Comeback Stories

COMEBACK

STO R IES A PRISONER NO MORE

Comeback Stories: A Prisoner No More Copyright © 2020 by JUMPSTART® All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations.

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Introduction Everyone’s life can be shared as a story. I have a story. You have a story. What has your story been so far? What story do you want to tell when people ask you about your life? How do you want to be remembered by your friends and family after you are gone? Do you hope to one day have a story worth telling and celebrating?

If you’re anything like me, then your story has some chapters that you hope people will never know. Maybe it’s something that happened to you that shaped you into who you are today. Or maybe it’s something you did that you think can never be forgiven.

Every person in this book has chapters in their life full of brokenness and shame. But when all hope of having a story worth telling was lost, these men and women encountered Jesus, and He changed their stories. Now, we are celebrating what God has done in their lives. I hope you will read their stories with an open mind, and ask yourself this question: Since God changed their story, why would I refuse to allow Him to rewrite my story into a story worth celebrating?

I want you to know that many, many people have been part of bringing these stories to life. All the lives represented in this book were impacted by people helping them grow while they were incarcerated and after their release. Volunteers from Grace Church have helped to write the devotionals, designers and editors have helped it come together, and this resource is made possible in part through the Cooperative Program giving of South Carolina Baptist churches. All these people eagerly gave of their resources to serve the incarcerated and returning citizens so that they will have the opportunity to know Jesus and experience His power to rescue and restore.

If you are moved by these stories and want to know more about how Jesus can change your life, please reach out to someone who is living for Jesus. They will be able to make the introduction. There is a good chance someone in your dorm knows Jesus and is on their way to being included in a book like this that celebrates how Jesus is the author of the greatest comeback stories.

—CARY SANDERS

01 Someone to Trust ANGELIA RICHARDSON

I was abused as a child and felt I couldn’t trust anyone to help me. In my search to find something to fill the emptiness inside me, I turned to alcohol, sex, drugs, and crime. But none of that helped; it only led to more emptiness.

When I went to jail the first time, I tried to hang myself. As I was being rescued, God brought to my mind what I’d learned about Him years ago in children’s church. I cried out to Him, and He comforted me. I gave everything to God and trusted in Him alone to save me, right then and there. At that moment, I knew that He had me.

After that, I went through a Bible-based rehab and got back on my feet. I attended church and read my Bible every day. What I was reading I applied to my life. God gave me back a home, a job, my family, self-respect, dignity—everything. But then I stopped doing what I knew I should be doing, and that resulted in my going to prison.

Even though I’d forgotten about God, He hadn’t forgotten about me. He made sure I heard about JUMPSTART. At first, I didn’t trust the volunteers. I thought they—like others in my life—just wanted something from me. But they genuinely wanted to help me. I realized that these were people I could trust because they wanted for me the same good things that God wanted for me.

I’d really encourage anyone reading this to first of all trust God; then ask Him to help you trust others. God often places people in our lives so that He can work through them to help us move forward to our next step, whatever that might be.

Learning to trust others and—most importantly—learning to trust God made all the difference in my life. He is the only One who could take away my pain and sorrow. He is the only One who could fill the emptiness inside of me. And He wants to do the same for you! Just trust Him. 4

02 God is Real

BRADLEY WEBSTER

Although I had renewed my commitment to follow Christ during my first chapel service in prison, I felt empty and longed for purpose and direction. I read my Bible and prayed, but something was missing—I still had a sense of emptiness. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. A friend encouraged me to join a group of people working in the prison with a program called JUMPSTART, and said, “These people are truly seeking God.” And through that, God brought me to a place of learning from the Bible how to live in a biblical community.

As I spent time talking with these men and working through different topics, I came to know what it really means to be in a growing relationship with God. Letting go of the things I used to look to for fulfillment, I began to see the beautiful way God steps in and gives purpose to our lives when we open ourselves up and invite Him in. God is real!

This truth exploded for me, and I couldn’t help but wonder at how amazing it was to feel such freedom in Christ—even though I was still incarcerated. I was experiencing something bigger than I thought possible on the inside.

God used the additional time remaining in my sentence to grow me in humility and to help me develop communication skills. I learned how to set goals and work toward them. And I learned the importance of regular accountability. Looking back, I realize how much hope for my future I gained during this time.

I am convinced you can’t possibly go into a relationship with God and come out the same. There is hope for everyone who humbles themselves before God—you will be changed. Years after release, I am continuing to grow in my walk with God and others. My wife and I have even launched a ministry to elderly individuals called SecondWind. And we continue to just marvel at God’s power to truly change lives—both our own and others!

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03 Christ Forgives the Unforgivable BRIAN COSTNER

I grew up on a farm in York, SC. My mom struggled with mental illness, and my dad was abusive. Even though it happened behind closed doors, my sister and I still knew what was going on, and my parents eventually divorced. Through all these difficulties, I learned to bottle up my emotions. I didn’t have any way to deal with my feelings, so I just ignored them. The feelings kept piling up, and I kept pushing them back down. I was just empty.

Not having a support system or an outlet to express my emotions fueled my anger, depression, bad decisions, and eventually led to my incarceration at Broad River. I eventually signed up for JUMPSTART, and although I was skeptical, I figured I had nothing to lose.

As I spent time with volunteers studying the Bible, I finally opened up about my past. God made things clear for me, and I began a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of God’s work in my heart, I was able to let out what had been bottled up inside for so long.

Bringing things out into the open brought me peace, and I felt safe in the freedom the gospel brings.

My life changed when I came to know Christ. I became accountable to my roommate and left nothing in the dark. I could also relate to other JUMPSTART participants, and together, we found true forgiveness in Christ. I truly did not think I was forgivable, but I hold on to Romans 5:8 which says that while I was in my sin and an enemy of God, Christ died for me. I didn’t have to do anything to earn God’s forgiveness.

Christ died for me while I was still hating God. BUT, I was redeemed

by Christ’s blood, and I have a new identity as a child of God. Even though I’m out of prison now, nothing this side of heaven is perfect—but God is leading me every day, and I strive to serve God and others.

