When RJ was in prison, he tried to make the most of Christmas. He and his friends would exchange gifts they bought at the canteen and wrapped in newspaper.
“Christmas in there is a very sad time, but we chose not to let it tear us down. We’d have a bite to eat and wish each other Merry Christmas.”
Yet in 2007, RJ found himself at a low point.
He was in solitary confinement on an unfounded allegation. Each night he cried himself to sleep. On Christmas Eve, he watched his friends through a window and felt completely alone.
He got down on his knees and prayed for the first time in his life, saying, “God, if you are there, please take me away from this terrible place.”
He went to sleep and awoke at 3 am. He saw a light shining in the corner of the room. RJ got up and found that the light was shining on a book.
“The moment I opened the book, a sense of peace came over me, and I laid down and fell asleep,” he said. “In the morning I saw that the book was a Gideon’s Bible.”
In his darkest moment, in prison at Christmas, RJ found hope. He heard God’s call and began his journey of faith.
“My life has changed so much,” RJ said. “I look back and see all the things God has done for me.”
It started with a transfer to a different institution, where he got involved with the Alpha program through the prison chapel. He connected with M2W2 and was matched with a mentor, Gary, whom RJ saw as “an older brother.” Gary and other volunteers from the community helped him find hope, purpose, and a link to the outside world.
This year, RJ celebrates his second Christmas outside of prison.
“I put up a little Christmas tree and a few decorations. I have a roommate, and I bought a gift for him. You make the best of it. You can still be joyful.”
He said he is looking forward to the Christmas Eve service at his church and dinner with friends he met through the Alpha program.
At M2W2 we are thankful for the opportunity to connect with RJ and others. It’s a chance to bring compassion and encouragement to a place where many are forgotten. For those who are alone, a mentor from the community can be like family. Especially at Christmas.
To learn more about how we help folks in prison and on parole, check out our prison mentorship and No One Leaves Alone programs.
Want to make an impact? As a volunteer or donor you can help us reach more people with hope, compassion, and friendship.