From Lawbreaker to Lawmaker: The Power of Second Chances
“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
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. At age 12, he experienced his first arrest.
For a while, Jermaine’s father struggled with addiction and cycled in and out of prison. But when his parents started to attend church, a shift occurred in their household.
Jermaine wasn’t ready to surrender to Christ back then. So Jermaine rebelled against his parents and their new commitment to Jesus.
His rebellion cost him his freedom. The longer Jermaine sat behind bars, the more sober he became. Jermaine knew he had to do better.
April is Second Chance Month®, the nationwide effort to raise awareness of the barriers faced by returning citizens and to unlock second chances for these men and women who dream of a better tomorrow. Your gift helps make unlocking second chances possible. Will you give generously today?
Drugs and bad choices eventually landed Jose in prison. When he looks back at it all, he sees how God used the Church to bless him with purpose and hope. Read his story today.