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04 Living in His Love CHRIS PRITCHARD

“If I’m wrong, then I’ll end up burning forever. But if you’re wrong, you’re going to miss out on heaven and eternal life.”

Hearing the sergeant say those words forever changed the way I think about God. He caused me to look at Christianity, at faith, at Jesus, in a new light. Even though I had grown up in church, learning all the stories of the Bible, I didn’t have a relationship with Christ. I had nothing solid to grab when my parents divorced. Even though I was a child, I blamed myself for our family breakup.

In my teen years, I discovered alcohol and drugs. I continued using in college and surrounded myself with other users who, like me, were living in a broken reality. This chaos and confusion is what eventually led me to prison. Though I didn’t participate in JUMPSTART while incarcerated, I did attend Bible studies from time to time, though I really wanted no part of something where “Christians” acted one way there and completely different when they left. But God wasn’t ready to let me go yet.

God used my mom to increase my faith. At a huge cost to her, she faithfully came to visit me every week for 17.5 years. My mom offered me grace, forgiveness, and mercy, while still holding me accountable for my actions. She was being the hands and feet of Jesus, even though I didn’t realize it at the time.

While I can’t pinpoint the exact date, I did experience life change when I left prison. I sought God’s heart by giving Him back mine. Just like Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, I am the worst of sinners, but God has shown me mercy because Christ paid for my sin on the cross. This is why I praise Him. Today, I work for JUMPSTART. I surrender every day because His plan is better than mine. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a husband, father, and mentor. My sin was great. Jesus is greater.

There is HOPE for me, and you, too.

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05 Saying Yes

CHRIS WILLIAMS

As a teen, I started drinking and smoking marijuana, but once a co-worker gave me cocaine, I became addicted. My habit, hidden from family and friends, eventually led to my arrest. Before prison, I heard about Jesus. I wasn’t interested then, but a seed was planted.

Once in jail, I prayed, asking God, “what am I doing here?” Then I read Philippians 4:8: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I knew that’s what I should focus on. Prison gave me time to get my life right, so I thought about the ways I wanted my life to be different.

JUMPSTART helps people when they get out, so I signed up. Most people don’t finish, but I said, “I’m going to be here because I need this.” Leaders helped me see my potential. With each opportunity I was given, I said yes. I grew closer to God and gained confidence.

I became a JUMPSTART leader for four years, hosted the weekly meeting, joined Toastmasters, and was the chief cafeteria clerk for 7.5 years, all because I was open to saying yes to what God put before me.

Learning to read and understand the Bible was life-changing. It’s a lifestyle now. I learned my purpose is to worship and satisfy God. I’m glad I went to prison because I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I hadn’t. God used a bad situation for good.

This year has been the best of my life. I have a good paying job, no bad habits, a savings account, a driver’s license, and a car. God is good. I’m a whole different person because of Jesus, and He can change you too.

As you do your time, I encourage you not to focus on your crime.

Don’t return to old habits or company. Focus on what you want to do differently and do it. Pray about everything. Pay attention to your prayers and watch for God to answer.

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06 From Chaos to Peace DOC SMITH

Although I grew up in a close-knit community, I felt alone and lost.

At 14 years old, I ran away from home to escape the tension of my family—my father had abandoned us. After serving time in a juvenile detention center, I continued making bad choices that led me down the wrong path. Trying to turn things around, I joined the Marine Corps, but continued making poor decisions that led to marrying the wrong person and eventual divorce. When I discovered that my ex-wife was mistreating my children, I was desperate to obtain the money I needed to raise them myself. Acting impulsively, I committed robbery and kidnapping which led to my incarceration.

Having been in church through young adulthood and even having knowledge of the Bible, I always believed in the existence of God and Jesus Christ, but I never understood what it meant to have a relationship with God. While incarcerated, with my second wife’s encouragement, I participated in the JUMPSTART program. I began to understand the importance of constant prayer, Bible study, and listening to the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions. As I began to truly grasp the truth of the Bible and God’s love for me, I moved from a head knowledge of Christianity to an experience of Christianity—I began a real relationship with God. Now, I understand that the consequences I suffered for my actions have ultimately led me to a life of freedom in Christ. I live with a peace that the chaos of the world cannot take from me. Now, having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I “put on the full armor of God” when dealing with difficulties in life—no longer reacting to problems out of fear, but facing them with confidence in the Lord.

For those who are in prison, I encourage you to take the time to change for the better while incarcerated so that you leave a different person than when your sentence began. Let God change your heart, and He will bring you peace.

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07 Discovering God’s Purpose DON WILLIAMS

I grew up in a Christian home with a single mother who worked two jobs to pay the bills. But even that wasn’t enough. I would often hear my mother getting threats from bill collectors over the phone. We lived in survival mode. I was desperate to help, and so I got into the game and thought I was doing it big. All it led to was me being locked up.

After I was released from prison the first time, I started attending church, but I really encountered Jesus at my job. I worked with a preacher who often posted Bible verses beside the time clock. One day the verse that was posted was “Come out from among them and be ye separate.” It took everything in me to clock in and get to the bathroom before I broke down into tears. I knew only God could change my life.

Although I became a Christian, I was still dealing and making poor choices. When I was incarcerated the second time, I knew I needed to focus on spending time with God and discovering His true purpose for my life. I opened my mind, my heart, and my hands, and cried out: “God, show me the next chapter that You have for my life.” When I surrendered to God’s purpose, He began to heal me.

One verse I treasure is Psalm 32:8, “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” I do not have to create my own path in life or even rely on myself to survive. I just have to lean into God, and He will show me the way.

After release, my life was truly changed, and I owe it all to God. I now have a family and two businesses, and I am able to use my gifts to help others. I hope you know that just because you are incarcerated, that does not mean God has forgotten you. If you will allow Him, He will show you your true purpose in life.

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08 God was Moving ERIC WALDROP

Just like all of us do, I spent years looking for identity, purpose, and affirmation. But without knowing only God could provide that in a lasting way, I found it by taking all the wrong paths. A life centered around gang activity led me to jail in 2005. Sitting in my cell, I picked up a Bible. I was really only turning to God to rescue me from trouble.

