¤ ¤
00:00:01.36\00:00:05.33
I want to spend my
life Mending broken people.
00:00:05.37\00:00:15.14
I want to spend my
life removing pain.
00:00:15.18\00:00:26.76
Lord let my words
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:26.79\00:00:36.77
I want to spend my
life Mending broken people.
00:00:36.80\00:00:58.22
¤ ¤
00:00:58.25\00:01:07.63
Hello and welcome to another
3ABN Today program. I'm Jason
00:01:07.66\00:01:10.70
Bradley and I'm so glad that you
have tuned in for this powerful
00:01:10.73\00:01:15.30
program that we have in store
for you. And I believe that God
00:01:15.34\00:01:19.17
wants you to be watching this.
There's a message for you today.
00:01:19.21\00:01:23.68
I'm here with Captain Tim Turner
commander of Boon County Jail
00:01:23.71\00:01:29.85
It's great to have you here.
00:01:29.88\00:01:31.22
Thank you so much for having me.
00:01:31.25\00:01:32.75
Yes sir, yes sir. We're going
to dive into your testimony a
00:01:32.79\00:01:35.42
little bit later. It's a
powerful one and you really
00:01:35.46\00:01:38.53
opened the doors for us to come
in and put on a program and all
00:01:38.56\00:01:42.20
of that. We're going to find
out about all of that in just a
00:01:42.23\00:01:44.87
little bit. Sitting right next
to you, we have Lemuel Vega, my
00:01:44.90\00:01:48.50
brother Lemuel. It's great to
have you. Christmas Behind Bars.
00:01:48.54\00:01:53.07
Thank you. It's a
blessing to be here.
00:01:53.11\00:01:54.44
And my wonderful cousin Jewlee
Meadows. It's great to have you
00:01:54.48\00:01:58.05
here Jewlee.
00:01:58.08\00:01:59.41
It's great to be here. I'm
excited for our topic today.
00:01:59.45\00:02:02.98
I'm very excited to be here.
00:02:03.02\00:02:04.59
Wonderful. And you are a member
of our production crew here at
00:02:04.62\00:02:07.76
at 3ABN. Yes.
Very. Normally I have my
00:02:07.79\00:02:09.36
sidekick with me, but my
cousin Tiara couldn't make
00:02:09.39\00:02:11.76
it today. So I'm
here for the both of us.
00:02:11.79\00:02:13.86
There we go. There we go.
And sitting next to you we have
00:02:13.90\00:02:18.67
Ian Vandervalk, another valuable
member of our 3ABN production
00:02:18.70\00:02:21.57
crew and our floor director.
00:02:21.60\00:02:23.64
Yeah, thank you, Jason. I
appreciate it. Thank you for
00:02:23.67\00:02:26.07
having me here.
00:02:26.11\00:02:27.44
Yes, it's great to have you
here Ian. I want to share this
00:02:27.48\00:02:30.28
scripture. It comes from
Romans chapter 5 verses 6-8.
00:02:30.31\00:02:36.28
For when we were still without
strength in due time Christ died
00:02:36.32\00:02:39.89
for the ungodly. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die
00:02:39.92\00:02:44.79
yet perhaps for a good man
someone would even dare to die.
00:02:44.83\00:02:48.46
But God demonstrates His own
love toward us in that while we
00:02:48.50\00:02:52.53
were still sinners
Christ died for us.
00:02:52.57\00:02:55.67
That's powerful. Yeah. You
know and I think that Ian you've
00:02:55.70\00:03:02.11
talked before about what an
identity crisis or something
00:03:02.14\00:03:05.45
like that.
00:03:05.48\00:03:06.82
Yeah, you know I think a lot of
times in our lives you know we
00:03:06.85\00:03:09.85
all face it. We all come to that
road where we're not sure who we
00:03:09.88\00:03:12.85
are and we're faced with an
identity crisis like you said
00:03:12.89\00:03:15.29
You know and there's three
things that have a huge impact
00:03:15.32\00:03:17.93
on that and it's how we see
ourselves, how others see us and
00:03:17.96\00:03:21.06
how God sees us. You know out
of those three, two of them can
00:03:21.10\00:03:24.67
have a profound impact both
positively and negatively you
00:03:24.70\00:03:28.10
know and that's how we see
ourselves and how others see us
00:03:28.14\00:03:30.31
but God, He sees us the same
way every single day. It doesn't
00:03:30.34\00:03:34.11
matter our faults, it doesn't
matter how we look at our
00:03:34.14\00:03:37.41
internal failures but God always
sees us in the perfect love each
00:03:37.45\00:03:42.68
and every day. And we can always
hold onto that hope and find our
00:03:42.72\00:03:47.12
identity in that love.
