The last I checked we have over 50 in the Durham County Jail accused of murder. I have been working with many of them. My heart really goes out to the kids which I mean the 16 and 17 year old's. I know from outside that the family support in so many cases is really messed up! When you hear the stories straight from their mouths it is really heartbreaking! Today I heard stories that would make most cry. I know that they tear me up but also create even a greater love for the inmate. Mother and fathers on drugs, mothers prostituting, dads being murdered young, dads beating moms, abandonment, alcoholics, pill addicts, etc.
I spoke with a 22 year old at length today. He is accused of murder. Since he was arrested he has come into the multi-purpose room every time I have been at the jail. I felt a real tug this past Tuesday that I needed to get in and spend some one on one time with him. I found out that I had met him before back in 2010 in the same pod. He was in with another 16 year old at the time. I ministered two years ago while the other kid was lying under a sheet dead! This has affected the one I was meeting with but not enough yet. He has lost other friends also to being murdered. I asked him about his relationship with the Lord and he said that he did not want to play with the Lord. He has a passion for music and he said that when he gets out that he wants to get into music. He said with the Hip Hop he would be doing alot of cussing so he doesn't want to play with God by not living for Him. It makes no sense now nor did it then! He said that his passion for music is driven by a passion to get his mama out of the hood. He could not see any other way for this to happen. I said that he could either do music for Christ or he could do it for the devil. I told him that if he did it for Christ he needed to be real and not like the many bootleggers that are out there. I asked him the question "what percentage would you say that you are living for the Lord". He took a minute but came back with "70%". I said "ok, you were talking about that girlfriend of yours a little bit ago". What if your girlfriend would spend 70% of her time with you and 30% with another guy"? I then said "let's look at this another way, you said you were a Crip gang member right"? He said "yes". I then said "what if you spent 70% of your time with "The Crips" then spent 30% with The Bloods? He said "man, you know neither one of them would work"! I then said "exactly, neither will it work with you spending 70% of your time with the Lord and 30% with the devil. Our conversation was long and deep. I have a fantastic relationship with this young man now. I look forward to our next time together.
I met with another 22 year old accused of murder. I had never seen him before but had seen his name. An ex-girlfriend of his had asked me to stop by and see him. This young man looked so empty and lost! He had never been in one of my services. He said that at an early age he had went to church but had not been for a very long time. He was very difficult to talk to at first. As I continued to talk and tell my story there was a tear that appeared in the corner of his eye. I then started asking him questions and he started opening up. I told him about our wall and how he was a prime candidate to end up on it too. I told him that with the life he was living he would either be imprisoned or dead. By the time we finished talking he was thankful and open to talking about the Lord. I hooked him up with the pod spiritual leader to talk more.
I met with a 17 year old who is accused of murder. He is doing fantastic and hungering for the Word of God! I am very excited about him. He even showed concern for his younger brothers. He asked if I would contact his grandmother and talk to her about going to visit with them. They lost their dad due to an anger rage automobile accident when they were very young. His mother has been out on the streets as an addict and I know the name but can't place the face. He asked me to look for her and try to help her get out of her addiction and back in their lives.
I met with the 27 year old gang member who he and his brother were destroying their parents. I had to tell him that if he doesn't get it together that he will put his parents in the grave early. I also talked to him about the fact that they are not saved and he agreed with me on that. This is a very tough situation but I am not about to give up on this guy. None of this family appears to be saved! This was the one where I visited the parents late Wednesday afternoon.
I spoke briefly with an 18 year old who is accused of murder. I met with him upon his incarceration and he wasn't excited about talking to me at all. This past Tuesday he sat in on my service. Today after I finished in the room that they meet for Bible Study in the afternoon he was the first one in there carrying his Bible. I had to mess with him some and we laughed together. Such a change in such a short time. The spiritual leader on that pod who is in for doing several murders does a great job of keeping The Word going forth!
I met with an 18 year old that is in for home invasions/burglaries and he is doing fantastic. He had a huge smile on his face when he first saw me then asked me if I had heard from his mother. He said that he talked to her about me and that she now wants to talk to me.
I was really hoping to meet again with Matt who I attended court for yesterday but I was very surprised that he had been shipped back to prison already. I feel very strong that he is going to be ok. I expect to get a letter from him fairly soon.
I met with several others too. I gave my testimony to many today and I always want to make sure to give God all the glory! I told inmate after inmate that I am nothing without Christ. I assured them that He can turn any situation around if they will completely surrender to Him. I am blessed to be able to go into the Durham County Jail the way I do. I commend the Command Staff for the job they do! The jail gets a bad rap from people that have no idea what they are talking about. Earlier today at our cafe I had a question from a guy about the jail. I could tell that he was going to be negative about it in front of a bunch of other people so I just started speaking positive about it. I told him and those listening that the jail is a good jail. The negatives are started again by people that have no idea what they are talking about. I told them that I am in the jail a great deal and do not see the things that are made up by the trouble makers.