But as I lay on my bunk the night of October 21, 2005, the realization of my foolishness and brokenness hit me like a wall. I suddenly saw my need for forgiveness and so I cried out to God: “Lord take this away.

I don’t want to be this person anymore.” I was filled with peace and began to see big changes. God was moving.

Although God reached out to me simply through a Bible, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, JUMPSTART provided a community to help me grow. I learned about accountability—having someone to confide in, to challenge and encourage me. It was big for me. The program became integral to who I am today and what my relationship with Christ looks like.

Galatians 2:20 has become my favorite verse. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” I know that it is God’s grace and the crucified Christ that allows me to be a new person. This wasn’t just me turning my life around but God putting His hands on me and showing me the direction to go. I won’t forget the fear of the unknown I had while I was incarcerated. But if I could speak to myself back in that place, I’d say “God has really planned out all your ways. When He says trust Him, you can trust Him.” And now, through Jesus, I’ve found a new life full of identity, purpose, and affirmation.

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09 God-given Purpose GUSTAVO SOLIZ

I was born and raised in Southern California. I grew up in a really tough environment. Much of my family was involved in gang related activity, and early in life I was using drugs and abusing people. I didn’t really know anything about God. As you already know—this type of childhood often develops into a lifestyle that is destructive and often leads nowhere but to prison or the grave.

While at Tyger River, I heard about JUMPSTART and since I was close to being released and didn’t really have anywhere to go, I decided to sign up for the program because I figured it couldn’t hurt.

In the class, I learned that being a Christian wasn’t about following a set of rules, but about learning how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the love and care I was shown by volunteers, Chaplain Edmisten, and my inside leaders, I learned that God loved me and had created me for a purpose. I began to understand how to live out His purpose for my life on a daily basis.

Upon my release, I got a good job through JUMPSTART, became a part of a church family that loved me despite my record, and learned how to live for Christ outside of prison. The first year I was out, I worked hard, learned all I could in the classes I was offered, and saved every penny I could. After being out for only a year, I was able to make a down payment on a home. Not a dump in the poor part of town either—a nice home that I thank God for every day. Now just a few years after prison, I’m married to a wonderful woman, I’m respected in my community, I have a solid career, and I’m a faithful member in my church. I don’t list these blessings to brag, but to help you see that with Christ, your future can be greater than your past.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

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10 Leaving it to God JAMES FOWLER

As a young man, I seemed to be living the American dream: I had a family, a stable career, a nice house, and two cars. In reality, I was lonely and depressed, and my marriage was falling apart. Although I had a surface kind of belief in God, I didn’t have a real understanding of the gospel. So even though I’d had some worldly success, depression and loneliness led me to crime and a suicide attempt.

I was admitted to a mental hospital. While I was there, a Christian family friend visited me. He advised me to take responsibility for my actions and leave the rest up to God. After reading Galatians 2:20 about living a new life in Christ, I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

I immediately felt freedom and joy instead of guilt and depression.

Even though I knew that divorce and incarceration were coming, God gave me the courage to turn myself in for my crime.

In prison, I got involved with JUMPSTART. I learned about having open, honest accountability with others to grow in my faith. I also learned that my earlier surface-level ideas about God were self-centered. JUMPSTART helped change my perspective to center all my thoughts and actions around Christ. I was so changed by my faith that I began sharing the gospel with other inmates, despite their threatening responses. I also kept a journal where I recorded all the prayers God answered while I was imprisoned.

After my release, God continued to bless me. JUMPSTART helped me with transportation, housing, and finding a job. I am now remarried and have my own home. I continue to prioritize my time with the Lord each day and aim to keep God first in everything. Though my lack of faith led me to despair and sin in the past, now, by God’s power, I have my own ministry, reaching out to cyclists in my community with the message of the gospel.

No one is ever too far gone or beyond hope. Your life can change if you will trust in God and move towards Him. 13

11 Joy in Christ JAMES PETTIT

I grew up in a broken home with an abusive father. So from the beginning, I learned to look out for myself. While I was in college, I got in a car accident that resulted in my receiving a large sum of cash.

I then dropped out of school, became even more self-focused, and began a lifestyle of drinking, drugs, and parties. My actions were self destructive, and my poor choices eventually led to incarceration.

I had read my grandmother’s Bible and attended church some as a young man. I knew enough about God to know that He would not approve of my life. I thought there was no way a holy God would forgive me for all I had done. In a holding cell, I thought, “This is it, God.” I knew I could either give my life to God, or I was going to take my own life. In that moment, God began to work in my heart. I felt a tiny piece of hope—maybe God could change me. I had lived my entire life focused on myself, but God opened my eyes to a new way of life.

So, while I was incarcerated, I focused on getting my spirit, mind, and body in order—because if you do not invest in every part of yourself, you’ve already lost half the battle upon your release. I found great comfort in 2 Corinthians 6:10— “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” When I had cash and freedom, I was miserable. But on the inside, because I was learning to know Christ, I was full of joy! You don’t have to wait for a release date to live a satisfied, joyful life.

Now I have a steady job and I’m learning more about God every day.

I hope you know that even if you don’t feel it, God is working in your life. This is not the end—you can have a full, joyful life in Christ while incarcerated.

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12 From Death Row to Abundant Life JIMMY MACPHEE

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

—Romans 6:23 (NLT) I was first arrested when I was 16, and at 19 I spent a year in prison for dealing narcotics. Prison time made me an angrier person, though, and only four months after I was released, I committed murder. I was tried, convicted, and sentenced to die.

One day while I was on Death Row, a man stopped by my cell to deliver books. “My name is Frankie,” he said. “I love you, and Jesus loves you, too. He doesn’t care what crime you committed. He’ll forgive you if you let Him.” I heard those words, but I didn’t believe them. I was going to die, and I was going to die without God. But God had other plans for my life. By God’s grace, I was released from Death Row and even allowed a parole date. However, I was still really angry at the world and full of rage. Eventually, officials placed me in Supermax.

