by Michael Clancy
As I enter my eighth year as an urban missionary, I wholeheartedly dedicate myself to helping men transition from prison and programs back into society.
In 2016, I met Shawn Connatser, a man with long hair and a warm smile. He first attended my Bible studies at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, and soon after, he became part of our congregation through the Life Change program at Jubilee Ministries. Our relationship grew as I began to walk alongside him in discipleship, a relationship that still continues today.
I vividly remember the day Shawn asked if I would be his mentor. While I declined the title, I did offer to “do life” with him, redefining our relationship as one of equals rather than a traditional mentor-mentee dynamic. I wanted him to feel empowered, rather than seek someone to “fix” him.
One memorable evening, I invited Shawn over for dinner when my daughters were around three and five years old. As we shared a meal and engaged in meaningful conversation, Shawn admitted, “This is awkward,” expressing how out of place he felt. I could relate, recalling my own awkwardness during my first dinner invitation from Daniel and Joyce Miller while I was a student at Jubilee Ministries. This shared experience helped us connect.
For new believers, entering a healthy Christian environment, especially a church, can be intimidating. I remember my own feelings of being watched and inadequate because of my past. Yet, every person has a story, and it’s vital we show Christ’s love to each individual.
Driving Shawn home after an EMM banquet, he said, “I’m going to keep doing awkward until it’s not awkward anymore.” This statement felt like a victory—a sign of courage in embracing discomfort.
A few years later, I had the pleasure of facilitating Shawn and Celeo Osorio through a leadership coursed called LEAD: Leadership Training and Development. After completing this intensive program, they both attended and graduated from STEP, which provides three years of non-traditional ministry leadership training. Celeo received his credentials from LMC to serve Lebanon Christian Fellowship, while Shawn became my assistant pastor in April 2025.
Today, Shawn is actively discipling men, inviting them into his home, and allowing them to embrace their awkwardness, just as he once did. It’s a rewarding testament to the transformative journey that being an urban missionary has allowed me to be a part of.
Michael Clancy serves as the Lead Pastor at Freedom in Christ Fellowship and as a field worker with EMM in Lebanon, PA with his wife and their two children. Having experienced the life-transforming power of the gospel in his own life, he desires to extend the hope of Christ to others by reaching out to the forgotten members of society, including people in his own city who are returning from incarceration or rehabilitation from substance abuse.