transforming lives

“transforming lives, and not just of those being served

The prison pen pals have become my ministry. I do not touch every person to whom I write, but I know that I reach some of the young men. My own spiritual life has been strengthened as well. I listen to Sunday sermons with an ear toward a message that I can share with the young men. I don’t actually preach to them, but I share a verse that is relevant, uplifting, or encouraging.

It has been a gift to share time with these young men who are behind bars. I know nothing about them when we meet at the First Friday pizza party, except the first name. The structure of the parties enables us to share thoughts and/or feelings with each other, and learn a bit without undergoing an interrogation. I have been honored to speak with young men from all over the state with all kinds of backgrounds.

reVision does good work with these young men. It is reinforced to me everytime that I get a message which contains something like this remark – “I feel changed since my baptism. I feel God near me, looking out for me. I never really had anyone like that in my life that really just cares for me. I met God through Revision. So not only did you guys look out for me and not only did you help me change, You saved me. Thank you so much.” Or this – “I still eagerly await your responses, and wonder what you might have in store to share with me! I’m sure life is busy for you and you’ll get back to me when you can but I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated and I’m blessed to have your friendship!” Not everyone responds, but it is gratifying when I get this in the mail – “I want revision to know that we are grateful for the stuff y’all be doing for coming and giving us some of our childhood back” So many of these young men have had difficult lives that resulted in committing a crime which brought about their incarceration. Some of them are not defeated by this outcome, but can still say – “I ain’t have the best life but what I didn’t have I’m going to make sure my kids have I want my kids to have the best life coming to jail was a bad idea but a good chose cause I won’t of been dead cause of all the people I was beefin with so get to have a lot of time to think about what I really want 4 my life .” I am proud to be a part of this organization that works with the forgotten, outcasts, and marginalized who are easily overlooked.

I look forward to going to my email and seeing that I have a message from one of my pen pals.”