Released to Serve

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Faced with a life sentence, Aaron could have descended into despair and hopelessness.

Back when he was an impulsive young man, high on LSD and alcohol, Aaron shot a man to death. It was only when he woke up the next day that he realized what he had done.

Faced with a life sentence, Aaron could have descended into despair and hopelessness. But God called Aaron at his lowest point and began to prepare him to serve. Thanks to the faithful prayers and gifts of friends intent on reaching prisoners with the Gospel, Prison Fellowship® was able to minister to Aaron.

A seed of faith was planted in Aaron's heart when he accepted Christ in a cold prison cell. God transformed him into a model prisoner who enrolled in Prison Fellowship Bible studies and mentored his fellow prisoners.

The governor of Oklahoma commuted his life sentence to 65 years, but it still looked like Aaron would be in prison until he was an old man. However, God had other plans.

On Nov. 17, 2010, Aaron walked out of prison and into the arms of his loving wife, Justeen. He had served nearly 25 years by the time he was released. But Aaron's heart had found freedom long before that.

'I tried to live every day with intention.'

A HEART CULTIVATED IN CHRIST

Aaron's experience working with the prison chaplain and teaching Bible studies equipped him for God's calling upon release.

Two weeks after he left prison, Aaron started his new job as a life skills instructor at the Education and Employment Ministry in Oklahoma City. A former farmer, Aaron drew wisdom for his life on the outside from Jesus' parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

As a farmer, "I had to be specific about where things were planted. I tried to live every day with intention and be careful about what I did," Aaron says. Justeen agrees: "He was very purposeful about who he spent time with."

Two years later, good soil has yielded a great crop. Aaron was promoted to teach life skills and construction to many former prisoners and homeless people.

Next, Aaron and Justeen became in-prison volunteers for Prison Fellowship. Aaron later would be hired as Prison Fellowship Academy® manager at Lexington Assessment and Reception Center in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

"It feels great, but it feels sad at the same time," Aaron says, recalling the struggles his students face. "I think, 'Wow, I’m so glad God delivered me!'"

When he’s not leading the Academy behind bars, Aaron shares his testimony with local congregations. On Sundays he helps families get to and from services at his home church.

Justeen says, "I get the biggest kick out of seeing Aaron go right back into the prison where he spent 25 years as an inmate—now to minister to his fellow inmates to give them hope! It is such a blessing and tears well up as well as a chuckle at God's grace, goodness, and His sense of humor!"