00:03:47.16\00:03:48.69
Amen, amen, that's beautiful.
You know we have a song that
00:03:48.72\00:03:52.16
we're going to go to. It's
entitled He Saw the Best in Me
00:03:52.19\00:03:55.46
and it really speaks to that.
Let's check that song out right
00:03:55.50\00:03:58.30
now.
00:03:58.33\00:04:00.04
¤He saw the best in me when
everyone else around could only
00:04:00.07\00:04:15.68
¤see the worst in me. Oh Lord
my Lord. He saw the best in me
00:04:15.72\00:04:29.46
¤yes he did hallelujah. Yes he
did. When everyone else around
00:04:29.50\00:04:36.84
¤could only see the worst in me.
Oh Lord Almighty thus He saw the
00:04:36.87\00:04:51.42
¤best in me, Hallelujah, when
everyone else around could only
00:04:51.45\00:05:00.83
¤see the worst in me. Oh help
me sing what He sees, He saw the
00:05:00.86\00:05:12.51
¤best in me, when everyone else
around when everyone else around
00:05:12.54\00:05:19.78
¤Oh my, my, my, my, my God Oh
Jesus saw the best in us, Oh yah
00:05:19.81\00:05:30.93
¤He saw the best in me
when everyone else around,
00:05:30.96\00:05:39.47
¤Oh my Lord, you guys see
the worst in me. Mmm, mmm, mmm
00:05:39.50\00:05:46.68
¤mmm, mmm. See He's mine, I
am His. It doesn't matter what I
00:05:46.71\00:06:01.52
¤did. He only sees me for who I
am and all my desires. He's mine
00:06:01.56\00:06:14.47
¤and I am His. It doesn't matter
what I did He only see me for
00:06:14.50\00:06:25.61
¤who I am. Oh,
everything. He's mine. I'm His.
00:06:25.65\00:06:36.12
¤It doesn't matter what I
00:06:36.16\00:06:39.36
¤did. He only sees who I am. Oh
He's mine, I'm His, It doesn't
00:06:39.39\00:06:57.18
¤matter what I did. He only sees
me for who I am. Oh, oh, oh.
00:06:57.21\00:07:06.92
¤My Lord, My Lord It doesn't
matter what I did. He only sees
00:07:06.96\00:07:26.64
¤He's mine, I'm His I doesn't
matter what I did. He only
00:07:26.68\00:07:36.52
¤seeeees. He saw the
best in me when everyone else,
00:07:36.55\00:07:49.63
¤everyone else around could
only see the worst of me. See my
00:07:49.66\00:07:56.50
elementary teacher told me that
I wasn't going to be nothing.
00:07:56.54\00:07:58.84
She told me that there ain't
no hope for me. But Jesus saw
00:07:58.87\00:08:03.51
Hallelujah. When I didn't see
Jesus saw. Hallelujah ¤Everyone
00:08:03.55\00:08:09.95
¤else around me only seen the
worst in me. I thank you, Lord.
00:08:09.98\00:08:16.56
¤Hallelujah, I thank you,
Lord. I praise you, Lord. You're
00:08:16.59\00:08:20.33
worthy to be praised. He
saw the best. Thank you, Jesus,
00:08:20.36\00:08:29.00
Hallelujah. When He sees in the
midst of the storm, in the midst
00:08:29.04\00:08:35.74
of your pain ¤in the midst of
your sin, in the midst of your
00:08:35.78\00:08:41.48
sin what did ¤He see, the best,
what did He see, The best, What
00:08:41.52\00:08:42.85
did He see, ¤the best, What did
he see, the best, What did He
00:08:42.88\00:08:47.22
see, the best, ¤What did He see,
the best, What did He see, the
00:08:47.26\00:08:54.03
best, the best ¤Oh oh oh, My
Lord saw the best in me when
everyone else around
00:08:54.06\00:09:03.30
¤everyone else around
could only see the worst!
