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THE PRISON CELL, THE CALLING, AND THE CITY COUNCIL
God uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect plan.
The streets of Leavenworth, Kansas, were not safe for children to explore by themselves. But that’s exactly what Jermaine and his older brother did while their mother worked two jobs to support her four children.
By the time Jermaine was 6 years old, he was hearing gunfire, seeing street fights, and observing drug activity regularly at the apartment complex where he lived. At age 11, he tried drugs for the first time. When Jermaine was 12, he and his brother burglarized a home. During the burglary, Jermaine made himself a bologna sandwich before helping his brother haul away the stolen stereo equipment on their bicycles. The two rode a few blocks before police stopped them. That day, Jermaine experienced his first arrest.
A SHIFT AND A SENTENCE
For a while, Jermaine’s father struggled with addiction and cycled in and out of prison. When he returned to the family, he brought his addiction along.
But when Jermaine’s parents started to attend church, a shift occurred in their household. “My dad stopped his addiction. My mom stopped smoking and drinking,” said Jermaine. “Instead of us [kids] being able to run the streets, we had to stay in the church all the time.”
Jermaine wasn’t ready to surrender to Christ back then. He missed the excitement of his parents’ house parties and wanted the things his older cousins had: drugs, fancy cars, and money. So Jermaine rebelled against his parents and their new commitment to Jesus.
However, Jermaine's rebellion cost him his freedom. He served four years in a juvenile detention center for robbery. After his release, he started using and dealing drugs and later had a son with his girlfriend, Jessica. When his son was 8 months old, Jermaine went back to prison where he served three more years for a drug offense.
The longer Jermaine sat behind bars, the more sober he became. He reflected on the decisions he had made that landed him in prison, and he resolved to change his lifestyle. Jermaine knew he had to do better—for his own sake and his son’s.
If I don't change my life, Jermaine thought, I'm either going to spend the rest of my life in prison or end up dead in a grave.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
Jermaine took steps to stop the cycle of crime and incarceration he and his father had perpetuated. He enrolled in a biblically based, in-prison program now known as the Prison Fellowship Academy®. Through this intensive Academy, Jermaine learned core values like accountability and integrity. He grew spiritually, and eventually, Jermaine cried out to God from his prison cell, surrendering his life to Christ.
With a new mindset and a changed heart, Jermaine strived to be a better father. He also participated in Prison Fellowship Angel Tree®, a program that mobilizes local churches to deliver the Gospel and a gift to children on behalf of their incarcerated parent at Christmas.
In 2009 when he graduated from the Academy at Lansing Correctional Facility, Jermaine moved from a maximum security facility to a minimum security facility that helped him with employment. While there, he volunteered to pay child support so that he could provide for his son. Jermaine was preparing for reentry.
He grew spiritually, and eventually, Jermaine cried out to God from his prison cell, surrendering his life to Christ.
A NEW START
Jermaine sought out godly relationships after his release from prison. It was part of his reentry plan.
“I knew that I was going to need a church community,” Jermaine said, “a church group where I could connect with, where I could learn, where I could really start to build a foundation—and not just me, but also my family as well.”
After visiting several churches, Jermaine’s family joined Harvest Christian Center International in Leavenworth. Jermaine enjoyed the relatable sermons and made an instant connection with the pastor. He appreciated the congregants’ love and authenticity.
Jermaine says, “I wanted to go somewhere where a lot of people didn't know me, where they’re giving me a new start, and they’re accepting me for the man that I am today—and not the person I was yesterday.”
“I wanted to go somewhere where a lot of people didn't know me, where they’re giving me a new start, and they’re accepting me for the man that I am today—and not the person I was yesterday.”
—Jermaine
BROKE AND FRUSTRATED
Whether he was settling into a church, seeking employment, or securing reliable transportation, Jermaine’s reentry journey required patience and perseverance. It took him three weeks to secure a job at the dry cleaning and laundry service where Jessica’s mother worked. He earned $8.50 an hour. He couldn’t afford to buy a car and didn’t have the money to pay the required fees to get his license. So for six months, he relied on Jessica’s mother for the two-hour, round-trip commute. But one morning, Jermaine’s ride was unavailable, and he was fired on the spot.
This loss of household income devastated their family. Jermaine had limited options. But he still clung to hope. He kept looking for jobs. Jermaine knew he interviewed well and met job qualifications, but then would-be employers would give him a familiar refrain.
“Sorry, due to your criminal record, we are unable to offer you this position,” they would always say.
