Part two of Testimonials of Jesus Christ greatness.
"Jesus, I surrender to you, my life, my all. I don't know what your will is for my life, to continue to minister in prison until death or your return, release through clemency or release through a change in the law? Jesus let your will be done and not my will. Amen" Every time I would become discouraged, I'd say this prayer in some form or fashion and instantly feel burdenless. Months would pass as Mr. Bringman and I would write, talk, and visit for him to prepare a petition to file.
Countless people began to pray for the petition, including guards, volunteers, peers, and many strangers. The waiting was at time unbearable as the Clemency and Pardons Board would take 6 months to decide whether a prison would even get a hearing. At last on December 12, 2019 I was granted a Clemency and Pardons Board Hearing. The rarity of prisoners being granted a hearing was not lost on peers or myself and I continued to give credit to God. All things are possible with God, although Satan was never shy in attempting to separate me from Jesus. I began to question who's going to speak on my behalf, I've no family and the family I do have are unreliable and unhealthy.
All my I had identity issues regarding family, as I didn't believe I had family. I continually surrendered these uncertainties to Jesus and asked for Jesus' will to be done.
The Clemency and Pardon's Board made a unanimous recommendation (4-0) to Governor Jay Inslee to Commute (reduce) my Life without the possibility of parole sentence to 18 months. The world began to change dramatically for me with the thought of a potential release, I was unbelievably humbled to even be considered for a commutation. Mr. Bringman informed me that the governor's office typically decides withing 6 to 8 months. A year later the world was in chaos with a global pandemic, and I still felt honored to be even considered but in all honesty was anxious for a final decision.
The Governor granted my commutation while I was in quarantine isolation with Covid-19. I had 18 months to a release date I never would have thought to have previously. Two weeks later I returned to my regular living unit to find a sticky note on my door that said, "See your counselor about release address!" I still have that sticky note which is in the front of my bible today. My prison counselor (counselor of management of case load, not a psychological counselor) rushed up to me and asked for a release address. I was ecstatic at her enthusiasm to get the process going when she said, "You are getting an immediate release after the mandated 35-day public notification! I need your release address, now!"
My heart sank and jumped up for joy as I headed to the phone to call to get the release address I didn't have and wasn't expecting to need for 18 months. If I didn't find a release address, I wouldn't be getting release and I wasn't worried at all because I had unquestioning trust in Jesus. I called Troy a former volunteer that surrendered his volunteer status to speaking at my clemency hearing. We quickly realized we didn't have a release address as his address is in Oregon and not possible under release conditions. Troy called church members who all began to pray.
My Counselor demanded a release address, or I'd not be release immediately and when I was released it would be to the estranged community I came from over 22 years earlier, where I knew no one. I was given a deadline of Friday on a Thursday afternoon. By Friday Morning God provided a clean and sober Oxford House and all the paperwork was processed and approved to be sent to the local field office. Unfortunately, the local field office denied the release address because of a law that requires a prisoner’s release to the county of origin of original sentence, even though there was justifiable reason for an exemption as is permitted by law.
On my knees I prayed, "Jesus I pray your will be done with my release. I don't want to go back to Shelton, my heart's desire is to remain with those in the church in Walla Walla, but not my will but Your will be done. Amen"
Unbeknownst to me Governor's lead legal counsel was notified of the denial release to Walla Walla County and prison administrators and field officers were contacted regarding the denial because of the governor's approval of the plan. The release plan was resubmitted and approved of in the same day. God Answered yet another prayer.
On February 2nd, 2021, I was released from prison and on probation which is like parole. Any mistakes would result in reinstatement of the Life sentence. I lived at the Oxford house and quickly got work at a local machine shop, then a better job with a tree service company. I share my testimony at church and have frequently share it with individuals as the Holy Spirit has called me to do. God was and never will be done with anyone, God has a sense of humor too!
"Jesus, I surrender to you, my life, my all. I don't know what your will is for my life, to continue to minister in prison until death or your return, release through clemency or release through a change in the law? Jesus let your will be done and not my will. Amen" Every time I would become discouraged, I'd say this prayer in some form or fashion and instantly feel burdenless. Months would pass as Mr. Bringman and I would write, talk, and visit for him to prepare a petition to file.
Countless people began to pray for the petition, including guards, volunteers, peers, and many strangers. The waiting was at time unbearable as the Clemency and Pardons Board would take 6 months to decide whether a prison would even get a hearing. At last on December 12, 2019 I was granted a Clemency and Pardons Board Hearing. The rarity of prisoners being granted a hearing was not lost on peers or myself and I continued to give credit to God. All things are possible with God, although Satan was never shy in attempting to separate me from Jesus. I began to question who's going to speak on my behalf, I've no family and the family I do have are unreliable and unhealthy.
All my I had identity issues regarding family, as I didn't believe I had family. I continually surrendered these uncertainties to Jesus and asked for Jesus' will to be done.
The Clemency and Pardon's Board made a unanimous recommendation (4-0) to Governor Jay Inslee to Commute (reduce) my Life without the possibility of parole sentence to 18 months. The world began to change dramatically for me with the thought of a potential release, I was unbelievably humbled to even be considered for a commutation. Mr. Bringman informed me that the governor's office typically decides withing 6 to 8 months. A year later the world was in chaos with a global pandemic, and I still felt honored to be even considered but in all honesty was anxious for a final decision.
The Governor granted my commutation while I was in quarantine isolation with Covid-19. I had 18 months to a release date I never would have thought to have previously. Two weeks later I returned to my regular living unit to find a sticky note on my door that said, "See your counselor about release address!" I still have that sticky note which is in the front of my bible today. My prison counselor (counselor of management of case load, not a psychological counselor) rushed up to me and asked for a release address. I was ecstatic at her enthusiasm to get the process going when she said, "You are getting an immediate release after the mandated 35-day public notification! I need your release address, now!"
My heart sank and jumped up for joy as I headed to the phone to call to get the release address I didn't have and wasn't expecting to need for 18 months. If I didn't find a release address, I wouldn't be getting release and I wasn't worried at all because I had unquestioning trust in Jesus. I called Troy a former volunteer that surrendered his volunteer status to speaking at my clemency hearing. We quickly realized we didn't have a release address as his address is in Oregon and not possible under release conditions. Troy called church members who all began to pray.
My Counselor demanded a release address, or I'd not be release immediately and when I was released it would be to the estranged community I came from over 22 years earlier, where I knew no one. I was given a deadline of Friday on a Thursday afternoon. By Friday Morning God provided a clean and sober Oxford House and all the paperwork was processed and approved to be sent to the local field office. Unfortunately, the local field office denied the release address because of a law that requires a prisoner’s release to the county of origin of original sentence, even though there was justifiable reason for an exemption as is permitted by law.
On my knees I prayed, "Jesus I pray your will be done with my release. I don't want to go back to Shelton, my heart's desire is to remain with those in the church in Walla Walla, but not my will but Your will be done. Amen"
Unbeknownst to me Governor's lead legal counsel was notified of the denial release to Walla Walla County and prison administrators and field officers were contacted regarding the denial because of the governor's approval of the plan. The release plan was resubmitted and approved of in the same day. God Answered yet another prayer.
On February 2nd, 2021, I was released from prison and on probation which is like parole. Any mistakes would result in reinstatement of the Life sentence. I lived at the Oxford house and quickly got work at a local machine shop, then a better job with a tree service company. I share my testimony at church and have frequently share it with individuals as the Holy Spirit has called me to do. God was and never will be done with anyone, God has a sense of humor too!
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