00:09:03.34\00:09:12.31
Wow, what a powerful song,
a powerful message. And Lemuel
00:09:12.35\00:09:15.88
there's a back story to that
song, a powerful story at that.
00:09:15.92\00:09:20.02
Will you share that with us?
00:09:20.06\00:09:21.79
Absolutely. My friend John
Harriston, in a maximum security
00:09:21.82\00:09:25.59
prison he just sang that song,
He Saw the Best in Me. You know
00:09:25.63\00:09:30.00
that's what our theme
was when we started Ian.
00:09:30.03\00:09:32.00
You said He died for
00:09:32.03\00:09:34.17
us while we were yet sinners.
You know. So in our worst state
00:09:34.20\00:09:39.11
that's our foundation. We can
only build and go up from there.
00:09:39.14\00:09:42.44
You know, John Harriston,
he told me the story personally
00:09:42.48\00:09:45.38
He said he shot a Christian
in the head and so this brother,
00:09:45.41\00:09:50.95
John Harriston who sang that
song, He Saw the Best in Me,
00:09:50.99\00:09:53.62
he shot a Christian, Captain
Turner, he shot a Christian in
00:09:53.66\00:09:57.46
the head. And you know the
Christian didn't die. And in the
00:09:57.49\00:10:01.36
courtroom the Christian
said I forgive you. Wow. So he's
00:10:01.40\00:10:04.90
sitting there thinking, you
know at the court hearing. He's
00:10:04.93\00:10:07.34
thinking man if this Christian,
if this guy can forgive me,
00:10:07.37\00:10:10.14
So he got sentenced. I think he
got 40 years in prison. And he
00:10:10.17\00:10:14.24
went on to prison. But this
started to resonate in his mind
00:10:14.28\00:10:17.41
You know, he quit the gangs,
he quit using drugs. And so he
00:10:17.45\00:10:20.98
started reaching out to people
of the Christian faith. And so
00:10:21.02\00:10:24.49
now he's in the praise team
and he's moved on from a maximum
00:10:24.52\00:10:27.36
security prison to lower. And so
he's trying to get modification
00:10:27.39\00:10:30.13
to go home. But that started his
journey with Christ because a
00:10:30.16\00:10:33.56
Christian said I forgive
you. And that's what this whole
00:10:33.60\00:10:35.46
ministry, Christmas Behind Bars,
and 3ABN is about is to let them
00:10:35.50\00:10:39.03
know that you know if we confess
our sins, he's true and faithful
00:10:39.07\00:10:42.54
to not only forgive us
but to cleanse us from all
00:10:42.57\00:10:46.27
unrighteousness. So that's
our starting point. And you know
00:10:46.31\00:10:49.28
while we
were...What did you say Ian?
00:10:49.31\00:10:51.15
Yet sinners.
00:10:51.18\00:10:52.98
Well yeah. He died for us in
our worst situation so we have
00:10:53.01\00:10:56.48
nowhere to go but up. So
praise the Lord. Thank you.
00:10:56.52\00:10:58.75
Amen, amen. Captain Turner
Now I'm seeing the general
00:10:58.79\00:11:03.93
commander before me, I'm seeing
Captain Turner, but I know
00:11:03.96\00:11:06.90
there's a back story. I
know that you have a powerful
00:11:06.93\00:11:09.66
testimony. How did you come into
law enforcement and prior to
00:11:09.70\00:11:15.90
coming into law enforcement
what was your life like?
00:11:15.94\00:11:19.81
Ah, so I think as you mentioned
earlier the way people perceive
00:11:19.84\00:11:27.75
us. It weighs heavily on
us. My birth name is not Timothy
00:11:27.78\00:11:35.06
Turner. It was Warren Timothy
Gann. I was adopted at the age
00:11:35.09\00:11:38.69
of two. So I think from that
people start putting labels on
00:11:38.73\00:11:43.00
us and we carry those labels.
And so it carried me into
00:11:43.03\00:11:47.40
adolescent years. It carried me
into marriage. Four years into
00:11:47.44\00:11:52.67
my marriage I divorced my wife
and left her. We had two sons at
00:11:52.71\00:11:56.31
the time. Struggled with drugs
and alcohol. A year later I
00:11:56.34\00:12:02.75
remarried the same woman to
later continue to have five more
00:12:02.78\00:12:07.39
sons. So we have seven sons
total. I've been married for 35
00:12:07.42\00:12:10.46
years. Wow? Right.
