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Man finds faith, repentance in county jail
Contributed by: Chap. Yong Hui McDonald on 4/16/2008

Good News Shining Out of the Darkness

Yet one more horrible headline, yet another terrible story of some combination of drugs and gangs and violence. We see these headlines so often in our papers, these stories of ruined lives, these stories of pain and mayhem and death. Is there no hope, is there no way to turn this madness, this gut wrenching sadness, into something of goodness and wholeness and light? Many times there does not seem to be, and yet, sometimes there is indeed some light coming forth from the darkness. This is one such story.

The headline in the morning's newspaper in March 2008, "Man gets life in beating death" recounted a sad closing to the tragic story of yet another young life taken at the hands of a young man who now faced life in prison for his horrendous act. Only a few scant sentences in the news story spoke of this tragic tale being any different from the many that appear with sad regularity in our papers. First, there was mention of the accused in the case, Jonathan Willis, accepting full responsibility for what he did and pleading guilty just as the case was ready to go to trial. And then, there was also mention of the accused apologizing to the victim's family and hoping that someday they would be able to forgive him.

Just a ploy, just some last minute court room theatrics? Maybe. But maybe not. And in this case, probably not. For this young man, this Jonathan Willis, had been changing, and had been transforming, long before that day in court. Although nothing could ever undo the horrendous events and nothing could ever replace the tragic loss of an innocent life, from within the walls of Adams County Detention Facility something good had been coming forth from the ashes of that horrible night.

In the early days of his incarceration at Adams County Detention Facility, Willis came in contact with the Transformation Project Prison Ministry. In addition to the many religious services and varied Bible studies and prayer groups that he participated in, this project offered him the opportunity to begin using his talents and God given gifts for the betterment of others for the first time in his life. The project was founded in 2005 by Chaplain Yong Hui McDonald to provide inmates the opportunity to contribute their life changing stories, testimonies, artwork and song in books and DVDs that inspire others to accept the free gift of new life that Jesus offers to all, even to those in the depths of despair and darkness.

Jonathan filled his time of incarceration while awaiting trial by developing his own new relationship with God, and then using his gifts of music and leading by example to help transform other inmates' lives through his daily conduct, ministry to others and contributions to the Transformation Project. One of his inspirational songs is on the latest DVD, Maximum Saints Redeemed.

Shortly after pleading guilty and being sentenced to life in prison for his crime, Jonathan wrote a letter to Sheriff Darr, the head of Adams County Detention Facility. His words speak for themselves:

"My name is Jonathan Willis and I've had the pleasure and privilege to be included in the latest Transformation Project DVD. This project has impacted my life in a major, positive way... My failure in society wasn't because of a lack of skill on my part or for lack of support from others. No, I lacked a sense of purpose for my life... The Transformation Project has helped and enlightened me as to the reason for my existence in this life. It's guided me to realize that this life is not only about Jonathan Willis. It's about serving our Creator and helping others... As a result of my transformation, I've witnessed others, just as selfish and stubborn as I used to be, give their lives over to the Truth and turn from their old destructive pattern of living... Thank you."

Perhaps the best testimony to the change in Jonathan was not what he wrote, or even what he did, but what others said about him. Over the course of the two years he spent at Adams County Detention Facility, many inmates and even some staff were changed and greatly impacted by this new person he had become. A letter he received from a fellow inmate's mother just days before he left to begin serving his life sentence says it all. She wrote:

"I wanted to write to tell you thank you so much for being the messenger I prayed for. I had asked our Heavenly Father to send my son a messenger in jail to speak His word to him, and in my heart I believe you are that messenger. I have never heard my son so humble, and speak of our Lord so gracefully. You have been a blessing to him. He tells me how much he sees the Holy Spirit within you. Please continue to use what our Heavenly Father has given you (which is a soft spirit) to preach His word to the lost."

On the top of this letter which Jonathan sent to his mother, who was still reeling from the reality of what her own son did and now was paying for with life in prison, he wrote the following message to her: "Ma, this is why God has me where He has me."

Maybe that sums it all up. He who had taken a life, was now being used to speak of new life to others. Nothing can change the past, nothing can undo what was done, but even still, to see some good rise from all that bad has got to be just a bit of good news for even the most cynical amongst us.

Reported by Michael Spotts - a volunteer for Transformation Project Prison Ministry, Chaplain's assistant at ACD.

Yong Hui McDonald is Chaplain at the Adams County Detention Facility in Brighton, CO. The Reverend is a United Methodist minister, received her Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology. She is an author and founder of the Transformation Project Prison Ministry. She also is the producer of the two inmates and volunteers documentary DVDs: Maximum Saints Eyes of Blazing Fire and Maximum Saints Redeemed.
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Transformation Project is sponsoring a seminar to help the families of the incarcerated on May 17th at 10:00am to noon at The Healing Place Worship Center at 17801 E 160th St (Bridge St.), Brighton, CO 80610 (720-685-8321). Free breakfast and childcare is provided. Also, we will be having a booth at Boulder Creek Festival on May 24-26, during Memorial Day Weekend. If you would like to be involved with any of these events, please contact Yong Hui McDonald at 303-655-3311 or Michael Spotts at 303-406-8834.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

John Eisel

Denver , COLORADO

John Eisel has posted 2865 stories and 12 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. John Eisel's average story rating is 4.39.
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