I am starting to see more spiritual breakthroughs in this person. The place is as wild as ever...
But, at the same time, the Holy Spirit is creating hunger in the hearts of some to know Jesus as their Savior. Just yesterday, for example, I was walking in the recreation yard with two men who live in E-North. I know both of them struggle with various mental health issues, which is why they are assigned to live at the E-North cell block. I was amazed, however, to find them asking many questions about the Lord.
Then, after a while, one of the men left. So I was able to spend the next approximately thirty minutes with Alexander, the younger of the two. He and I sat on a bench alongside the running track while Alex told me a lot about himself. He's twenty-six years old, and he was 24 when he first came to prison. He has less than six months to serve on what I consider to be a very short sentence. And if not for Alex's mental health issues, he'd be in a medium security prison right now.
Alexander, as it so often happens, was hanging out with several companions when one of them suggested they try their hands at robbery. Then, almost immediately and collectively, a car full of boys thought of quick cash. But they lacked planning and sophistication. Thus, their criminal act was more the result of impulse mixed with dunderheaded daring than anything else. Nevertheless, a man was mugged and within fifteen minutes a weak-minded Alex was off to jail.
In addition, Alex also told me about a horrific car crash he'd been in before he got into trouble with the law. His life nearly ended when he was ejected from the vehicle. We discussed this at length, especially in light of eternity. And we talked about God giving us second chances. He wholeheartedly agreed.
Now, a couple of years later, Alexander was open to Christ. And I might have led him to the Lord right then, except for the fact that our yard period had come to an end. But he did promise to speak with me again. Meanwhile, I can only hope and pray that he'll be as open in the future as he was today.
D.B.
Then, after a while, one of the men left. So I was able to spend the next approximately thirty minutes with Alexander, the younger of the two. He and I sat on a bench alongside the running track while Alex told me a lot about himself. He's twenty-six years old, and he was 24 when he first came to prison. He has less than six months to serve on what I consider to be a very short sentence. And if not for Alex's mental health issues, he'd be in a medium security prison right now.
Alexander, as it so often happens, was hanging out with several companions when one of them suggested they try their hands at robbery. Then, almost immediately and collectively, a car full of boys thought of quick cash. But they lacked planning and sophistication. Thus, their criminal act was more the result of impulse mixed with dunderheaded daring than anything else. Nevertheless, a man was mugged and within fifteen minutes a weak-minded Alex was off to jail.
In addition, Alex also told me about a horrific car crash he'd been in before he got into trouble with the law. His life nearly ended when he was ejected from the vehicle. We discussed this at length, especially in light of eternity. And we talked about God giving us second chances. He wholeheartedly agreed.
Now, a couple of years later, Alexander was open to Christ. And I might have led him to the Lord right then, except for the fact that our yard period had come to an end. But he did promise to speak with me again. Meanwhile, I can only hope and pray that he'll be as open in the future as he was today.
D.B.