00:12:10.49\00:12:13.70
That's all boys.
00:12:13.73\00:12:15.26
All boys. Praise the Lord. Yes.
I worked a little bit in D.O.C.
00:12:15.30\00:12:21.54
(Dept. of Corrections) It
just wasn't for me. Okay. Right,
00:12:21.57\00:12:27.24
wrong or indifferent. I went on.
I started my own construction
00:12:27.28\00:12:32.41
company. Made all the money.
Drove all the diesel dually
00:12:32.45\00:12:37.15
trucks had all the toys, had
all that. But still something
00:12:37.19\00:12:41.32
was just not right or full in
my heart, I guess I should say.
00:12:41.36\00:12:45.73
Looking at an ad one Saturday
morning, I showed my wife and
00:12:45.76\00:12:51.23
she goes, just go apply. You're
never going to get it out of
00:12:51.27\00:12:55.07
your system. Didn't really know
why God was calling here but I
00:12:55.10\00:12:59.34
knew that I was supposed to go.
So I went. Unbeknownst to me, a
00:12:59.37\00:13:04.85
year and a half into it, I'm
a transport officer. I'd worked
00:13:04.88\00:13:08.18
the floor. Was happy doing what
I had, what I was doing. I mean
00:13:08.22\00:13:13.52
you think about it, I have
somebody that is in the back
00:13:13.56\00:13:16.62
of my squad car transporting
them to and from counties,
00:13:16.66\00:13:19.39
courts, prisons. It was a
captive audience, right? Where
00:13:19.43\00:13:24.17
were they going to go? I could
preach the gospel to them. They
00:13:24.20\00:13:27.24
really couldn't go anywhere.
00:13:27.27\00:13:29.97
Couldn't escape.
00:13:30.01\00:13:31.34
Right, they couldn't escape.
About a year and a half into it
00:13:31.37\00:13:36.85
I got a phone call from my major
and said, asked me where I was
00:13:36.88\00:13:41.75
at. I said where I was. And
he said, I need you to step out.
00:13:41.78\00:13:44.95
We have a meeting. I've got to
get you to a meeting. I thought
00:13:44.99\00:13:47.46
okay, so. Get in the car
and he says we're going to the
00:13:47.49\00:13:51.26
sheriff's office. I'm thinking
that's probably not good. My
00:13:51.29\00:13:54.46
major's picking me up and I'm
going to the sheriff's office.
00:13:54.50\00:13:56.87
Not a good scene. Walked into
his office and he asked me, he
00:13:56.90\00:14:02.27
said, What would you think if I
wanted you to take over my jail
00:14:02.30\00:14:06.61
and run my jail? And I told him
that I didn't think that I was
00:14:06.64\00:14:10.68
ready for that. I thought he
was crazy. He said, Well I think
00:14:10.71\00:14:15.45
that you're the right person but
I'm going to interview a couple
00:14:15.48\00:14:18.02
more and I'll get back to you.
And I'm like well this really
00:14:18.05\00:14:20.46
wasn't an interview. You just
asked me a question and I gave
00:14:20.49\00:14:23.53
my answer and
you're not listening, Sir.
00:14:23.56\00:14:25.93
You didn't feel qualified.
00:14:25.96\00:14:28.33
Not at all. Still don't.
00:14:28.36\00:14:30.87
Well praise God that
He qualifies the called.
00:14:30.90\00:14:35.30
Amen. He doesn't call the
qualified. He qualifies the
00:14:35.34\00:14:39.07
called. That's exactly right.
00:14:39.11\00:14:40.71
Mm-huh. So you stepped into that
position, right? Now what were
00:14:40.74\00:14:45.41
some of the challenges
that you faced early on?
00:14:45.45\00:14:49.25
Oh, a lot really. Because just
trying to think about how to do
00:14:49.28\00:14:59.43
my job efficiently and the
best that I could be but not
00:14:59.46\00:15:07.64
surrender or not stand up for
what I believe in or who I was.
