Ex prisoner urges Christians to remember those in jail at Christmastime
For many families, Christmastime is a time of celebration. But the holidays can also be a lonely time for people in prison.
As a former gang leader in Los Angeles in the 1980s, I was arrested and sentenced to 12 ½ years in solitary confinement in the California State Prison system. And I knew I deserved to be there.
When the mail comes around and other guys are getting letters and cards and you don’t, it hits you. You feel forgotten.
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Some might say, “Good, you deserve to be forgotten.” Fair enough. But what about the prisoner who understands his crime, is repentant and wants to make a positive change? That guy needs a little help from the outside to overcome the negative environment that exists in prison.
I am the first to acknowledge that the majority of prisoners — especially the guys in solitary confinement — deserve to be there. And I knew a lot of inmates who were still as mean and violent as the day they arrived. But there are many prisoners who would jump at a chance for a new life, a second chance.
I can tell you from experience, a little compassion can go a long way. A quick visit, a few prayers, or a card in the mail could be the difference that helps them make it through.
For me, it was a woman named Frances Proctor who came to my cell to visit me. This little lady from South Central Los Angeles would load up a small church bus and drive all the way to our prison in Folsom, California, just to share the Bible and a little encouragement. She didn’t have to do that.
The guards only allowed her a couple of minutes at my cell, but those visits made all the difference in me believing I could have a new life.
When she first came by my cell, I thought she was crazy. Mainly because she immediately told me “God loves you and Jesus is going to use you.” Say what? Didn’t she know I was? Yes, she did, but she was more concerned that I know God. She repeated that phrase every time she came by. And it began to make me wonder.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the Bible does talk about visiting prisoners. “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them…since you yourselves are in the body also.” (Hebrews 13: 2-3, NKJV, Biblegateway.com).
This is what Frances Proctor did for me and I know I didn’t deserve it. Because of her persistence and frequent visits God came into my life and I was forever changed for the good.
So, while it may be difficult to relate to someone in prison, keep in mind he may just need someone to help him see beyond his current condition and believe that just maybe God could use him too.
Casey Diaz is the author of The Shot Caller (Thomas Nelson, April 2019) and is the owner of Samiah Signs in Southern California. As a former gang leader in Los Angeles in the 1980s, Casey was sentenced to 12 ½ years in solitary confinement in California State Prison, Sacramento, near Folsom, CA. While in solitary, Casey received regular visits from Frances Procter, a woman committed to prison ministry. Because of her faith, prayers, and bravery, Casey’s life was forever changed.
