This winter, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumnus Fr. Justin Mathews was recognized for his work as CEO of Reconciliation Services and the founder of Thelma’s Kitchen, Kansas City’s first “pay-what-you-can” café.
Fr. Justin received the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship, given by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMCK), at the UMKC's 39th Annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held on December 3, 2025. The awards honor local, national, and global changemakers.
Fr. Justin with community members at Reconciliation Services.
Reconciliation Services is a faith-based nonprofit founded by St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church located on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The street is well known locally as a symbol of generations of racism and poverty the surrounding neighborhood has suffered.
“There are so many partners and neighbors who believe in the dream of tangible, social, racial, and economic reconciliation in our city,” Fr. Justin said as he received the award. “There is no Reconciliation Services, there is no Thelma’s Kitchen, and there is no award tonight without their heart and their sacrificial love for our neighbors most in need.”
Reconciliation Services provides to clients—99% of whom live below the federal poverty line—medical, mental health and dental services, classes, and mentoring programs. Part of their outreach is Thelma’s Kitchen, founded by Fr. Justin in 2018 and located in the same neighborhood as the parish and the nonprofit. Thelma’s Kitchen is a gathering place for delicious meals served up to neighbors, program volunteers, staff, and church people who, based on their ability, pay what they can or chip in with kitchen duties.
Thelma’s Kitchen (Photo: Reconciliation Services)
In 2023, Reconciliation Services also opened the Chapel of St. Maria of Paris, under the OCA’s Diocese of the Midwest. The chapel was opened at Reconciliation Services’ location on Troost Avenue, and Fr. Justin serves as Priest-in-Charge. The chapel is adorned with iconography by Fr. Justin’s fellow St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumnus, Seraphim O’Keefe (M.Div., 2018).
Fr. Justin has directed Reconciliation Services since April 2013. (Photo: Reconciliation Services)
Third-year seminarian Fr. Jarrod Huffman interned at Reconciliation Services in the summer of 2023 and spoke highly of his experience.
“It’s an amazing organization with a fantastic staff,” said Fr. Jarrod.
Most recently, in 2024, Fr. Justin spoke to the seminarians at St. Vladimir’s and invited them to apply for summer internships at Reconciliation.
Fr. Justin attended the recent ordination of Fr. Jarrod Huffman (center), pictured here along with fellow seminarian Fr. Jonathan Reavis (photo courtesy of Fr. Justin).
The Very Rev. Justin Mathews graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2007. In addition to his ministry at Reconciliation services, he is a priest of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park, KS.
Top Image: Fr. Justin Mathews receives the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship (Photo: University of Missouri-Kansas City).
