At approximately 9 o'clock this morning a smiling skeleton walked out the doors of this prison…
Skinny, HIV positive, and headed for a New York City shelter went “Brother Paulding.”
Mr. Paulding is technically a “free man” minus his parole restrictions, his drug problem, and his schizophrenia. Sin, crime, crack, poverty, and homelessness have taken their chunks of flesh out of this worn-thin man. A cold winter and a crowded city shelter full of life's flops await his return. And this noisy shelter will be his “official” place of residence. It is a place where he has to be at night and where his parole officer or the police can find him in a hurry, if necessary.
I love this man. While he was here, he was faithful to attend almost all of the chapel services and Bible studies, missing them only when he was sick. Brother Paulding, as physically weak as he is from AIDS, and from the years of street living which sapped so much strength from his soul, truly loves God. I have seen him grow in the Christian faith. I witnessed his public baptism before the congregation. We have prayed for each other and hugged and encouraged one another many times.
He is only a “babe” in Christ (a fairly new believer). I am glad to see him being released from prison. But my heart is also very heavy. I have been asking the Lord to watch out for brother Paulding. He is like a little lamb now. There will be temptations aplenty, as only a big city can provide. With the smell of crack in the air and dope dealers covering every busy corner, I have reason to be concerned for him.
D.B.
Mr. Paulding is technically a “free man” minus his parole restrictions, his drug problem, and his schizophrenia. Sin, crime, crack, poverty, and homelessness have taken their chunks of flesh out of this worn-thin man. A cold winter and a crowded city shelter full of life's flops await his return. And this noisy shelter will be his “official” place of residence. It is a place where he has to be at night and where his parole officer or the police can find him in a hurry, if necessary.
I love this man. While he was here, he was faithful to attend almost all of the chapel services and Bible studies, missing them only when he was sick. Brother Paulding, as physically weak as he is from AIDS, and from the years of street living which sapped so much strength from his soul, truly loves God. I have seen him grow in the Christian faith. I witnessed his public baptism before the congregation. We have prayed for each other and hugged and encouraged one another many times.
He is only a “babe” in Christ (a fairly new believer). I am glad to see him being released from prison. But my heart is also very heavy. I have been asking the Lord to watch out for brother Paulding. He is like a little lamb now. There will be temptations aplenty, as only a big city can provide. With the smell of crack in the air and dope dealers covering every busy corner, I have reason to be concerned for him.
D.B.