Complimentary Story
March 2026About thirty years ago I started to reach out to men who are incarcerated. It started with becoming a law enforcement chaplain in a county jail. Every Monday evening, for 7 years, I would meet with all the men who wanted to go through a 12 Step Program for any addiction they might have. It was always well attended. Most were looking for some kind of help, some just wanted time out of the cell. I just wanted them all to know that Jesus loved them and a human being cared about them.
Writing relationships developed with some of the men who went on to prison. More relationships have developed from articles that I write for Wisconsin Christian News and end up in the hands of men in prison. These relationships are about how the divine power of God will transform your life.
All of us, as Christians, are asked to take every thought captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5. The way we think directs our behavior and if our behavior is faulty or not in line with how God would want us to behave, then we have to change the way we think to be transformed by the renewal of our mind to God’s way of thinking. Romans 12:2. This is not a simple, easy or quick process. It requires a lot of work and setting up a pattern of doing the process for life.
Over the 30 years, I have lost track of how many of these writing/mentoring relationships I have had. I don’t keep track, but it has been many. Some last only a short time, some for many years. No two are the same. Each man is a unique creation of God, requiring an individual, personal relationship. Some of these men I have grown to deeply love. For many, my heart breaks.
Recently I spoke to a group of 45-50 men behind the razor wire covered fences and walls of a Wisconsin maximum security prison. Never in my life have I had an audience pay such close attention to every word I spoke. Not a man gave up direct eye contact with me. I talked for 55 minutes and opened for questions. The question and answers went on for another 90 minutes.
The men were hungry for hope. Not just the hope found in Jesus and the forgiveness of sin, but hungry for the truth found in God’s Word that can bring lasting change, that in turn brings a better life. All the questions were pretty deep. One I will share is, “what do you do when you have sincerely repented of your sin of 35 years ago, but your victim will not forgive because to do so would be to let the perpetrator off the hook and that wouldn’t be right.”
My answer was that you have done the right thing seeking forgiveness, but now you have to forgive them and let them and the issue go to God’s hands. This man will not see the outside in his lifetime; his next free day will be when he sees Jesus, face to face.
Another man asked how he can stay free of his addiction to heroin when he gets out. He stated that when he hits the streets again his mouth will water at the thought of shooting up. I responded that the addiction has to be recognized as sin and when tempted, to speak God’s Word, because you can not serve both God and heroin. Luke 16:13. Then you have to change the playground. You can’t go back to old acquaintances. Get involved with a 12 step group and find a church that has small groups and make new and better friends. It won’t be easy, but you have to do whatever it takes. The man has tattoos on his face, neck and arms. He has been in prison. Would you warmly welcome him to your church and offer him your friendship?
The most difficult question came from the prison Chaplain. He told of a man released to the Superior, Wisconsin area during the summer. He now carries the label of sex offender. He cannot find housing or any employment, he is still sleeping in his old car, under clothing-center blankets, at below freezing temperatures. The church that he was a member of will have nothing to do with him. What can be done?
Good question, but one I do not have the answer to. These are the ones for which my heart breaks. A sex offender can be labeled so for many reasons. Violent sex offenders, like Ted Bundy, will probably never get out of prison, but they are far from the majority. Probably the most common is possession of child pornography. The knee jerk response and belief are these men have sexual pictures of babies or small children. This happens, but is far from the normal, of possessing a porn film that has a minor in the video. Frequently, pornographers use sex trafficked teenagers in their productions. Why? Because there are 500,000 searches every day for teen aged porn on the internet. They are breast implanted and made to look older than they actually are. Each sexual picture of a minor can carry 5 years in prison and the title of “sex offender.” I am told that the largest population at a maximum-security prison in Wisconsin, carry the title of sex offender.
The reality check is that over 80% of the male population, outside of prison, views porn. This also happens to 18-year-old boys who have nude pictures of their 16-year-old girlfriend on their phone. The days of Ringo Starr, “You’re 16, you’re beautiful and you’re mine,” will now land you in prison and titled a sex offender. After serving their sentence for the crime they committed, the Department of Corrections drops them off in the county of their offense with nothing. They sleep in cars, boxes or anywhere they can find shelter. One man I know is on social security so he can afford a motel room, rented by the month, but leaves only several hundred dollars for food and necessities. Two years and no job.
Another, sleeps on a cot at a VMA. He can also shower there. Food pantries, clothing centers and some meager DHHS assistance is their only hope. Subsidized or low-income housing is not an option because they can not rent to felons and all offenders are felons.
I know a man who was able to find work and he has an excellent work history. He has been fired from three different jobs where he holds company production records. He lost his job every time because some other employee discovered, online, he is a sex offender. They complain and the HR officer comes up with a reason for termination. His offense was 25 years ago.
A counselor, if they have been mandated by the court, is under instructions to report on the client to their probation officer. If the counselor is worth their salt, they refuse to do the counseling because the client cannot trust the counselor, they can’t be honest and have the sessions remain private. So, where can these men go for help? The DOC drops them off and then the local church and community will provide the rest of their life sentence. After all, it wouldn’t be right to let the perpetrator off the hook, would it?
I believe the church, on the outside of prisons, needs to become aware of the FACT that the church behind prison walls is very alive. Not everyone goes to church, but some even hold pastoral degrees or Bible certificates. If you have a man or woman who has been to prison and they come to worship or be in a small group, it’s probably because their relationship with Jesus started before coming to you. They are looking for that new environment.
A number of years ago, I brought a man to my church several times and we also attended a Bible study between services. I was there the day a woman called him out in front of everyone in the Bible study. She had looked up that title online, “sex offender.” She said, “why are you attending here, putting our children at risk?” If anyone was at risk, I would have never brought my friend. My friend has never been back inside a church building. Even though the woman has passed away, he will still not risk the embarrassment again. He has attended two outdoor church services, where we sit way off to the side. He primarily maintains his relationship with Jesus at home, mornings and evenings, through prayer and occasionally talking to my wife and me.
I believe we can hear the voice of the sex offender, who has served his time and has been released from prison, in the song of David at Psalm 142. “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord of mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. In the path where I walk, men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to You O Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’ Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me.”
There has to be a better answer to the prison chaplain’s question. Should the church be a part of the answer? I am looking for feedback on this. Please write me. Lynn Fredrick, W8756 E Townline Road Ladysmith, WI 54848.
Lynn Fredrick is the author of “Stand Firm,” a recovery program to help transform your life by using the divine power of God’s Word.
LynnFredrick.com
