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Stories of Faith and Courage From PrisonSample

Stories of Faith and Courage From Prison

DAY 1 OF 7

DREAM CHANGER

Brandon Duncan, Wisconsin

AS A YOUNG child, I was in constant fear of my stepdad; he physically abused everyone in my family. I think that was why I liked watching gangster shows on television. It was my “escape.” I would dream about becoming a “bad man;” then no one would ever hurt us again.

As early as age nine, I smoked pot and tried alcohol. It numbed the constant fear and enhanced my self-esteem. I also started stealing anything I could get my hands on. Between the drugs, alcohol, and stealing, I was making myself a prime candidate to become involved in a gang/criminal lifestyle.

As I got older I felt powerful when I broke the law, but it eventually caught up with me. I was convicted of armed robbery, burglary, credit card fraud, driving under the influence, and possession of drugs. I faced hundreds of years in prisons in several states. I actually served fifteen years inside some of America’s bloodiest prisons.

Prison was hell. I was terrified every day, and especially at night. Each morning I woke up full of hate, rage, and violence, and went to bed with fear. But a few years after I was sentenced, a Christian man came to visit. He was an ex-inmate.

How did he make the crossover from darkness to light? I wondered.

He patiently explained to me that Jesus died for my sins and that I could have new life in him. Longing to change, I prayed the salvation prayer. But the hateful lifestyle was ingrained in me and instead of embracing Jesus and his Word, I quickly chose to go back to darkness.

My rage escalated toward those prisoners who were incarcerated for abusing children. One day, when a new inmate arrived who had violated a child, I snapped and almost beat him to death. I wish I could say I was remorseful, but I wasn’t. Due to my violent outburst, however, I was moved to another part of the prison where the hatred was even worse. I became so despondent during those months, thoughts of suicide plagued my mind constantly.

All I had for a pillow was my Bible. One desperate day I opened it up and began reading the red letters. I knew those were the words of Jesus. I read his soothing messages for hours every day. Gradually I started to change. I actually began to dream about the future, something I had never done before, and to set goals, too. I was actually getting excited about getting out. I even had hope I could get my family back in my life again.

Then, one day, all those red-letter words came together to convict me.

Scripture

Day 2

About this Plan

Stories of Faith and Courage From Prison

The battle for souls is fierce for those living behind bars. How can the power of God's light penetrate the darkness of "Satan's playground?" This moving collection of Scripture and prisoners' stories reveals God's protection, purpose for suffering, and eternal love for each of us---including society's most shunned people.

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