00:15:07.67\00:15:11.27
So you know government and
religion sometimes don't cross
00:15:11.31\00:15:17.85
And again thanks be to God
because I think He works all of
00:15:17.88\00:15:22.58
that out so my sheriff, He gave
us free reign. Christmas Behind
00:15:22.62\00:15:31.16
Bars, Mr. Lemuel himself was
coming in and that's the first
00:15:31.19\00:15:36.93
year that... Well he'd done it
prior when I was on the floor.
00:15:36.97\00:15:39.63
But when he came in I knew that
every year I could count on him.
00:15:39.67\00:15:44.64
He was going to be there. And
so they brought it in. Now and
00:15:44.67\00:15:49.78
again I thought that if he can
do this inside here then why am
00:15:49.81\00:15:54.55
I wavering? Is not God big
enough to take care of all the
00:15:54.58\00:16:00.49
things that I'm,
so-called, worried about?
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.22
Yes. May I say something here?
00:16:02.26\00:16:04.26
Absolutely.
00:16:04.29\00:16:05.99
When Captain Turner is talking
about how can he do this inside
00:16:06.03\00:16:09.56
here, why is he wavering?...We
have an opportunity to go in
00:16:09.60\00:16:12.63
there and share our heart
and share the gospel with these
00:16:12.67\00:16:14.54
people and just tell them and
just try to encourage them in
00:16:14.57\00:16:18.17
that. So he said that that
encouraged him, why can't I do
00:16:18.21\00:16:22.31
this and so that's phenomenal.
And when he said something about
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.41
he worked D.O.C. I'll just
clarify for the viewers. D.O.C.
00:16:25.45\00:16:29.08
is Department of Corrections
so D.O.C. is prison. D.O.C. is
00:16:29.12\00:16:32.75
maximum security, life, life
plus 80 whatever. So he started
00:16:32.79\00:16:38.33
there and he said that isn't for
me. But yet he wanted to serve
00:16:38.36\00:16:40.86
and now the Lord put him in
this capacity as jail commander.
00:16:40.90\00:16:44.27
We're glad that He did because
I mean the doors really opened
00:16:44.30\00:16:47.20
up, you opened the doors,
God opened the doors through you
00:16:47.24\00:16:51.27
and allowed us to come into
your facility. This was at a
00:16:51.31\00:16:55.61
time where you were
praying for a revival. Correct?
00:16:55.64\00:16:59.25
Amen. Yes. Absolutely I was.
00:16:59.28\00:17:01.48
Give us a little
bit of that story.
00:17:01.52\00:17:03.95
So for a couple of years it had
been laid on my heart that...
00:17:03.99\00:17:09.02
and not just clients but
officers as well and deputies
00:17:09.06\00:17:18.60
and dispatch and everybody that
works in this line, or first
00:17:18.63\00:17:23.84
responders. We see a lot of
things and we do a lot of things
00:17:23.87\00:17:28.14
that you can't erase your memory
You can't forget what you've
00:17:28.18\00:17:31.41
seen. And so I knew as well
as what I'm sitting here is that
00:17:31.45\00:17:37.82
we need a revival in our county.
The only way that my life was
00:17:37.85\00:17:45.56
changed, that my marriage
was healed, that I became the
00:17:45.59\00:17:49.13
husband and the father and
the brother and the son and
00:17:49.16\00:17:53.20
everything that I needed to be
was from the Lord Jesus Christ
00:17:53.23\00:17:55.64
So groups are great, counseling
is wonderful but ultimately at
00:17:55.67\00:18:03.71
the end of the day when all
else fails, I mean, the Lord
00:18:03.75\00:18:08.22
will never fail us. He won't
forsake us. So that's what we
00:18:08.25\00:18:13.19
need inside the jail. I still
believe that to this day. I'm
00:18:13.22\00:18:17.83
still praying for a revival
and lo and behold, I get a call
00:18:17.86\00:18:22.03
and there are van loads of
people that show up in my sally
00:18:22.06\00:18:27.04
port and I'm like Lord
is this the start of it?
00:18:27.07\00:18:29.67
Yes which is really cool, we
got to pull into the sally port
00:18:29.70\00:18:33.31
We got to bring these wonderful
gift packages that Lemuel can
00:18:33.34\00:18:37.28
speak to in just a moment.