Being in isolation was actually an advantage, though. Alone and away from temptations, I was at ground zero, and that’s where Jesus met me. I remembered Frankie’s words from 20 years before. When I was locked away in that solitary cell, pacing the floor, taking inventory of the really broken life I had, Jesus let me know that I mattered to Him, and I finally asked God to forgive me.

After seven years, I returned to the general population, earned a Bible degree, and became a leader in JUMPSTART. After 45 years in prison, I went before the parole board for the eighteenth time—and parole was granted! In 2020 I was released from prison, and now I serve God through writing, mentoring, and encouraging others.

Some people may say that I’m starting life over at 65, but my life started over 25 years ago when I gave it to God. He’s just unfolding His plan for me every day. From Death Row to abundant life— that’s my story!

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13 Light in the Darkness JOE MEGGETT

Growing up between Chapin and Irmo, South Carolina, I remember my mother working hard to raise me and my four brothers. She modeled sacrificial love, taught us to do the right thing, and expected us to show others respect. It was a good childhood. We had food, clothing, and each other—enough, but few extras.

As I got older, I craved what I saw others enjoying: more than what my family had. I looked to others for a solution, a way to make the kind of money that would allow me to have the things I wanted. And I quickly found myself wrapped up with drugs. Something that was at first pretty casual turned into twenty years of dealing . . . and eventually a prison sentence.

I sat there, totally empty, in one of the worst prisons I could have been assigned. Yet even in that dark place, a light came. A kind roommate who looked out for me, and whom I saw praying morning and evening. An introduction to a program called JUMPSTART. A Bible study in the book of Job that encouraged me not to give up in the middle of the story but to wait for God to make things clear and right in the end—even if it felt like I was suffering greatly.

The light sparked a fire in my heart—a real and growing relationship with God. I knew about God from my grandmother, but I did not have a right relationship with Him. During that first year in prison, God changed my thinking. Being a Christian hasn’t made all the hard things go away, but I’ve learned the importance of denying myself, of keeping God’s perspective in mind when I make decisions, and of trusting God to fight for me and give me peace.

As I finished my prison sentence and now work in the community, I continue to see God change my thinking and grow my faith and character. I am so thankful to see God using me now to help others make right choices and follow God too.

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14 Christ Lives in Me JOHN GLENN

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

—Galatians 2:20 (NLT) I grew up in a great family who fully supported me. Growing up, I had the opportunity to travel a lot. I earned college scholarships because I was pretty good at sports. I even had a car when I was only 15! But even with all these things, my life was empty.

Although I grew up in church and knew about Christ, I didn’t truly follow Him. In high school I started to do what I wanted to do, live how I wanted to live. My parents warned me that the crowd I was hanging with would cause trouble, and they were right! One night, I was hanging with those friends and some others. There was an argument, a robbery, and then some shots were fired. Someone died. Even though I didn’t commit the actual crime, I didn’t report it either, and that’s why I ended up in prison. While there I realized that without Christ, I really had nothing. That’s when I surrendered my whole life to Him. Even though I was in prison, I finally felt free. I saw how much God loved me and wanted to use me. I made the most of every opportunity God gave me. I took classes for college credit and joined different programs and groups that would hold me accountable. Because I personally knew the hopes and struggles of those who have been incarcerated, I was able to help the founders of JUMPSTART develop the program. Today, I’m a husband, a father, a worship leader, and a student. Actually, I’m only three classes away from completing my business management degree! I also still do volunteer work with the SCDC. But you know what? It’s not me doing all these good things. It’s Christ who is working through me and in me. Christ lives in me.

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15 Learning How to Trust God JUSTIN DURRELL

I grew up in a loving Christian family that regularly attended church, and I became a “Christian” at age 12, but my relationship with Christ wasn’t personal. God was only part of my life once a week at church.

Because I wasn’t very close to God, I struggled with pride—I wanted recognition even if it meant doing things I knew were wrong. In my twenties, I got involved with drugs and was imprisoned soon after.

In prison, I knew of programs that I could get involved in, but I was skeptical of them. I saw that many inmates who participated in ministry programs didn’t change, so when I heard about JUMPSTART, I didn’t think it would be any different. But something attracted me to it and, at the last minute, I joined the 40-week program.

In JUMPSTART, I developed an intimate relationship with Jesus. I discovered that I couldn’t trust God until I knew God, and I couldn’t know God unless I spent time in Scripture, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. Going through the program also helped prepare me for life after prison.

Life didn’t become easier after I was released; I was suddenly entirely responsible for myself. But I had learned how to trust God. I trusted God with my finances by giving to my church even when I didn’t have a job or a car. I got involved at my church and surrounded myself with people who would encourage and challenge me. Because of relationships and accountability I found in church, I was able to grow spiritually in a way I never had as a young man. I started each day by reading the Bible and talking to God. Even in difficult times, I had peace, and God provided for me in every situation. God has continued to bless me by giving me a leadership position as a deputy director of public works.

My encouragement to others who’ve been through my prison experience comes from Psalm 37: “Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.”

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16 Changed by the Love of God KIMBERLY MCCALL

I just want to lay it all out because I’m not ashamed of my past. I do regret some of the things I did and the people I hurt, but I feel it all happened to make me who I am today—someone changed by the love of God. When I was young, I was introduced to the Salvation Army church.

Even though home was dysfunctional, I felt peace and comfort at church. But life pulled me away, and I spent years making bad choices.

Eventually I found myself in prison and alone in lockup for six months.

However, God was calling me back. He was my only hope.

After pouring out my heart to God, I decided to surrender everything. God put programs in my path to help me. I dealt with my anger and addiction. I met great people, helped lead others, and had accountability. God slowly but surely changed me from the inside out. Looking back on my experience of healing, I know God is able to make us whole when we feel broken.

