Face to Face through Glass

prison-visit-277x300

1st Corinthians 13:12 says “for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

Meeting with boys behind glass at the Harford County Detention Center can often feel like we are staring into a dim and cracked old mirror. It is not optimal. but for unCUFFED to successfully pivot to serve in these trying COVID-19 days we must take advantage limited access to continue to build enduring relationships in sub-optimal situations. Now we may see dimly through that scratched and dirty glass, but when this is over the boys will know we have cared for them and loved them well, they will be fully known.

Our Harford County Area Director, Tim Schriver has done amazing work building up and maintaining relationships with Chaplain, the Program Director, and the security staff at HCDC to develop trust and respect for the work we do. If not for that relationship, we would be on the outside with the other ministries and volunteers. unCUFFED was even granted access to the boys even before their parents. Here are just a few short stories from Tim (names changed):

• Ronnie – He was very charming and said all the right things, but as I peeled away the layers, he began discussing some of the mistakes he has made and the violence he both endured and caused. We are careful never to discuss their cases so if a boy feels he wants to bear his soul he can do that without details. We advise them to pray directly to God for forgiveness and to depend on their lawyers for counsel. Because of the nature of his crime he is being held in isolation and locked-down except for phone calls and my visits. He professes his faith as a Christian. I gave him a new FCA Bible in February, the boys love those FCA Athlete Bibles, and he now brings his well-read, tattered Bible to our visits. I wrote him 5 times after we were locked out in March. He wrote back once but completed 3 of the unCUFFED COVID-19 Correspondence Bible Studies Chaplain Cole has been distributing and returning to us. We gave him The Master Plan and he has read it twice. He truly has done a 180 in his approach to life, God and accountability for his actions. He shared that he leans on 1 Corinthians 10:13. I will continue to see him as long as he needs me.

• Will – I began seeing him at my youth Bible/Life Skills classes in early February. He professed his faith right away and was the best student of the group but quiet. Although the other guys overshadowed him in class, he completed all 5 studies I gave to Chaplain Cole during the Pandemic. Each one was given to them in a packet with their name on it. Not only did he complete them, but he also mailed the first two back to me with a note! When I returned in October, he brought his Bible and a folder with all the new studies he was doing through an outside program. He also showed me his certificate issued by Chaplain Cole for his profession of belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior and his belief in the Gospels. He said, “I wanted to keep it because I knew Mr. Tim would be proud of me.” We continue to talk about his plans, his faith and his temptations in jail. He admits to an anger problem and involvement in “flying a flag.” He wants no part of it anymore.

• Mike – He is new to me this fall. He was at Hickey and was waived up to HCDC a while back and then released. They reopened his case when he violated his probation in early October. Recently, they closed his case and said he would be released very soon. He has my number, and I am going to help him get his ID and driver’s permit. He lives in Havre de Grace, is nonviolent, and does not run with gangs or a rough crowd. I have high hopes for him. He is new to Christianity, but I am working with him. He has a brand-new Bible, please pray that with God’s help we can get him to open it regularly!

prison-visit-277x300

1st Corinthians 13:12 says “for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

Meeting with boys behind glass at the Harford County Detention Center can often feel like we are staring into a dim and cracked old mirror. It is not optimal. but for unCUFFED to successfully pivot to serve in these trying COVID-19 days we must take advantage limited access to continue to build enduring relationships in sub-optimal situations. Now we may see dimly through that scratched and dirty glass, but when this is over the boys will know we have cared for them and loved them well, they will be fully known.

Our Harford County Area Director, Tim Schriver has done amazing work building up and maintaining relationships with Chaplain, the Program Director, and the security staff at HCDC to develop trust and respect for the work we do. If not for that relationship, we would be on the outside with the other ministries and volunteers. unCUFFED was even granted access to the boys even before their parents. Here are just a few short stories from Tim (names changed):

• Ronnie – He was very charming and said all the right things, but as I peeled away the layers, he began discussing some of the mistakes he has made and the violence he both endured and caused. We are careful never to discuss their cases so if a boy feels he wants to bear his soul he can do that without details. We advise them to pray directly to God for forgiveness and to depend on their lawyers for counsel. Because of the nature of his crime he is being held in isolation and locked-down except for phone calls and my visits. He professes his faith as a Christian. I gave him a new FCA Bible in February, the boys love those FCA Athlete Bibles, and he now brings his well-read, tattered Bible to our visits. I wrote him 5 times after we were locked out in March. He wrote back once but completed 3 of the unCUFFED COVID-19 Correspondence Bible Studies Chaplain Cole has been distributing and returning to us. We gave him The Master Plan and he has read it twice. He truly has done a 180 in his approach to life, God and accountability for his actions. He shared that he leans on 1 Corinthians 10:13. I will continue to see him as long as he needs me.