Got to bring those in full of
00:18:37.31\00:18:41.38
wonderful materials,
spiritual materials and all of
00:18:41.42\00:18:45.12
that stuff too. But that was
a powerful time for all of us.
00:18:45.15\00:18:49.52
Yes, huge for our county. Huge
for our population, huge for our
00:18:49.56\00:18:56.20
officers. I mean, it was just an
overwhelming day. You know when
00:18:56.23\00:19:03.91
I think that you go through
something spiritual as what we
00:19:03.94\00:19:07.38
did that day. I went home, I was
tired. I was wore out. I don't
00:19:07.41\00:19:11.45
know about the rest of
you but I was pretty tired.
00:19:11.48\00:19:14.85
Yeah, you were there before we
got there and you stayed after
00:19:14.88\00:19:19.42
we left. Like thank you for
spending that amount of time
00:19:19.45\00:19:22.66
with us and I really loved what
you did. You had each one of
00:19:22.69\00:19:27.90
your officers supervise a pod.
So they kind of traveled or they
00:19:27.93\00:19:33.34
switched, they handed off so
that each one of them could see
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.84
the programs and get the gospel
and that really stood out to me.
00:19:36.87\00:19:41.01
That was absolutely amazing.
00:19:41.04\00:19:43.11
I didn't realize it at the time
but right God slipped it in.
00:19:43.14\00:19:47.48
Right absolutely. Lemuel what's
in those packages that we took
00:19:47.52\00:19:52.25
in there?
00:19:52.29\00:19:53.69
Captain Turner, why don't you
tell us. You've been doing it
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.82
for quite a few years with
us and it's just kind of...
00:19:55.86\00:19:58.09
Oh, they've got all kinds
of snacks, they've got reading
00:19:58.13\00:20:01.13
material, they have gospel
pamphlets in there, they've got
00:20:01.16\00:20:07.14
crossword puzzles, they've
got...I mean, you name it, you
00:20:07.17\00:20:11.17
guys have got
everything in there.
00:20:11.21\00:20:12.54
After we come and we bring the
packages, then we sing songs and
00:20:12.57\00:20:15.74
we share tears with the
offenders, clients at the
00:20:15.78\00:20:20.28
facilities. You know we leave
and we go home and we don't get
00:20:20.32\00:20:23.02
to see the impact later that day
or the next day. What do you see
00:20:23.05\00:20:27.89
after we've been gone for a
few days or weeks. Do you see
00:20:27.92\00:20:33.13
something
different in there or...
00:20:33.16\00:20:35.03
Absolutely, um you know the best
way I can describe it is the
00:20:35.06\00:20:40.14
rock that throws into that pond
right soon dissipates and it's
00:20:40.17\00:20:43.30
gone but it's those ripples that
go across that water for a long,
00:20:43.34\00:20:46.37
long time. That's the dividends
that I believe that you people
00:20:46.41\00:20:51.11
are placing in
00:20:51.15\00:20:52.48
these communities, in these
prisons and county jails and
00:20:52.51\00:20:57.22
we probably won't get to
see everything that God has
00:20:57.25\00:21:04.76
entrusted for us to plant a seed
here or there but we get to see
00:21:04.79\00:21:08.53
some of it and I see just like
the video showed people reading
00:21:08.56\00:21:11.70
the word, right? How's
that not life change for me?
00:21:11.73\00:21:15.74
You asked me what was in the
packages. The packages contain
00:21:15.77\00:21:19.27
all kinds of snacks, devotional
materials, literature but I know
00:21:19.31\00:21:24.65
at the jail, we were able to
bring study Bibles. Every inmate
00:21:24.68\00:21:27.52
got a brand new study Bible.
And when I called Captain Turner
00:21:27.55\00:21:30.49
I said you know we have this
program with 3ABN. We'd like to
00:21:30.52\00:21:33.76
maybe come in at your jail
and...That's when he said he'd
00:21:33.79\00:21:36.46
been praying for revival.