Reflecting on my life before God, I felt like the Israelites of the Bible wandering in the desert. I kept ending up in the same dark place, wondering why I couldn’t break free. As a result of my addiction, I experienced “insanity thinking”—doing the same thing over and over and expecting another result. But now, I have my eyes set on the Promised Land and want to stay kingdom minded. I know there will be distractions along the way and things won’t be easy, but I’ve learned God’s plan is better than mine.

I want to encourage others to take a leap of faith—do something you have never done before and trust God. I have experienced the love of God in the middle of difficult circumstances. I’m sharing my story because of what a gracious God has done in my life. God is our main source of life, and He will lead, comfort, and guide those who put their trust in Him. 19

17 I am Not the Same Man LEROY BERNSTEN

I spent 34 years of my life incarcerated. Like many others, my addictions were at the root of my crimes, and they did not end when I was incarcerated. And then one day I was injecting a bag of dope and cursing God, blaming Him for everything. So, I started begging God to take my life. I didn’t realize it then, but that was exactly what God started doing, just not in the way I had expected.

A little bit at a time, things started changing. Looking back, it’s clear to see the people God used in my life. First, a gambling buddy became a Christian. I admitted to him that I wanted to read the Bible but felt like I couldn’t when I was still getting drunk and using drugs. But he told me that was when I needed it the most. Next, a guard saw me reading the Bible and told me that if I ever had questions, we could talk. So I started spending time with him discussing what I was learning. Then, I was transferred and joined a prison ministry. I was exposed to the true love of God—the Agape love of God—for the first time in my life. I saw men living out their faith and learned from them. Over a decade, I participated in many programs and got to know many people in the Christian community who helped me.

Eventually, some of those very men stood up to speak at my 17th parole hearing about the change God had made in my life. Beyond my wildest imaginings, I was released. The man who went into prison was not the man who came out. It wasn’t just my behavior that changed.

It was my mind. Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The things you focus on will be the things you act out on. God used His word to change what I thought about, and my life followed.

I want others to have that experience too.

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18 A Kingdom Purpose LEROY WHITAKER

I grew up in the 60s in the midst of social unrest, but I had a pretty peaceful childhood. We did normal things like visit the beach, and I was involved with school sports. We also attended church, but I didn’t have any real understanding of God. I joined the Marine Corps at 17 and then transitioned into being a firefighter and paramedic. This meant that I had lots of exposure to death, pain, and darkness—it definitely affected me. I began using drugs to cope with my anxiety and was able to hide it for a while, but of course it eventually caught up to me.

So I found myself in an overcrowded jail cell, surrounded by strangers.

I had no idea I could feel so alone. Everybody seemed to have a connection with somebody else, but I didn’t know a soul. Since I didn’t have anyone to talk to, I began to read the Bible. I ended up reading it from Genesis to Revelation six times—a new world opened up to me. I came to know the saving power of Jesus, and God’s Word gave me a kingdom purpose—a God-given calling and identity separate from the purpose I was trying to fulfill before I knew Christ. The Bible taught me about God and about myself.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Because God was generous with me, I can be generous with others. I often found myself in leadership positions because I wanted to help others and teach them about Christ. Nothing is impossible with God, and there is something more He wants to do through us.

My period of incarceration was a time of honesty and growth. Be honest with yourself, or you’ll never move forward. See this time as a season set aside to get to know yourself, Christ, and your kingdom purpose. God can and will use your story for His glory if you submit to His direction.

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19 It’s Never too Late for Jesus MARK PITTO What do I and the Apostle Peter have in common? It’s never too late to come back to Jesus. While Peter famously denied Jesus three times in one night (Luke 22), my denial was over the course of several years.

Though I was raised in a Christian home, and even made a statement of faith at ten years old, I dismissed Jesus from my life during my college years.

I no longer wanted any part of my family’s faith. I began exploring other belief systems and “shopping around” for world views. I became decidedly skeptical. Within a few months of making the conscious decision to turn my back on everything I once believed about God, I entered one of the loneliest times of my life.

I began having hallucinations, hearing voices, and experiencing night terrors. This led to severe sleep deprivation. I sought counselors, who suggest I rebuild my identity to fully understand what exactly it was that I believed.

After moving to South Carolina, I continued to seek meaning and purpose in life. Not long after, my life spiraled downward. I found myself incarcerated with a 15-year sentence. I had never even known someone who’d been in prison, and I felt totally out of place.

One of my first nights at Kirkland R&E, there was a man walking the halls, asking if anyone wanted to talk to a preacher. I immediately flagged him down—I needed help. Even though I felt like God and I weren’t on speaking terms, I knew I needed to start looking differently at my life and making some changes.

Reflecting back, I see my incarceration as a blessing from God. Before, everything I had counted on had been taken away; and then God said, “Now you need to seek Me.” I gave up control and said, “I’m here. Take my life, and show me what You would have me know and do.”

And just like Peter, I got a second chance from Jesus. For the past decade I’ve used my talents and skills working with JUMPSTART, seeking to serve others for God’s glory.

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20 Embrace the Boundaries MARK VAIL

“I had to hit the bottom of the barrel before my life changed.” I was a college student when I heard a speaker say those words at a meeting for Christian athletes. He talked about living a double life, and the consequences—prison—finally caught up to him. Only then was God able to change his life.

That night, I became a Christian, but my past was full of bad choices—I had lived a double life myself. Eventually, the consequences of my mistakes landed me in prison even though I was wrongfully accused. The days leading up to my incarceration had been full of anger and frustration. But the moment my cell door closed, a sense of relief and life flooded over me. “Okay God, I don’t understand this and it doesn’t make sense, but I’m going to trust You. Whatever You have planned, let’s do it.” I had hit rock bottom, but God was going to change me.

I began to study the Bible more while inside, and one story really stuck out to me. In the book of Genesis, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. I identified with that because my brother had introduced me to the slavery of drugs. When Joseph has a chance to get revenge on his brothers, he doesn’t. Instead, he says “those things that you meant for evil, God has turned to good” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph chose God and life over bitterness, and I wanted to do the same. Yes, I made bad decisions and there were people who had hurt me, but I knew I could trust in what God was doing—He was working for my good.

