“[My son is] one of the biggest influences in my life. You probably don’t hear many elders say someone younger than them [is their role model], but my son has been my inspiration.”
—William
William grew up in a close-knit family, but he struggled to give that same family life to his kids. In and out of prison, he tried to connect with his kids.
William’s mom regularly brought his kids to visit him in prison. Still, William kept missing out on being part of his kids’ childhoods. Then one day, his 12-year-old son told him something that would change his life.
“Dad, I know you say your family is your top priority, but that's not true. Because if we were your top priority, you would be out there with us and not in here. Your top priority is what you do to get you put in these situations.”
William always wanted to love his kids, and he thought he did. But he realized then that to truly love them, his life would need to change. Making good on his commitment to prioritize his family would require both determination and creativity.
By reaching prisoners and their families with the message of God’s unconditional love, you help heartbroken families know they are precious and valued in God’s eyes. With your help, we can bring the hope of the Gospel to even more prisoners and their families—and transform more lives for eternity!
Our new mission—to encounter Jesus with those impacted by incarceration—sounds simple. But it carefully and intentionally defines three things: our focus, our hope, and our posture. Read on to find out what it means to meet Him behind bars.