And you know when media shows up
00:21:36.49\00:21:40.76
news media to a jail it's
usually not good. Something
00:21:40.80\00:21:43.97
happened in the jail so the
reporters are outside. But here
00:21:44.00\00:21:46.94
it is, 3ABN showed up and we
were able to go inside, thanks
00:21:46.97\00:21:50.61
to you, your sheriff, all your
deputies and we were able to
00:21:50.64\00:21:53.27
show the world about how change
is actually taking place in
00:21:53.31\00:21:57.68
these dark places. So that's
awesome. So we were able to
00:21:57.71\00:22:00.25
bring shampoo, soap, deodorant,
just hey we care. You know we
00:22:00.28\00:22:04.95
care. And a lot of those
people don't get mail, right?
00:22:04.99\00:22:07.92
That's correct.
00:22:07.96\00:22:09.29
A percentage hardly ever get
mail where they're locked up.
00:22:09.32\00:22:11.73
They don't have anybody to call
and one man, Jason told me, from
00:22:11.76\00:22:16.56
Illinois he said he'd been
in prison 11 years and the only
00:22:16.60\00:22:19.93
mail he's gotten in that 11
years is the homemade thinking
00:22:19.97\00:22:23.81
of you card that was in the
bottom of his bag. So 11 years
00:22:23.84\00:22:27.68
of prison. So it's just a great
opportunity. So I'll turn it
00:22:27.71\00:22:30.65
back over to you, Jason.
00:22:30.68\00:22:32.25
Yeah, that's huge. You know
Jewlee I want to hear from you
00:22:32.28\00:22:34.22
and Ian because this was your
first time going into a jail.
00:22:34.25\00:22:40.99
Yeah. What was that like for you
and before you answer what that
00:22:41.02\00:22:44.56
was like what was in your mind
prior to going to that facility?
00:22:44.59\00:22:49.03
Right. Well honestly we were
very privileged that we did get
00:22:49.06\00:22:52.63
get to go with Lemuel into
the prison. And I remember Tiara
00:22:52.67\00:22:57.41
and I when first we were asked
if we would go into the jail
00:22:57.44\00:23:00.28
we were so excited and we were
like, Oh another opportunity
00:23:00.31\00:23:04.01
to tell people about Jesus.
That's so exciting. So then we
00:23:04.05\00:23:06.75
started practicing our skit that
we were going to do there and
00:23:06.78\00:23:10.19
they're excited and then we
started thinking about it some
00:23:10.22\00:23:12.35
more and we started to get a
little nervous and then a little
00:23:12.39\00:23:14.92
more nervous and we were like
you know I don't know if this
00:23:14.96\00:23:17.96
is such a good idea anymore.
I don't know if we should go
00:23:17.99\00:23:20.86
because I remember we were
practicing and Tiara just stops
00:23:20.90\00:23:23.53
and she's like Jewlee I don't
think that we're qualified to
00:23:23.57\00:23:28.37
go into these jails because she
says we can't relate to these
00:23:28.40\00:23:33.51
people. Because Lemuel, he has
a testimony that they can relate
00:23:33.54\00:23:37.18
to and Jason has a testimony
they can relate to them, but
00:23:37.21\00:23:40.58
we are just young girls who've
never been in trouble with the
00:23:40.62\00:23:44.25
law before. How are people going
to relate to us? They won't
00:23:44.29\00:23:47.36
listen to what we have to say.
And so then I had to remember
00:23:47.39\00:23:52.59
that scripture that says, God
promises that His word will not
00:23:52.63\00:23:56.46
return void. Amen. So if we just
go in there with Christ's words
00:23:56.50\00:24:01.27
and go in there with everything
we have just solely for souls
00:24:01.30\00:24:06.57
that it will not return void.
Someone has to get something
00:24:06.61\00:24:09.58
from it. So we just had to have
faith and we went in there and
00:24:09.61\00:24:13.42
we just began to pray for the
Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
00:24:13.45\00:24:18.35
and to fill the room. And like
you're saying, Captain Turner
00:24:18.39\00:24:21.59
that day was overwhelming.
I get emotional just thinking
00:24:21.62\00:24:24.56
about that day because it
was so overwhelming with...God's
00:24:24.59\00:24:28.06
presence was so thick in
that whole jail and I've never
00:24:28.10\00:24:32.60
experienced anything like that
before. But it just made me feel
00:24:32.63\00:24:36.97
like, I want to do this again.
And we're talking to Lemuel.