Ultimately, I was found not guilty after finishing my sentence. Praise the Lord that I am back with my family and moving forward. In my life before prison, I had despised any kind of boundary or restriction. But I’ve learned that God uses boundaries to teach and protect us. If you just embrace God’s boundaries and allow Him to break the hardness of your heart, you will experience joy that cannot be taken away.

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21 Seek God First MELISSA ROBBINS

I grew up in an abusive home. Loneliness, rejection, and abandonment were all I ever knew. My depression and despair brought me to such a low that I even attempted suicide when I was 16. However, God still had a purpose for me. Meanwhile, all these issues led to an explosion of anger that ended in my incarceration.

Although I had attended church growing up, I wasn’t really interested in God. When I was first imprisoned, I read everything but the Bible. One day, something prompted me to pick up the Bible, and it changed my life. Now I know God was leading me to Himself. God was the only one who could take care of all the pain and darkness in my life.

I ended up reading the entire New Testament. The Lord spoke to me through Matthew 6:33, which says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Everyone has their own dreams and goals, but God says to seek Him first. God will provide all that we need and will sometimes even provide what we want. He is the one who provides these things, not our hard work.

Eventually, I joined JUMPSTART, which helped me learn about the power of Christ in unity. Jesus died to save everyone regardless of their crimes, their nationality, or their race because God loves without exceptions and He made everyone unique and beautiful. I learned that even though I had been rejected and treated badly by my own family, I had value in Jesus.

I actually met my husband through the JUMPSTART program, and we are saving to build our own house. God has blessed me and my husband so we are not hurting or hungry.

Wherever you are in the process of knowing God, read His Word and trust it. The Bible has stood forever and will continue to stand when we are gone. Even though some people will tear you down, rest in God’s faithfulness. It’s a miracle that I’m out, and that’s because God did it.

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22 God Knows Me

by Name PHILLIP ROBINSON

Without a miracle, by the time you read this, I will have made it Home—I will finally be with Jesus. I was incarcerated in South Carolina for 45 years. I often doubted that I would ever make it back to the streets or see my family again outside of a visitation room. I was sentenced to death in 1975 for taking another’s life. Thankfully, several years later, my sentence was reduced to life with parole. While I had hope of one day being released, after being turned down for parole so many times, I often lay awake at night losing hope that I would ever make it out of prison alive. You see, I lived as if life was all about me—before prison and for a long time while in prison. I only cared about getting what Phillip wanted—who I hurt didn’t really matter to me.

Then I met Jesus, and He changed everything in me and in my life. I walked with Him for a long time in prison—learning to follow Him—learning that His way is better than my way. I learned to be free before I was ever released.

Then in 2019, I made parole. After I was at JUMPSTART just a few weeks, I found out I had stomach and liver cancer. I’ve received a lot of treatment, but God hasn’t healed me yet. It’s September 2020 and I am in hospice care now, and I’m only expected to make it a little while longer.

Many will see my life as a failure. I don’t have anything to leave my family. I haven’t achieved anything the world will remember. But more valuable than wealth or fame is the fact that God knows me by name. I’ve seen His love for me over and over throughout the years—even now as I lean forward to cross the finish line strong. He has me surrounded by people helping me make it Home. My greatest hope for everyone is that they will come to know and love Jesus—this is what really matters in life.

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23 Never Alone RANDY LEMON

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that we NEED each other. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I spent more than half my life in prison, and I quickly learned that detaching myself from others while completing my sentence made me feel like a refugee in my own country. I simply couldn’t go through life alone.

Although I was a Christian before I went to prison, it was a dark, dark time for me. I am so grateful for the men God placed in my path, and for leading me to the JUMPSTART program. Through the connections I made, I found a new way to interact with others, a new value system. Ephesians 2:19b-20 says “You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house . . . and the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.”

The JUMPSTART volunteers and other men in the program became my family. I look back on that season of my life with gratitude. When it was time for my release, I was really concerned about how people on the outside would view me. My fear of rejection was squashed though, because I knew I had a place to go where people would fully understand where I had been.

Similar to God showing His great love for all of us by sending His Son while we were still sinners, I received the love of others while rebuilding my life. I’m still feeling that love. I count my mentor as one of my greatest blessings and a vital asset to my current success.

I have benefitted from all JUMPSTART offers, including housing, job placement, transportation, medical assistance, as well as other services provided by the outside program.

With sincere thankfulness, I praise God for those who have encouraged me, stood in the gap, and built me up when I needed it most.

I am grateful, because those within, working, and volunteering in JUMPSTART have made me realize I am never alone. I encourage you to embrace the help God is sending your way through His Word and people.

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24 Choosing God or Choosing Self RICKY PACE

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”

—Romans 6:16 (NLT) You know how people talk about that one fork in the road where the decision they make changes life forever? That’s true—one choice we make does that: whether or not we trust in God to save us. But after that, there are as many forks in the road as there are quills on a porcupine’s back! Each choice we make impacts our success or failure, joy or despair.

For me, I had made some poor choices that led to my going to prison.

Fortunately, I had access to a Bible while I was in lockdown, and I read it and read it until God finally got my attention one night. I made the choice then to trust Him, ask Him for forgiveness, and obey Him. Even though I became a Christian, choosing to obey God every day was really hard, especially in prison. There was a lot of pressure from people to do the wrong things. Rather than spending time with guys who talked trash and were involved in gangs, I chose instead to spend my time reading the Bible, praying, and talking about God with other Christians. When I heard about JUMPSTART, I chose to go. It wasn’t always easy! But I was serious about knowing more about God and bettering myself. It worked for me because I chose to do my part.

I’ve now been out of prison for nearly two years. I have a job, housing, transportation, and am enjoying the life God has given me. I know all of this is only because of God’s grace. Before I became a Christian, I was choosing to obey my own sinful nature. I was a slave to sin, and I was miserable. But when I chose to obey God, He gave me true freedom and eternal life. I definitely made the right choice! Who will you choose?

