Once a month we preach at the Snohomish County Jail. After we preach we always give out our toll-free number and let the men know we are available to help them grow in Christ when they get out and we let them know where we attend church. They all know we are willing to only work with those who are serious about making life changes. To be honest, 95% of the time, we never receive a call.
I preached one Saturday afternoon and went home. The next morning at church a gentleman walked up to me and asked if I recognized him. I did not know who he was. He told me he was Charles and that on Saturday he was in the jail and heard me preach. It turned out he also knew somebody else at the church who had done a bible study in his jail unit.
Charles had been a cocaine addict and a drug dealer. At times he had made a lot of money selling drugs, but all the money went to drugs. He had a girlfriend that was an addict and children from various illicit relationships.
Along with others, we started discipling Charles. Today Charles has been drug/alcohol/cigarette free for over two years. Charles is still a work in progress, but he loves Jesus, and continues to grow in Christ. When he got out of jail he was not allowed to see his children for a long time. He know is able to be with them on a regular basis. Charles attends AA meetings to share the love of God with the attendees.
From jail to church to being a servant of God.
