How should we interact with someone just released from prison?

[star]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

 

[mj007]

Of course he deserves a second chance. It might be a challenge, but what is life without challenges.

 

[star]

Well, my stepson will have nothing to do with him because of crime but that is my stepson's issue, not mine. I just want to converse with this person in a way in which God wants me to.

 

[Locutus]

You say you've "conversed regularly with him during part of that time", but "not sure of his spiritual status" - what did you talk about?

The weather, football, prison food?

 

[Rosemaryx]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

Hi star...I understand your concerns...My son is doing life minimum 16yrs...He has done 13 years now and my concerns for him are high, but I rest in the LORD because He knows everything, and my imagination can sometimes run wild with thinking " What if this goes wrong, what if he falls, he will have to go back inside and do 16 yrs over without parole " so I really put all my burdens at the feet of our LORD and just trust in God...All you can do is pray, and offer him Scripture, my son says he is saved, sometimes I see fruit, other times i do not, but his salvation is between him and God, I can only advice as I said through Scripture...

It`s an awful thing to carry, especially when someone has done so long in prison, they have no idea the shock of what is waiting for them, in them years everything has changed so much...Don`t let the thoughts steal your joy, do not allow the worry to consume you...My heart feels for you it truly does...xox...

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name (Malachi 3:16).

Continue to witness to him so he will become Christ disciple.

 

[star]

You say you've "conversed regularly with him during part of that time", but "not sure of his spiritual status" - what did you talk about?

The weather, football, prison food?

We talked about whatever was on his mind. He chose the subjects and I interacted - someone in prison needs encouragement I believe. Nothing he expressed led me to know for sure his spiritual state.

 

[star]

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name (Malachi 3:16).


Continue to witness to him so he will become Christ disciple.

That is what is on my heart right now. It came upon me this afternoon after receiving a letter from him. He is bubbly and full of hope and confidence yet I feel the need to begin speaking about spiritual things with him.

 

[star]

Hi star...I understand your concerns...My son is doing life minimum 16yrs...He has done 13 years now and my concerns for him are high, but I rest in the LORD because He knows everything, and my imagination can sometimes run wild with thinking " What if this goes wrong, what if he falls, he will have to go back inside and do 16 yrs over without parole " so I really put all my burdens at the feet of our LORD and just trust in God...All you can do is pray, and offer him Scripture, my son says he is saved, sometimes I see fruit, other times i do not, but his salvation is between him and God, I can only advice as I said through Scripture...

It`s an awful thing to carry, especially when someone has done so long in prison, they have no idea the shock of what is waiting for them, in them years everything has changed so much...Don`t let the thoughts steal your joy, do not allow the worry to consume you...My heart feels for you it truly does...xox...

I just remember him as a young child and how sweet he was. As I have conversed with him, it has been difficult for me to imagine him a grown man now. I don't want to still his joy but I want him to know that with the help of God he can overcome his past, live the rest of his life abundantly and be a new person. The world will not grant him that, I fear.

I pray your son will have a blessed life and abundant one as well.

 

[BillG]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

Star,

A good thread to start and hopefully one that makes us all think.

You have conversed with this person whilst he is in prison. When he is on the outside just be like Jesus.
Continue to let him see Jesus in you.

That is the reality.

Yes he does deserve a second chance, a third chance and so on.

All sin. And all who do are imprisoned by it. Whether it be in our hearts or in jail.

Just be like Jesus.
Reassure him that his sins have been forgiven an account of Jesus.
Hopefully he will see that even though he is free from the physical prison Jesus wants to release him from the prison of his heart.

 

[Rosemaryx]

I just remember him as a young child and how sweet he was. As I have conversed with him, it has been difficult for me to imagine him a grown man now. I don't want to still his joy but I want him to know that with the help of God he can overcome his past, live the rest of his life abundantly and be a new person. The world will not grant him that, I fear.

I pray your son will have a blessed life and abundant one as well.

Just be there for him on a daily basis, we are told by Jesus not to worry about tomorrow, for today has its own troubles...Jesus said we are to visit those in prison, if you can not visit, then your letter is just as good I am sure, because you are taking care of his needs, emotional needs, and with Scripture his Spiritual needs, and remember God says His grace is sufficient...