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25 It is Well with My Soul ROB WHITNER

From junior high on, drug and alcohol use influenced me and the choices I made. I was a basketball college prospect in high school, but attending school while intoxicated got me kicked off the team, ending that dream. Another decision involving alcohol in college cost me a semester of scholarship, and I never graduated.

I joined the Army but discovered crack cocaine, and soon, I would do anything to get high. A failed drug test resulted in my discharge.

My life spiraled, leading to a crime that sent me to prison with a life sentence.

The first year incarcerated, I was angry at myself for all of the bad choices that led me there. I was in shock at the rights taken from me.

I wanted to do something productive, so I got a job as a literacy tutor.

One student shared a devotional and encouraged me to read it every day. God used the hardships of prison to expose my brokenness. I stopped rebelling like everyone around me and started reading the Bible. On June 24, 1996, I knelt by my bunk in McCormick Correctional Facility and surrendered my heart to the Lord.

The student I was tutoring began teaching and discipling me. We asked, what does it look like to follow Jesus in prison? When money for the canteen disappears, guards yell, visitors and letters never come. Biblical principles like submitting to authority, taking responsibility for our actions, and character development helped me grow as a follower of Jesus.

After twenty years, I made parole and was released; it was a joyous occasion to be free! Today I am married to a godly woman, have a career, and am involved in ministry.

My life is not perfect; I still face challenges, but my hope is not in this world. The peace I have is indescribable. I remember being anxious about life and the future. But God has me. He loves me. I am His. My name is graven on the palm of God’s hand. It is well with my soul.

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26 Forgiven, Not Forgotten RYAN CHITWOOD

I grew up with a good home life, but as a teenager I began to rebel in multiple ways. Occasionally I got caught, but I faced no real consequences or felt remorse. Never thinking of how my actions would affect anyone else, I looked only to please myself. This lifestyle and careless way of thinking led me to commit a robbery that resulted in my being an accidental accomplice to murder at 17 years old.

My recklessness and sin were revealed. As I turned myself in to authorities, I finally realized that my choices hurt people in life-altering ways. I was at rock bottom and reached up to God in that moment, understanding my need for something beyond myself.

Sentenced to life with parole, I finally owned my mistakes and accepted the consequences. I worked tirelessly within the prison system to try and pay for my past wrongdoings until realizing that through Jesus Christ, forgiveness is a free gift. I also realized that, even while in prison, my life has purpose—God can use my abilities to do His work.

With this new perspective, I spent my time in prison serving others wherever opportunities were available. Eventually, God led me to an educational opportunity in another prison—a decision requiring a move from the comfort of “home” and close relationships. Though I had no desire to leave, I chose to trust God and not in my own understanding.

When I started to serve God and trust His plan, He began to change my life in ways that I couldn’t have imagined possible. I was granted parole, graduated from college, got married, and gained a family.

Now, I am two years away from becoming a licensed professional counselor. God has restored my life, allowing me to live out His purpose for me in spite of my past mistakes.

My encouragement to prisoners is this: you are forgiven and not forgotten. Even incarcerated, you have a purpose for God. If you are following Him, He will use you where you are despite the choices you have made.

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27 All In or All Out STEVE WYMAN

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

—James 4:8 (ESV) I grew up in a loving, stable family. I was involved in church activities and Boy Scouts and knew the right things to do. But in 9th grade, I started experimenting with alcohol and drugs. By 10th grade I was getting drunk each weekend. I still went to church and earned good grades, but I’d become double-minded, thinking I could please both God and myself.

My double-mindedness continued throughout my young-adult years.

While attending a prestigious university, I probably partied harder than other undergraduates. I barely passed my courses and never went to church unless home visiting my parents.

After graduating, I had white-collar jobs, went back to church, became a youth group leader and leader of my old scout troop. But the partying continued. I told myself I was in control and could choose when or when not to obey God, thinking there would be no consequences.

Of course, I was wrong. My choices resulted in my going to prison.

While there, I recognized that God alone was ultimately in control of my life, and I had to choose who would be in charge: God or me. I cried out to God, finally choosing to submit my whole life to Him. Shortly after my release from prison, my plans for a job fell through; I was crushed. I prayed to God, “Okay, You’re right—I’m NOT in control. Please show me what to do.” The next day JUMPSTART offered for me to move to transitional housing in Spartanburg. I did, which led to my getting a job at an awesome Christian company, where I’ve been for over nine years. I’ve also become part of a strong church family, completed graduate school, still serve in JUMPSTART, and bought my first house.

I’ve learned that being double-minded and allowing God into only certain parts of my life is foolish, but allowing Him into every area brings joy, peace, and hope. I’m all in for God now.

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28 Not My Will

TIMOTHY MURRAY

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

—Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) In my younger days, all I thought about was satisfying myself and doing what I wanted, and that’s how I ended up in prison. It took going to prison for me to see that the plans I had for my own life weren’t going so well. I needed God. In May 2008 I told God, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” I knew part of God’s will for my life was for me to know more about Him. JUMPSTART, in particular, helped me learn to use God’s Word to evaluate my own actions and thoughts and to think more about what God wants rather than what I want.

One of the biggest lessons I learned in JUMPSTART is the importance of accountability. I have to be willing to be held accountable to God and others and also to be willing to hold someone else accountable. That means I have to remain humble. I have to be able to receive correction and give correction, but not with a disrespectful mindset.

I’m really grateful for the godly mentors in JUMPSTART who helped me. They listened to me, taught me truths from the Bible, and also helped me to find housing, transportation, and a job when I was released. And with each step, they made sure I was doing my part, too. Through their example, I realized that I wanted to be able to help others like they helped me, so after I graduated from JUMPSTART, I went back as a leader and mentor and led the program for three years. My passion now is helping other men become who God has called them to be.

My life is no longer about satisfying myself. It’s all about pleasing God and doing His will. I’ve learned that satisfying myself brings only hurt and disappointment, but following God’s plan brings a future and a hope.