• Will – I began seeing him at my youth Bible/Life Skills classes in early February. He professed his faith right away and was the best student of the group but quiet. Although the other guys overshadowed him in class, he completed all 5 studies I gave to Chaplain Cole during the Pandemic. Each one was given to them in a packet with their name on it. Not only did he complete them, but he also mailed the first two back to me with a note! When I returned in October, he brought his Bible and a folder with all the new studies he was doing through an outside program. He also showed me his certificate issued by Chaplain Cole for his profession of belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior and his belief in the Gospels. He said, “I wanted to keep it because I knew Mr. Tim would be proud of me.” We continue to talk about his plans, his faith and his temptations in jail. He admits to an anger problem and involvement in “flying a flag.” He wants no part of it anymore.

• Mike – He is new to me this fall. He was at Hickey and was waived up to HCDC a while back and then released. They reopened his case when he violated his probation in early October. Recently, they closed his case and said he would be released very soon. He has my number, and I am going to help him get his ID and driver’s permit. He lives in Havre de Grace, is nonviolent, and does not run with gangs or a rough crowd. I have high hopes for him. He is new to Christianity, but I am working with him. He has a brand-new Bible, please pray that with God’s help we can get him to open it regularly!

Meeting with boys behind glass at the Harford County Detention Center can often feel like we are staring into a dim and cracked old mirror. It is not optimal. but for unCUFFED to successfully pivot to serve in these trying COVID-19 days we must take advantage limited access to continue to build enduring relationships in sub-optimal situations. Now we may see dimly through that scratched and dirty glass, but when this is over the boys will know we have cared for them and loved them well, they will be fully known.

Our Harford County Area Director, Tim Schriver has done amazing work building up and maintaining relationships with Chaplain, the Program Director, and the security staff at HCDC to develop trust and respect for the work we do. If not for that relationship, we would be on the outside with the other ministries and volunteers. unCUFFED was even granted access to the boys even before their parents. Here are just a few short stories from Tim (names changed):

• Ronnie – He was very charming and said all the right things, but as I peeled away the layers, he began discussing some of the mistakes he has made and the violence he both endured and caused. We are careful never to discuss their cases so if a boy feels he wants to bear his soul he can do that without details. We advise them to pray directly to God for forgiveness and to depend on their lawyers for counsel. Because of the nature of his crime he is being held in isolation and locked-down except for phone calls and my visits. He professes his faith as a Christian. I gave him a new FCA Bible in February, the boys love those FCA Athlete Bibles, and he now brings his well-read, tattered Bible to our visits. I wrote him 5 times after we were locked out in March. He wrote back once but completed 3 of the unCUFFED COVID-19 Correspondence Bible Studies Chaplain Cole has been distributing and returning to us. We gave him The Master Plan and he has read it twice. He truly has done a 180 in his approach to life, God and accountability for his actions. He shared that he leans on 1 Corinthians 10:13. I will continue to see him as long as he needs me.

• Will – I began seeing him at my youth Bible/Life Skills classes in early February. He professed his faith right away and was the best student of the group but quiet. Although the other guys overshadowed him in class, he completed all 5 studies I gave to Chaplain Cole during the Pandemic. Each one was given to them in a packet with their name on it. Not only did he complete them, but he also mailed the first two back to me with a note! When I returned in October, he brought his Bible and a folder with all the new studies he was doing through an outside program. He also showed me his certificate issued by Chaplain Cole for his profession of belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior and his belief in the Gospels. He said, “I wanted to keep it because I knew Mr. Tim would be proud of me.” We continue to talk about his plans, his faith and his temptations in jail. He admits to an anger problem and involvement in “flying a flag.” He wants no part of it anymore.

• Mike – He is new to me this fall. He was at Hickey and was waived up to HCDC a while back and then released. They reopened his case when he violated his probation in early October. Recently, they closed his case and said he would be released very soon. He has my number, and I am going to help him get his ID and driver’s permit. He lives in Havre de Grace, is nonviolent, and does not run with gangs or a rough crowd. I have high hopes for him. He is new to Christianity, but I am working with him. He has a brand-new Bible, please pray that with God’s help we can get him to open it regularly!