A Story to Tell

This is the story of Michael, an ex-offender.  At least that would have been the label I gave him 2-years ago.  Today, I can celebrate with Michael his new title, Productive Citizen! 

Michael went to prison not once, but twice in his first 40 years.  The first time for credit card fraud and the second time on a sex offense because his "girlfriend" was underage and he was emotionally immature.  Michael was released on a 2-year probation in 2009 but this time he was determined to do something different that would keep him from going back to jail.  The problem was, what?  how?  who?

Now here comes the good part of the story.  Michael had been attending Luther Luckett Christian Church, the only fully recognized congregation inside the walls  of a prison in Kentucky.  Luther Luckett Christian Church was developed on the Prison Congregations of America model and is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) demonination.  Rev. Dean Bucalos, an ordained Disciples minister presides over worship services every Friday evening at the church in the prison where Michael became a member while serving his time.  Michael also attended Life Skills classes put on by the church and learned that there was much he didn't know about how to live in the "free world."  Luckily for Michael and the other men at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, the church also allows men to make application to participate in a Nurturing, Support and Accountability Group (NSAG) upon release.  Those men who are accepted into the program meet weekly after their release with a NSAG where they set goals and are held accountable for those goals.  Michael qualified for a NSAG and was matched with a group of 8 trained volunteers, among them an attorney, a business woman, a banker, a teacher, a physical therapist, and a mom.  Volunteers from all walks of life coming together to make a difference in one man's life. 

For Michael, the journey from prison to productivity was full of pitfalls and he stumbled a time or two.  But the NSAG was there to pick him up, dust him off, and set him right back on the road through mentoring, helping Michael own up to his failings and learn to overcome them.  Michael still lives in a half-way house, but he now has a good Union job where he was recently promoted to Section Leader.  He owns his own car and sometime this winter he'll make the final car payment.  As soon as the car is paid off Michael hopes to be able to move out of his temporary living arrangement into an apartment of his own.  Michael also looks forward to the end of his second year of freedom and the end of his official probation, but he plans to stay in touch with his NSAG friends and in fact would like to serve as a volunteer on a NSAG once his probation is over.  Michael would like to pay it forward.  Now, that's a story to tell!