For the past eight years, Christ Memorial Church in Holland has quietly and consistently opened its doors each Monday morning for a meaningful initiative called Serving Together. In partnership with 70×7 Life Recovery, the church hosts a weekly outreach program designed to support individuals reentering society after incarceration. Participants gather for breakfast, group mentorship, and community service—cleaning windows, dusting, and sanitizing the church facilities.
But Serving Together is more than a weekly task list—it is a reflection of a deeper commitment to restoration, dignity, and belonging.
This past year, Christ Memorial Church formalized its relationship with 70×7 Life Recovery by adopting the organization as a mission partner, strengthening a partnership that continues to shape both the church and the individuals it serves.
A ‘Fix-it’ Mentality to Encouragement
Brian Burtch, Lead Deacon at Christ Memorial, has been instrumental in this effort and speaks with sincerity about his role in the program.
“You sometimes have the natural instinct to try to fix things,” Burtch says. “But what people need is someone to come alongside them—to love and support them. To really help, you need to encourage them to build the skills they need to assimilate back into society.”
For many participants, challenges such as housing and transportation create daily obstacles. Helping them navigate these frustrations with patience and respect is a core part of Burtch’s work and the broader mission of 70×7.
“It’s a mission built on the understanding that mistakes will be made,” he reflects. “And we’re called to respond with humility and compassion. Forgiveness is not just for those returning from incarceration—it is also something we, as a community, must extend and embrace.”
Curiosity to a Loyal Mentor
Steven McCarthy, another mentor in the program, began attending Monday mornings with a desire to better understand the experience of returning citizens in Holland. Over time, his involvement deepened, and he became a one-on-one mentor—a role he was eager to return to when the program resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Serving Together has become a part of my weekly routine,” McCarthy shares. “I value the opportunity to spend time with others, to serve, and to have real conversations. Christ calls us to build relationships, and that’s what this work is about.”
Mentorship has proven to be a valuable factor in reducing recidivism and supporting individuals in building a new future. For McCarthy, this work is both personal and purposeful.
“It brings real hope to know that forgiveness exists,” he says. “If I can play even a small role in helping someone see that, I want to do that.”
Through Serving Together, Christ Memorial Church demonstrates a commitment to walking alongside those rebuilding their lives—offering not just a place to serve, but a place to be seen, supported, and encouraged.
It is a partnership grounded in grace, where second chances are not just offered but nurtured with care, consistency, and compassion.