If he is saved, then he is a new person, if he is truly walking with God, then the Holy Spirit will lead him , if he is not saved, then who knows , God could be using you to soften his heart , all things are possible with God...xox...

 

[star]

Star,

A good thread to start and hopefully one that makes us all think.

You have conversed with this person whilst he is in prison. When he is on the outside just be like Jesus.
Continue to let him see Jesus in you.

That is the reality.

Yes he does deserve a second chance, a third chance and so on.

All sin. And all who do are imprisoned by it. Whether it be in our hearts or in jail.

Just be like Jesus.
Reassure him that his sins have been forgiven an account of Jesus.
Hopefully he will see that even though he is free from the physical prison Jesus wants to release him from the prison of his heart.

Amen. Thank you.

 

[BillG]

That is what is on my heart right now. It came upon me this afternoon after receiving a letter from him. He is bubbly and full of hope and confidence yet I feel the need to begin speaking about spiritual things with him.

Just let the Holy Spirit work in you. Then he will see Jesus.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

That is what is on my heart right now. It came upon me this afternoon after receiving a letter from him. He is bubbly and full of hope and confidence yet I feel the need to begin speaking about spiritual things with him.

​

We are the Salt and Light in the world. One of the characteristics of salt is that it makes people thirsty.​

 

[Depleted]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

I've met some of the nicest people in prison ministry and through drug rehab afterward. (Part of the stipulation for parole.) Nice people. Would I trust them? NO! I'm not nuts!

Help them? Sure, if they want help.

Trust is earned, not assumed. And most of them never earned it, and end up not quite as nice as they pretended.

I've met some of the nicest people through prison ministry and drug rehab. Only one do I trust now. (And I did not meet him in ministry. I've gotten to know him because I'm a fan of one of his books.) He earned it. He still earns it. Cool guy. Great writer.

But, honestly? People coming out of prison do know what they're getting into. Hard to ignore the fact that you have to always reveal you were a criminal on job applications, and then assume life is so much easier now.

 

[Marcelo]

This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. .........He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

The son of one of my cousins is in prison for the second time. On the first occasion he served one year or so and I talked with him right after he was released. I treated him just the way I treat everybody else and I thought he had learned his lesson.

Two years later the young man stole a car at gunpoint in order to get money for cocaine and was sentenced to 8 years. He's already done two years and hopes his sentence will be halved for good behavior. He is attending a church service in prison and this time he swears he'll never do drugs again. I hope this bad thing will turn out to be a blessing in his life, i.e. that God will change his heart.

 

[Depleted]

We talked about whatever was on his mind. He chose the subjects and I interacted - someone in prison needs encouragement I believe. Nothing he expressed led me to know for sure his spiritual state.

Curious. What encouragement can be given without bringing up the Lord?

 

[dcontroversal]

Nothing wrong with second chances, but a few things to ponder....

a. If his stint was the result of violent crime such as rape, killing, assault with a deadly weapon etc....be very wary and wise.....like never alone with him.

b. If your stepson's friend why would you see him after prison and or be socializing with him?

c. And I am surprised you never witnessed to him over a 20 year period......

d. I would be forthright with him and blunt about everything....straightforward and no beating around the bush....I would also witness without hesitation....

 

[Locutus]

While you intentions are in the right place Star do you think you are equipped for this kind of thing?

 

[Laish]

I'm not naming any names. This person grew up with my stepson and made a horrible mistake. He has been in prison for 20 years and paid his debt to society. I have conversed regularly with him during part of that time.

My question is a serious one because I'm not sure he has any idea of what life is going to be like for him "on the outside." While I'm mostly a positive thinking person, my fear for him is that he may be in a "bubble" about his new life.

I want to be positive and supportive for him but I feel the need to bring reality into our conversation as well. Plus, I'm not sure of his spiritual status so my thought is that I must bring that into the mix. My personal belief is that he will not make it on the outside without the help and direction of Almighty God.

He deserves a second chance in my opinion no matter what.

What say you?

You said it right there . Tell him almost exactly what you said here .Show your concern and that you are willing to help him .
Note also he may stumble try to be willing to help him up . Also this may sound pessimistic but still watch out for yourself.
Keep him and your self in prayer .
Blessings
Bill