I was fourteen years old when my life of crime began in the summer of 1985. I was searching for answers in all the wrong places. I started as a lookout for neighborhood drug dealers, but within a year, I started dealing drugs. By age 17, I established my own drug operation including gang banging, and spreading drugs throughout our poverty-stricken community.

At the time, I had no compassion or remorse for my actions. The definition of life for me was surviving another hour, day, hoping the nightmare would be over through death or life inside a penitentiary. For over 16 years.

I was surrounded in spiritual darkness. I was so cold that my heart had no feeling. 

On May 2003, I was incarcerated for the third time, spending a total of seven years behind prison walls. While in prison I felt that I needed to make a change. My thoughts were that I needed to turn my life over to God. I began studying the Islamic faith for the sole purpose of growing closer to God. Constantly, my conscience was being reminded of the teachings of my mother who is an ordained Baptist minister. I felt like a lost child who was striving but who finally returned home to the faith of his mother. This time I made my mother’s faith my faith. I felt strengthened and motivated to walk out of darkness back into the light. I was determined to leave the foolishness of my past.

It is amazing how I came to the Discipleship Home. It is best to say it was a blessing from God. While in prison I was trying to prepare myself for reentry into society with its many challenges. My biggest challenge upon release was the fact that I was going to be homeless. Yes, I was facing being homeless, but with a passion for God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Upon release I found myself at the Dorothy Day House. The day after my release I went job hunting and met a man, Bernie, who introduced me to Andy Kilen. I talked with Andy about staying at the Discipleship Home. At first I was not sure if I wanted to get involved with the Network. Nine months later I am now the senior member of the home. Life is good for a poor sinner who has fallen into the hands of my loving and compassionate Lord.

While residing at the Discipleship Home I started Peggy’s House of Poetry, and wrote a play about the Network entitled, Reach. Recently, with the help of the Network, a construction company that is working on a large building for the Mayo Clinic hired me. 

I am part of the ministry of the Network that is spending time with children at Hunter Ridge. These children are in need of love and mentoring. I feel we are making a difference while at the same time I am learning and growing.

It has been my experience that when you are serious about changing your life for the good, people of negative influence, along with their bad habits, back away when they realize you want to walk among good people. The thoughts of sin and crime creep in, but the light of Jesus dissipates the darkness and doesn’t allow for hiding. Participation is necessary for success; success is based on our actions. Our actions are a reflection of the mirror of our mind; mere words don’t count, it is important to take away fear by participating in our community and making a difference. Don’t ever give up, obstacles and trials are bound to come up, don’t give up.