St. Cloud Men’s Support Group Celebrates Christmas With Two Events

(KNSI) – As a famous Christmas movie once said, “No man is a failure who has friends.”

This holiday weekend, one group in St. Cloud is finding comfort in that idea as they work to jump-start their lives. Overcomers International Fellowship is run by Pastor Michael Laidlaw and his wife. It started as a more conventional homeless shelter in the 1990s and has morphed into a men’s support group. Laidlaw says they only tackle the toughest cases.

“We’re kind of laser-focused on that highest risk population and we’re going to pour out hospitality, concern, love, programming, and create a bunch of resources for them to be very successful.”

OIF helps turn felons and the addicted into college graduates, husbands, and success stories in its five-building complex near the railroad depot. One of the earliest is Arvis Stubbs, who came to the shelter in the 90s as a cocaine addict. Stubbs has been giving back ever since to celebrate her turnaround.

The 25th anniversary Socks for the Soul event is scheduled for Christmas Eve. The pastor talks about the program. “Arvis and her little friends went out and bought socks, wrapped them in newspaper, and gave them out that first Christmas. That has manifested to between 3,000, 4,000, or 5,000 socks every year.”

The program also includes some motivational speakers. They will talk to the 46 men currently enrolled at OIF. Laidlaw says everyone who stays there is local. He finds them through contacts with social services and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

On Christmas Day, the center will hold a “Never Be Alone” ceremony, a rare event open to women who are 18 years or older as well. Laidlaw says he already has volunteers and staff in place, but help is needed throughout the year for those interested.

Men will stay at the Dream Center for up to nine months. Everyone helps in the kitchen and learns valuable skills. Looking back now, Laidlaw says the numbers are impressive.

“I don’t have a mother foundation that supports us some way. I don’t have anybody on our board with deep pockets. So, it’s entrepreneurship, it’s making it all work. We served about 1,500,000 meals in the past 28 years, we’ve served 14,000 people.”

The pastor says his program includes faith, love, and support, but the real key is teaching the men who walk through the center’s doors to think about tomorrow. Many attend vocational or community college, and he preaches permanent jobs rather than temporary gigs.

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