ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) – Matthew Cordella spends his days walking in parks and picking up trash with students who have been suspended.
In other words, he’s exploring his call through Mennonite Voluntary Service.
“I’m not a teacher, counselor, or therapist … I’m just someone who is picking up garbage with them,” Cordella said. Because Cordella isn’t seen as a traditional authority figure, he believes his clients speak more openly with him.
Cordella works at the Center for Community Justice in Elkhart (Ind.). It is the oldest center for restorative justice in the United States. As the coordinator of the Community Service Restitution Program, he helps to find work for those who are assigned community service hours by the court.
Clients often come with the expectation that the community service will be an unpleasant experience, Cordella said. Because of the organization’s restorative justice lens, the center has a different aim.
“We want them to build healthy relationships that will outlast their community service hours,” said Cordella.
Recently, Cordella received a call from a client. The man had finished his community service hours delivering mattresses to an area nonprofit, but he wanted to continue to volunteer there! The impact of the man’s service lasted longer than the hours he clocked.
This is also true for Cordella. In July, he will finish his time with MVS. But Cordella will leave a changed person.
Cordella grew up Catholic. His catechism classes were foundational for him. The footnotes from the readings opened up a new world of books and theology. This piqued his interest in Christian beliefs about crime and punishment, and led Cordella to where he is today.
The generosity of the Mennonites that Cordella found in his MVS community surprised him. Although Cordella’s home congregation didn’t support him financially, his host congregation, Prairie Street Mennonite Church, stepped up to the plate.
MVS allows Cordella to live out his faith while exploring his call and interest in Anabaptism. At Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Cordella takes leadership in Sunday school and worship services. He’s even a part of some skits, which he admitted, takes him out of his comfort zone.
But more important than what he does are the relationships he has made. In the Elkhart MVS unit, and in a growing number of other MVS units, each participant is connected with a faith mentor. Cordella was connected with Alan Kreider, who was central to helping Cordella grow in his faith. Kreider is a retired seminary professor and mission worker with Mennonite Mission Network.
After almost a year of living and exploring Anabaptism, Cordella is taking steps to become a pastor and plans to study at Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C. He wants to use his gifts for the church.
