Volunteer Gives Hope

John* walked into the room. It was supposed to be the last time he would see anyone. Tonight was going to be the night where he would free himself from his old demons of the past, present and future. What future? he wondered. I’ll be dead.
As he joined in a game of darts in the prison programs area, his spirits lifted. He noticed a volunteer who was visiting. The volunteer came up and introduced himself, and from that moment something changed. Hope! The volunteer treated him as a person, not a number or an inmate. Every day, for the past seven years he had been in prison, had been humiliating. Every day he experienced rejection, shame, hurt and loneliness. The burden had become too much to bear, and John had come to the point where he could see no way out.
John found it interesting that a “new” man had come to the prison. The group had not had a volunteer for many years, so this was unique, as well as challenging, since this guy was now in his “home” and on his turf.
John wondered whether he should continue the conversation. He decided he had nothing to lose or gain. Slowly the talks progressed, over months and years, as the volunteer continued to visit the prison evening program. Should he tell him about his family? Could he trust the volunteer not to laugh at his weaknesses and failures in his life, jobs and family? He decided to open up and see if the volunteer would laugh or run! Instead, at the end, the volunteer asked, “May I pray with you?” He also offered him a Bible to read about God’s hope and love. John accepted the Bible because he believed this volunteer was genuine.
John has now been released into the community, is reading his Bible (Life Recovery Bible), is working full time, and is a believing member of a local fellowship. John is one of many whom the Lord Jesus loves deeply.
* Name has been changed
Gerard Scott-Herridge
Presiding Elder of Bride of Christ Ministries