“For me, there have been so many different hurdles and so many challenges, but I have to keep a strong view emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, and I can't give up. I have to keep going. I thank God for everything. I thank Him every day.” —Demarcus
Going to prison was considered an initiation into adulthood in the Virginia community Demarcus grew up in. It was expected and accepted.
“A lot of people glorified going to jail. It was like a badge of honor, a path of passage. Once you go, you’re solidified.”
An uncle gave 13-year-old Demarcus and his cousins a piece of advice he still hasn’t forgotten: “If you ever go to jail, don’t let anybody punk you. Mind your business.”
His uncle meant that it was important to defend yourself, always stand up for yourself, and not let anyone take advantage of you.
Demarcus would put that counsel to use in a matter of years.
Men and women in prison are looking for hope. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles and Christian content is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Your gift will help put a Bible in the hands of a prisoner—not just any Bible, but a large print, easy-to-read translation with devotional content that meets the spiritual needs of prisoners.