I spoke with a 22 year old at length today. He is accused of murder. Since he was arrested he has come into the multi-purpose room every time I have been at the jail. I felt a real tug this past Tuesday that I needed to get in and spend some one on one time with him. I found out that I had met him before back in 2010 in the same pod. He was in with another 16 year old at the time. I ministered two years ago while the other kid was lying under a sheet dead! This has affected the one I was meeting with but not enough yet. He has lost other friends also to being murdered. I asked him about his relationship with the Lord and he said that he did not want to play with the Lord. He has a passion for music and he said that when he gets out that he wants to get into music. He said with the Hip Hop he would be doing alot of cussing so he doesn't want to play with God by not living for Him. It makes no sense now nor did it then! He said that his passion for music is driven by a passion to get his mama out of the hood. He could not see any other way for this to happen. I said that he could either do music for Christ or he could do it for the devil. I told him that if he did it for Christ he needed to be real and not like the many bootleggers that are out there. I asked him the question "what percentage would you say that you are living for the Lord". He took a minute but came back with "70%". I said "ok, you were talking about that girlfriend of yours a little bit ago". What if your girlfriend would spend 70% of her time with you and 30% with another guy"? I then said "let's look at this another way, you said you were a Crip gang member right"? He said "yes". I then said "what if you spent 70% of your time with "The Crips" then spent 30% with The Bloods? He said "man, you know neither one of them would work"! I then said "exactly, neither will it work with you spending 70% of your time with the Lord and 30% with the devil. Our conversation was long and deep. I have a fantastic relationship with this young man now. I look forward to our next time together.
I met with another 22 year old accused of murder. I had never seen him before but had seen his name. An ex-girlfriend of his had asked me to stop by and see him. This young man looked so empty and lost! He had never been in one of my services. He said that at an early age he had went to church but had not been for a very long time. He was very difficult to talk to at first. As I continued to talk and tell my story there was a tear that appeared in the corner of his eye. I then started asking him questions and he started opening up. I told him about our wall and how he was a prime candidate to end up on it too. I told him that with the life he was living he would either be imprisoned or dead. By the time we finished talking he was thankful and open to talking about the Lord. I hooked him up with the pod spiritual leader to talk more.
I met with a 17 year old who is accused of murder. He is doing fantastic and hungering for the Word of God! I am very excited about him. He even showed concern for his younger brothers. He asked if I would contact his grandmother and talk to her about going to visit with them. They lost their dad due to an anger rage automobile accident when they were very young. His mother has been out on the streets as an addict and I know the name but can't place the face. He asked me to look for her and try to help her get out of her addiction and back in their lives.
I met with the 27 year old gang member who he and his brother were destroying their parents. I had to tell him that if he doesn't get it together that he will put his parents in the grave early. I also talked to him about the fact that they are not saved and he agreed with me on that. This is a very tough situation but I am not about to give up on this guy. None of this family appears to be saved! This was the one where I visited the parents late Wednesday afternoon.
I spoke briefly with an 18 year old who is accused of murder. I met with him upon his incarceration and he wasn't excited about talking to me at all. This past Tuesday he sat in on my service. Today after I finished in the room that they meet for Bible Study in the afternoon he was the first one in there carrying his Bible. I had to mess with him some and we laughed together. Such a change in such a short time. The spiritual leader on that pod who is in for doing several murders does a great job of keeping The Word going forth!
I met with an 18 year old that is in for home invasions/burglaries and he is doing fantastic. He had a huge smile on his face when he first saw me then asked me if I had heard from his mother. He said that he talked to her about me and that she now wants to talk to me.
I was really hoping to meet again with Matt who I attended court for yesterday but I was very surprised that he had been shipped back to prison already. I feel very strong that he is going to be ok. I expect to get a letter from him fairly soon.
I met with several others too. I gave my testimony to many today and I always want to make sure to give God all the glory! I told inmate after inmate that I am nothing without Christ. I assured them that He can turn any situation around if they will completely surrender to Him. I am blessed to be able to go into the Durham County Jail the way I do. I commend the Command Staff for the job they do! The jail gets a bad rap from people that have no idea what they are talking about. Earlier today at our cafe I had a question from a guy about the jail. I could tell that he was going to be negative about it in front of a bunch of other people so I just started speaking positive about it. I told him and those listening that the jail is a good jail. The negatives are started again by people that have no idea what they are talking about. I told them that I am in the jail a great deal and do not see the things that are made up by the trouble makers.
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