Broke and frustrated, Jermaine faced temptations during these humbling periods of his life. On one occasion, one of the area’s biggest drug dealers stopped by his front porch and offered him a different sort of job.
“Man, if you need anything, just know I got you,” the man said, implying an illicit opportunity.
Thankfully, Jermaine remained strong and obeyed God. He went into the house instead.
With God’s encouragement, he managed to keep his head up.
A PASTOR WITH PROVISION
Jermaine’s pastor at Harvest Christian Center International created a janitorial position for him at the church that also included lawn maintenance. Volunteers had previously performed the role. Then side jobs surfaced as people in the community saw Jermaine’s hard work. Homeowners hired him to maintain their lawns, perform household cleaning services, and other various tasks.
Eventually, the church had a position in its day care, and Jermaine landed that position too. However, he was let go 30 days later. The director called him to her office. She was in tears.
“Due to you having a criminal background in the state of Kansas, you're not able to work at a day care," she said, “I did everything that I could to try to speak up for you.”
Jermaine thanked her for believing in him and giving him an opportunity. With God’s encouragement, he managed to keep his head up. Jermaine’s pastor and church family were a blessing from God.
“Literally when we needed a place to live, my pastor provided a home. When I needed a job, my pastor provided me a job and an opportunity to work at the school. I became the janitor, and that covered my rent,” Jermaine says. “So when I tell people the church was my reentry, it really was.”
—Jermaine
CLOSED DOORS, OPEN WINDOWS
When the day care position closed its doors to Jermaine, a window of opportunity opened instead. This time, he was hired at a company that provided food service to the Army base at Fort Leavenworth. He washed dishes for $13 an hour.
“I get called into the office,” said Jermaine. “You know what's running through my mind, right?”
But this time, Jermaine wouldn’t be fired. Because of his strong work ethic, he earned a promotion that came with a $3.85 pay increase. He traded his apron for a laptop. Jermaine’s new role was an office job where he would perform data entry and use the typing skills he had learned during his incarceration. He kept this role for 6 ½ years.
CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE
When Jermaine’s criminal record was expunged in 2015, he started a nonprofit organization, Unity in the Community. Through the organization, Jermaine worked with local law enforcement during the height of racial tension in the community.
Noticing Jermaine’s efforts, a friend hinted, “The way you serve in this community, one day, you could possibly become the mayor.” When Jermaine shared the comment with Jessica—now his wife—she affirmed the possibility. Jermaine’s confidence skyrocketed.
He recalled Ephesians 3:20, believing that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” So in 2017, he set up a grill outside of the local Family Dollar store to kick off his campaign. He accepted God’s calling on His life and made his slogan: “If God can change me, He can use me to help change this city.”
Jermaine won the election and became a city commissioner. He also served as Leavenworth’s mayor twice—in 2019 and 2022. His term ended in December 2023, but he continues to serve his hometown as a city commissioner today.
While upholding his city council duties, Jermaine joined Prison Fellowship® and served in several different capacities. Now, he’s the organization’s mission ambassador. In this role, Jermaine is the embodiment of the organization’s mission.
LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS
At first, one of the biggest reentry challenges Jermaine faced was with Jessica’s family. They didn’t hide how they felt about him. They thought Jermaine’s change was temporary—mere jailhouse religion.
Jermaine said, “I wanted to make sure that I did everything right because I didn't want [Jessica] to be looked at as a failure as well. She believed in [me], gave me a chance, and I want to make sure that I do my part.”
Now, Jessica’s family members realize Jermaine’s change was lasting. They see the beauty in his life transformation.
Jermaine offers this advice to people who want to effectively relate to returning citizens: “People are not problems to be solved—they are neighbors to be loved. Accept them for who they are. Meet them where they are at. Don't try to change them. Love them with the Word of God and allow God to change them from the inside out. Don't push them. Don't pull them. Just walk beside them.”
Jermaine frequently reminds people that God used Paul, a prisoner, to write much of the New Testament. He used Moses, a murderer, to present the Ten Commandments. He believes that God uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect plan.
Jermaine and Jessica now have five children. Through their prior family struggles, financial hardships, and career wins and losses, they’ve persevered. Jermaine’s life started out messy, and how he became mayor is nothing short of miraculous. Now, they’re experiencing the blessings of obedience—and the benefits of second chances.
“People are not problems to be solved—they are neighbors to be loved. Accept them for who they are. Meet them where they are at. Don't try to change them. Love them with the Word of God and allow God to change them from the inside out. Don't push them. Don't pull them. Just walk beside them.”
—Jermaine