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29 From Isolation to Belonging VIENGXAY PHANKHASY

I had a lonely childhood—disconnected from God, from my parents, and from the culture around me. As a Laotian refugee in North Carolina, I had no sense of belonging. I began doing all the things I wasn’t supposed to as a teenager. As we got older, we started slinging, and then one of my homeboys set me up to get himself out of a jam. Before I knew it, the judge sentenced me and I was sent off to serve 12 years.

I felt shame for my actions and the heartache I had caused my family, but I didn’t know how to deal with any of this at the time.Then, God met me where I was. A volunteer offered me a Bible and a booklet talking about someone named Jesus. I read about how, if I surrendered my life, Jesus would remove the curse on my life. So I humbled myself and accepted Jesus as my Savior.

A few years later, I heard about JUMPSTART and was eager to get involved because the people who started it were just like me—men and women who’d been in prison and were living proof that those living for Jesus could make it when they got out. I learned that I could have the community I had craved as a child with my brothers in Christ.

Now, instead of feeling alone I have a deep, growing relationship with God and others. He has also blessed me with a wife and young daughter.

I encourage you to be smart and focused with your time while on the inside, and don’t lose heart. I earned a HVAC certificate while at Tyger River and it’s enabled me to provide well for my family. God created you for a purpose. Take time to learn what His purpose is for your life, and then when you walk in that, you will experience the best life has to offer. I’ve experienced a lot of things, but none of it compares with the greatness of knowing Jesus as Lord.

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30 God Poured Me Out WILLIAM HARRISON

I grew up in a small town in Alabama in a home where you could see the ground through the holes in the floor. My parents’ relationship was very tense, full of physical violence, drunkenness, and sexual abuse. I was further exposed to violence and brokenness through my active service in the military. Eventually, I was basically emotionless and used alcohol to cope with the emptiness in my soul. My alcoholism led to my incarceration.

I had hit rock bottom. It seemed that my life was no longer worth living, so I decided to end it myself. I warned my cellmate of my plans so he wouldn’t try and stop me. He agreed, but asked if I would attend a Bible study with him before doing anything. So I went with him, and God got a hold of me that night. I don’t remember the events clearly, but I remember being broken before God and asking Him to forgive me and change my life—and He did.

God poured me out like a glass of water. He took away my drinking and my wrong thinking. I began to read the Bible, and eventually ended up leading a Bible study. God placed people in my path who helped me understand what I was reading.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.”

God is the author of each of our stories, and He wants us to use our stories to give Him glory. Use your time to focus on your vertical relationship with God, and trust Him with your horizontal circumstances and relationships. I trusted that God would reconcile all that had been broken in my life, and He provided grace and forgiveness.

Now, my life is blessed. I have mended relationships with my family, and I’m married to a lady I met in the church choir. I have a job as an outside program director for JUMPSTART that allows me to bring glory to God daily. Praise be to Him! 33

Knowing God Personally Changes Everything CARY SANDERS

I was arrested 17 times by the age of 17. I was in the county jail facing a life sentence for armed robbery and attempted murder. I didn’t believe in God, heaven, or hell. I had no hope and thought my life was over, and the only thing on my mind was suicide. Then, the night I was planning to end it all, I whispered, “God if you’re real, I want to know.”

A few days earlier, someone had given me a Bible, but I didn’t want to be seen with it so I put it under my mattress. After whispering that prayer, I remembered the Bible was under there. I opened the Bible and started flipping through, and an article titled “How to Have a New Life in Christ” caught my attention. Here is a summary of what I read: God created the world good. But humanity chose to rebel against God and worship themselves. Because of this, everyone was born with a disease called sin. Because of this disease, we can do all sorts of evil things and enjoy it, and even our best is not good enough to win the approval of God. This means that all of humanity is separated from the Creator and is unable to fix their brokenness without God’s help. In other words, everyone’s sin not only causes destruction in their own life, it also earns us the ultimate death penalty—separation from God for eternity. This made sense to me, because I had tried to turn over a new leaf and stay out of trouble, but I just couldn’t. I was broken, unable to fix myself, and I needed to be rescued. The article went on to describe how Jesus had paid the price for my sin, and this had power to make me not guilty in God’s sight for the things I had done. And since Jesus had paid the price for my sin, I could not only be forgiven, but I could also have a personal relationship with God and a purpose in life that mattered. I cried out to God and asked Him to forgive me for all of the terrible things I had done, and I asked Him to be Lord of my life, make me a new person, and give me a new life.

Over the next nine years while in prison, and the past seven years that I’ve been free, I’ve had so many people who’ve helped me walk closer with Jesus. As I have lived for God’s purpose in my life, He has exceeded my greatest expectations. Now, I have a wife, a son and daughter, a home, I’ve completed college degrees, and gotten to experience many other amazing things. But absolutely none of it compares with knowing God personally.

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SO HOW CAN SOMEONE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Understanding the problem of sin: Romans 3:23 says “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Every person on earth has lied, cheated, spoken hateful words, or been selfish in some shape or form. It is part of our human condition, and sin causes pain and ultimately death for all of us.

Understanding God’s holiness: To be holy means to be perfect, set apart. God is absolutely holy, and our sin separates us from Him eternally. Separation from our Creator is a terrible sentence. Romans 6:23 puts it this way: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Although our sin keeps us from a relationship with God, there is hope in Jesus.

Understanding Jesus’ sacrifice: In Romans 5:8, the Bible says “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Truly, God’s love for people is unmatched— God so desired a relationship with you that He sent Jesus to pay the price for your sin on the cross. Your debt to God has been paid in full, so you can have a relationship with God now and for eternity Understanding confession and repentance: In order to become a Christian, you must confess your sins, repent, and accept God’s free gift of salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Becoming a follower of Jesus simply means to turn from your old ways, ask Him for forgiveness, and invite Him to be Lord of your life.

Understanding the importance of discipleship: Being a Christian is not simply a one-time transaction—it is an ongoing, daily process of learning more about God through the Bible and being in community with other believers. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” It is important to invite mature followers of Jesus into your life to keep you accountable and help you grow. If you have made a decision to follow Christ, seek these people out. They want to help you along the right path.

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JUMPSTART believes that with Christ, anyone’s future can be greater than their past.

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