group direction.

INT: Can you tell me what a Thursday session looks like
here at PPL?
Joyce: Each session begins with a check-in where each person shares a brief summary of the experiences of the week. We then have a meditation/reflection ... reading or song, followed by some quiet time. All are invited to focus on words/feelings that come up for them. This often leads to a more free form of discussion. As we close, prayer is sometimes offered or a brief processing of the session might occur.

INT: How have you learned and grown from your experience with PPL and the woman?
Joyce: I am learning perspectives of another life that is different from my own. I am learning to understand differences, yet we all have the same spot we come to when life is hard, there is something more than ourselves. I see each woman grappling with this. They all acknowledge a higher power other than self. Working at PPL has helped me to allow others to find their own path toward God and recognize their own discovery of the spiritual calling in their life. It is very humbling, realizing that my role with these women is simply to be with them, rather than trying to bring some
kind of change.

INT: What has been the most memorable experience for you?
Joyce: Working with Brenda. Brenda lost her husband and being part of that process was very meaningful for her and for me. Also, Brenda shared how she helps her friends that are homeless on the streets, for example, on Thanksgiving day she had extra turkey and immediately after eating she took the rest of her food to the Salvation Army shelter to all her friends there. If she runs into a person on the street that really looks to be in need, Brenda will help them out, that may mean bringing them to her home to let them take a shower or get a nights sleep.

INT: How have you grown spiritually?
Joyce: Working at PPL is deepening my spirituality. I write in my journal and reflect on each session and I am touched by their stories. It has deepened my compassion and understanding. The strength these woman find to do what they need to do, contrasted to mine is uplifting. It speaks to a God who is there for each of us. It is amazing how these woman are there for each other and their children. Our God is a relational God. Our lives are relational.

The final interview is with the directee, Brenda. Brenda has struggled with homelessness.

INT: How long have you been part of the support group?
Brenda: I started in July when the group started.

INT: How often do you meet?
Brenda: 1x a week for 1 hour.

INT: Can you tell me about your experience with Joyce, and the other woman involved?
Brenda: They help me through the tough times and hard times. City House helped me through the death of my husband. There was a lot of tribulation with my ex husband and City House helped me take that faith step. They were support for me to get a place on my own.

INT: How has your spiritual life changed?
Brenda: It has brought me closer. Let him do it instead of me doing it. Like we’ve discussed, if you have a problem let him handle it, let him take over, rely more on him. If I have problems, I turn it over to him. Last year, I would try to deal with it, this year I let him handle it.

INT: How does your spiritual life impact your day to day life?
Brenda: I am more relaxed.

INT: Do you notice changes since being part of this support group? In what way?
Brenda: This group has helped make me see things more openly than before. Makes me want to take trust in people. He will make sure it’s the right way. Before I did not trust people, I have taken that next step. Makes me feel happy, more joyful towards people, more relaxed, more trusting of people. I now go to Bible study, I am starting to go to church on Sunday.

INT: How do you see spiritual direction as part of your ongoing life/path?
Brenda: This group has brought me closer to God. It makes me realize I need to bring him more into my life. Before he (God) was "there" -- and now I realize I want to bring him closer to my life. I have a Bible now and I read my Bible before I go to bed. I hope the support group continues here. I am studying for my GED and when I get my GED I will be ready to move on. It's time for me to open up more, I used to be more quiet.