More Than a Neighbor
When 70×7 Life Recovery’s Grand Rapids location first moved into Together Church in 2017, Pastor Kathryn thought Together Church was simply gaining a new tenant.
“We honestly didn’t know if we would be more than landlords,” Pastor Kathryn reflects. “But as we began to interact with the staff and learn about their mission, we realized how aligned it was with our own. From there, our relationship began to blossom.” What started as a lease agreement grew into a partnership built on mutual support and a commitment to restoring hope for those coming out of incarceration.
Together Church doesn’t just say they support 70×7 Life Recovery, they show it. Over the years, the church has hosted 70×7’s Easter basket building event for 70×7 families, taken the lead in hosting 70×7’s annual volunteer appreciation event, and mobilized its church members to serve as mentors and prayer partners for participants impacted by incarceration. When new needs arise—from hygiene kits to bicycle locks—the church truly steps up to support.
70×7’s partnership with Together Church runs deeper than programming and sharing a building. Together, both staff encourage one another, pray for one another, and have become like family.
This kind of relational ministry is central to 70×7’s mission, particularly through its Church Partnership initiative, with a network of over 70 churches committed to walking alongside those returning from incarceration. For Pastor Kathryn of Together Church, joining that movement was never a question.
“It was a given,” she says. “We need one another to do this work—to love the marginalized, to walk alongside those who have been judged or forgotten, and to remind people they are not alone.”
A Church That Welcomes All
At Together Church, the mission to create a community of radical welcome is more than just words; it’s a lived reality. Derek Mullen, a participant at 70×7 Life Recovery, found his way to the church after a painful season of church hurt. He had spent nearly seven years deeply involved in another congregation, only to feel cast aside when leadership changed and his ministry efforts were no longer supported.
“The part that’s hard is when people already think they’ve got you figured out… like you don’t have anything to offer,” Derek reflects.
During that difficult time, Derek leaned on his wife for support and encouragement. When she mentioned visiting Together Church one weekend, Derek agreed to give it a try.
“The second week we showed up, they all remembered our names and greeted us like we’d been going there for years,” Derek recalls.
Derek and his wife are profoundly thankful for the warmth, acceptance, and authentic community they’ve discovered at Together Church, where they feel genuinely seen, valued, and supported.
“They’re good people,” he shares with heartfelt appreciation.
Pastor Kathryn is quick to acknowledge that Together Church isn’t perfect. But what sets it apart, she says, is its commitment to grace and authenticity—a space where stories can be told without shame, and where everyone, regardless of their past, can find belonging.
“Some of our members had never known anyone who had been incarcerated,” Kathryn explains. “There was this unconscious ‘us and them’ dynamic. But as they got to know Derek and listened to his story, that all changed. It became clear that we are all children of God.”
“This partnership with 70×7 Life Recovery has been a source of strength and joy for our entire congregation. It’s a constant reminder of what we’re about, which is loving God fully and loving others without conditions. We are so grateful to walk this journey through our partnership with 70×7.” – Pastor Kathryn Resler Chambliss