To look at Steve today, you’d never guess that he served five years in prison. He has a great job as a pharmaceutical market analyst. His family, friends, and church are proud of him. And they should be.
But once a week, on Wednesday nights, Steve turns back the clock.
On Wednesday nights, Steve heads back behind prison walls. He shares his story with men who are much like he was—as good as dead.
His message is simple: “God works in mysterious ways, but there is no mystery in turning your life over to God. He will bless you more than you can imagine if you put your faith in Him.”
That message changed Steve’s life when he had almost thrown it away.
Trapped in a Life Headed Nowhere
Although raised in a loving family, Steve was a shy boy who had trouble making friends. But that all changed when he discovered alcohol. After a few drinks, his fear of others melted, and an outgoing, fun-loving, carefree Steve emerged.
Before long he was drinking way too much, and headed for real trouble.
Sure enough, Steve got drunk, got behind the wheel, and caused a terrible accident. The other driver was badly hurt. Because Steve already had a conviction for drunk driving, the prosecutor threw the book at him, and he was sent to prison.
Steve knew he’d hit rock bottom when he landed at the Robertson Unit, a maximum security prison, located near Abilene, Texas. He was desperate to turn his life around, but he had no idea where to start.
Steve transferred from Robertson to Prison Fellowship’s InnerChange Freedom Initiative® (IFI), an intensive reentry program at the Carol Vance Unit, which is where he got the help he needed.
And that was only the beginning.
Steve says that for the first time, he truly understood God’s love. He trusted Christ because Prison Fellowship volunteers shared the Gospel with him. After that day, nothing has ever been the same.
At IFI, God gave Steve the opportunity to take part in intensive discipleship. He got help for his alcoholism and started meeting with a mentor.
Going Back and Giving Back
Today, more than seven years after his release, he still meets with that mentor regularly. He’s never had a drink or been in trouble again.
But if you ask Steve what he loves most about his new life, he’ll tell you it’s those Wednesday night prison visits.
“I love coming back and giving back,” he says.
He’s grateful to God for the opportunity.
How You Can Help
Please pray that Steve will continue to live his life for Jesus, and that God will give him many more opportunities to point others who are still in prison to the hope that he’s found.