“The fear and respect of the Lord is the foundation of true
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom, discipline, and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
At times, I will be afforded the opportunity to reach out to young persons with a positive message about making wise choices…
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom, discipline, and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
At times, I will be afforded the opportunity to reach out to young persons with a positive message about making wise choices…
While at the same time, I will warn my audience of the consequences of making bad choices, which will cause them much harm and regret. This is exactly what happened to me.
Recently, I received a letter from a man who counsels youth. He happened to come across a message I wrote more than a decade ago to so called “at risk” residents of a group home for boys. The home is located on the island of Taiwan, off the coast of China.
The facility is known as the Yunlin Youth Home, where young boys and teenagers who have already exhibited behavioral issues along with having run-ins with the law, are placed. Or they're placed there because of instabilities at home where the environment has been deemed unsuitable and “toxic.”
As someone who believes it is important to reach these young persons before they slip further down the road to ruin, I wrote a letter to them from my heart. I then sent the letter via a friend from the United States who happens to be a missionary to Taiwan, and who also visits the facility regularly. So she took my letter with her, along with the specially made video, to share with both the residents and staff.
I told the youth about my struggles during adolescence. That I had problems with depression, stealing, fights amongst my peers, and how I would sometimes express hostility to my parents, and more. Also, that I did poorly in school, as well.
“I was headed on a course of self-destruction,” I told them. How I eventually made my way to prison, and how I regret not seeking help when I should have. I wanted this to be a cautionary tale, but also a story about hope and redemption, and making good choices.
And of course I told them about prison life. How I later found faith in Jesus Christ, and how He helped me to get myself together. That today, by God's grace, I am living a better life with many positive goals, such as speaking to these young men and trying to steer them away from living a life of misery and failure.
Over the years I have done a number of these personal outreaches for youth groups and churches, Teen Challenge centers, and more.
D.B.
Recently, I received a letter from a man who counsels youth. He happened to come across a message I wrote more than a decade ago to so called “at risk” residents of a group home for boys. The home is located on the island of Taiwan, off the coast of China.
The facility is known as the Yunlin Youth Home, where young boys and teenagers who have already exhibited behavioral issues along with having run-ins with the law, are placed. Or they're placed there because of instabilities at home where the environment has been deemed unsuitable and “toxic.”
As someone who believes it is important to reach these young persons before they slip further down the road to ruin, I wrote a letter to them from my heart. I then sent the letter via a friend from the United States who happens to be a missionary to Taiwan, and who also visits the facility regularly. So she took my letter with her, along with the specially made video, to share with both the residents and staff.
I told the youth about my struggles during adolescence. That I had problems with depression, stealing, fights amongst my peers, and how I would sometimes express hostility to my parents, and more. Also, that I did poorly in school, as well.
“I was headed on a course of self-destruction,” I told them. How I eventually made my way to prison, and how I regret not seeking help when I should have. I wanted this to be a cautionary tale, but also a story about hope and redemption, and making good choices.
And of course I told them about prison life. How I later found faith in Jesus Christ, and how He helped me to get myself together. That today, by God's grace, I am living a better life with many positive goals, such as speaking to these young men and trying to steer them away from living a life of misery and failure.
Over the years I have done a number of these personal outreaches for youth groups and churches, Teen Challenge centers, and more.
D.B.