A star athlete attending college on an athletic scholarship, Robert Jones was on top of the world. But a lifetime of “just getting by” and a perilous decision landed him behind bars—the one place that would truly turn his life around.
Robert spent most of his childhood in Miami, Florida, with his single mother. Robert desired to know his father, and in the fourth grade moved in with him. It didn’t last long. He moved back in with his mom, and maintained a good relationship with his grandmother—the spiritual matriarch of the family.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her drive,” recalls Robert, “but she would walk us to church and make sure we made it.”
Robert also found good role models in his coaches and teachers. He excelled at every sport he tried, earning the nickname “Showtime” because of his penchant to show off his athletic ability every time he stepped onto a court or field.
A Downhill Battle
The positive role models in his life were crowded by negative ones. Near the end of high school, he made bad friends, including drug dealers. Robert dabbled in their lifestyle, which included drinking and sexual promiscuity. Soon after graduation, he got a girl pregnant.
Undeterred, “Showtime” went to a Kansas college on a football scholarship and experienced much success on the field.
His daughter was born while he was away at college. Robert admits he felt no sense of obligation to her as a father.
“I settled for mediocrity a lot,” recalls Robert. “I didn’t really push myself or challenge myself.”
This apathetic attitude landed Robert on academic probation, and, in his junior year, he flunked out.
The Balancing Act
Robert returned to Miami and began balancing a life of work with one of partying and sexual promiscuity. Along with warehouse jobs, he worked with at-risk youth.
“I was giving them principles to better their lives, but I was still living things that were different from what I was saying,” admits Robert.
After getting married in 1998, Robert moved to Orlando and soon fathered a son. He still couldn’t escape his negative habits.
“If you don’t change your mind, you do old things in new places,” says Robert.
Robert spent his nights hanging out at clubs and his days working at a school mentoring youth and coaching basketball.
Then one night, the balance on which he held two disparate lifestyles came unhinged. He made the life-altering decision to involve himself sexually with a 17-year-old girl—one who was in a program at the school where he worked.
“When this happened, it was one of the few times in my life that I felt remorse,” recalls Robert. “I felt this couldn’t be turned around.”
The girl soon told the police.
“I knew what I did was inappropriate and wrong,” admits Robert.
The case lingered and Robert sat out on bail for two years. During that time, God began a work in his heart. He began attending church, and rededicated his life to Christ.
Robert faced a possible 30 years behind bars. He remembers telling the judge, “I understand there is life after prison. I need that life.”
So Robert accepted an offer for seven years in prison plus three years’ probation.
Life Found Behind Bars
Though tossed between several prisons in Florida, Robert was always able to connect with men who were living for God. He depended heavily on the camaraderie he found with his Christian brothers behind bars, especially when his wife filed for divorce.
“I didn’t want to lay there for seven years and then have the doors open only to step back into 2002 where I left,” says Robert. “I wanted a change.”
He attended Bible studies in the yard and in small dorm settings. He also participated in Prison Fellowship® classes and enrolled his children in Angel Tree®.
“That was a blessing,” recalls Robert. “Even though I couldn’t be there, I was still able to give them gifts.”
After prison, Robert settled in Atlanta. He immediately began the reconciliation process with his son and his father, and soon his daughter as well.
Robert began counseling, and within 17 days got a housekeeping job at a hotel. He also found a church where he has been actively involved for three years.
One day at work in early 2010, Robert met Prison Fellowship staff members Raeanne Hance and Scott Kelly, who were in the hotel preparing for an upcoming Out4Life reentry conference.
“I felt as though God had providentially arranged our meeting,” recalls Scott.
Robert shared his story with Scott and Raeanne, and soon dove headfirst into volunteering.
“Prison Fellowship has the heart to see people’s lives changed,” says Robert. “It was amazing to be part of Out4Life.”
At 40, Robert continues to learn and grow, now balancing his life in God’s hands. He started an organization to help ex-prisoners with reentry, and is currently writing a book about how to apply the principles of sports to life.
“Robert demonstrated a spirit of humility and brokenness but he embraced his journey through prison as a catalyst for ministry,” says Scott. “He continues to seek opportunities to serve and help others experience the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.”
“I want to help change people’s lives,” says Robert. “It’s humbling to think that God is still using me. He’s faithful even when we’re faithless sometimes. I don’t want to mishandle a moment again.”