SOCPM Newsletter | December 2023

Joyful News on a Former Student, Juan


Way back on August 19, 2015, a guy by the name of Juan attended his first SOCPM class. He was more on the quiet side but occasionally asked insightful questions and was consistent in submitting prayer requests. He enrolled in the various Bible studies and would take the reading material SOCPM offered. Juan was sincere in his faith and genuinely desired to grow in Christ. Juan quickly became one of the students God God placed in that special place in my heart.

When SOCPM initiated the Church Connect program, connecting students to a Church Connection request before their parole, Juan was among the first to submit a Church Connect request in June 2016. What was unique about Juan's request was his parole wasn't until November 2023.

Through God's grace, I recently met a pastor, Adron, who was pastoring a church in Country Club Hills, near where Juan had family and planned to parole. I contacted Adron, and he agreed to let Juan write him, and thus, an exchange of letters began.

I  did not remain directly involved in the ongoing communication other than occasionally asking Juan if he was still writing. At one point, he told me he was introduced to another pastor, whom he was writing to and who then left the church, but he was writing to the new pastor, Eric. I may be incorrect in history, but that is not important. Sadly for me, Juan was transferred to another facility in December 2021.  

Then, recently, I received a notice of Juan's parole, so I found an old e-mail that l had sent to Eric back in November 2021 inquiring if Juan stayed in touch with his church and had, in fact, visited the church.

Praise God, Juan, and Eric remain in contact. Juan was living in a transition house based on his parole requirements. He has family in the Countryside area and was definitely planning to move to the Countryside area when the parole board gives approval.

Eric gave me his personal contact information. I plan to follow up on occasion to see how Jaun is doing and eventually plan a reunion with Juan.

Just the thought of seeing Juan again brings a mist of tears to my eyes. I love my guys, and it is a bittersweet moment for me when they are paroled or transferred to another facility. However, God has blessed me with several occasions to cross paths with a former SOCPM student, aka SOCPM Alumni, at a ministry event or has been discharged. Though I wish it was more frequent, I'm blessed nonetheless; God has called me as His vessel to the incarcerated, whom I prefer to call my guys.

Dixon is on a Roll!

After endless weeks on lockdown, Dixon has a streak of three weeks of being open. It may not last long; I'm told because it is the holiday season, the number of daily writs is down, lessening the number of correctional offices leaving prison grounds to transport prison to courts and, in return, more staff to post at lower priority stations.

I hope that is not the reason, but if 118 building lockdowns happen again, I've talked to the chaplain about conducting classes in building 26; the building classes were first taught post-COVID. This building is a higher priority building for staffing,

The chaplain said it was possible and willing to do all he could to allow me to hold my classes, but he would need the Shift Commander's approval. It may result in me driving to Dixon only to learn the Shift Commander denied the request. If there is any means to lessen the odds of a Dixon lockdown I'm willing to do the drive.

Prayer Requests

Continue prayers of praise. Cameron marked four months of sobriety on December 2nd. He was promoted to shift lead at work and received a $0.50. He remains optimistic in his attitude.

Cameron could use prayer for the stress he encounters, mostly on Mondays, which is half-off on the piazza where he works. He has said it is hectic, and because of half-price pizza, the bill for meals is less, resulting in smaller tips. On top of that, he has to deal with dissatisfied customers as the lead.

As always, pray for his salvation and continued sobriety. Pray that our reunion from January 2nd to January 5th is a happy and joyous time. Safe travels for his mother, Anne Marie, and me. I have an opportunity and knowledge to answer Cameron's and perhaps his mother's questions about God's Word.

Prayers of praise: I completed cardio rehab and remain disciplined in regular cardio exercise, a minimum of 150 minutes a week, which I exceed on average by 30 minutes or more.

However, my discipline in my diet is going in reverse. Pray, with cardio rehab being over, it will open time on my schedule to cook my meals instead of eating out, and when I do cook, it is less processed and has more fresh foods. I will find some heart-healthy crockpot meals that would match my cravings.

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