00:24:37.01\00:24:39.97
Like next time you got to call
us. We want to go with you next
00:24:40.01\00:24:42.71
time. And we're just so excited
because that's...Tiara and I
00:24:42.74\00:24:46.55
we'd go to different churches
and we go to different summer
00:24:46.58\00:24:49.95
camps and we perform skits for
these places and we love that
00:24:49.98\00:24:52.99
but there's something so
different about going in a place
00:24:53.02\00:24:57.09
where there just seems to be no
hope. And you bring that hope of
00:24:57.13\00:25:02.06
Christ. There's something
so different. I would a hundred
00:25:02.10\00:25:04.90
times over-perform for Christ in
a jail than I would in a church
00:25:04.93\00:25:10.57
because honestly in church
I think a lot of people get so
00:25:10.61\00:25:14.34
stale to God's presence and they
just get so, well satisfied, I
00:25:14.38\00:25:20.62
guess you know when you see that
excitement in someone's eyes.
00:25:20.65\00:25:26.12
They just crave that hope, they
crave it. They're hungry. And
00:25:26.15\00:25:30.53
whenever you start giving them
some of Christ's hope it's just
00:25:30.56\00:25:36.16
overwhelming, it's overwhelming.
00:25:36.20\00:25:39.03
Amen, amen. Seeing people in
there that...you know sometimes
00:25:39.07\00:25:42.90
you go into these situations
where people are in captivity,
00:25:42.94\00:25:46.24
they're in bondage and you
know we've all been in bondage
00:25:46.27\00:25:49.54
through sin, correct? So you
know you go into these places
00:25:49.58\00:25:54.02
and you see, as you said, the
hunger. There are people that
00:25:54.05\00:25:58.62
are more hungry for the word
of God inside there than on the
00:25:58.65\00:26:03.73
outside. Tears streaming
down their faces because they
00:26:03.76\00:26:06.09
received a Bible. And here on
the outside people have three,
00:26:06.13\00:26:11.87
four, five Bibles in their homes
and none of them are getting
00:26:11.90\00:26:16.57
opened. It blows my mind. Ian
what was on your mind. This was
00:26:16.60\00:26:22.14
your first time going in as well
and what was on your mind prior
00:26:22.18\00:26:25.75
to going to the facility?
00:26:25.78\00:26:27.78
Well prior to going to it I
really had zero expectations.
00:26:27.82\00:26:31.35
I didn't know what I was walking
into. I didn't really know-how
00:26:31.39\00:26:34.52
to prepare myself for it. I just
knew that I was asked, that I
00:26:34.56\00:26:37.56
would join and help everybody
out to be a part of this
00:26:37.59\00:26:40.40
ministry and I was all
over it. I just said you know _
00:26:40.43\00:26:43.97
like God whatever you want me to
do I'm going to go there and I'm
00:26:44.00\00:26:46.47
going to do it for you.
And I was praying about it even
00:26:46.50\00:26:48.87
leading up to God you know use
me somehow. You know help me to
00:26:48.90\00:26:52.57
be a light to somebody else, to
show them your love as you have
00:26:52.61\00:26:56.58
shown me. But you know
going there, it was completely
00:26:56.61\00:27:00.75
different. It was nothing like
I expected. And honestly, I know
00:27:00.78\00:27:05.29
that there were definitely
men and women there that were
00:27:05.32\00:27:08.96
blessed about the packages
and the Bibles. And some of them
00:27:08.99\00:27:12.13
oddly, I mean not even oddly,
it was just fantastic to see
00:27:12.16\00:27:15.63
that they didn't care about the
packages. It wasn't about the
00:27:15.66\00:27:18.33
packages. When they saw that
Bible it changed them. You know.
00:27:18.37\00:27:22.24
And you saw these hardened
criminals who you know these
00:27:22.27\00:27:25.84
very rough exteriors. Some of
them you could tell that didn't
00:27:25.87\00:27:28.91
even want to hear what we were
saying didn't even want to see
00:27:28.94\00:27:31.41
the skit that the girls were
putting on. And then just as
00:27:31.45\00:27:34.35
each moment went by you see
those walls being broken down
00:27:34.38\00:27:38.29
one by one by one until the end
they're there in tears. And they
00:27:38.32\00:27:42.22
recognized their need for Christ
So for me, I really didn't have
00:27:42.26\00:27:46.13
any expectations but while I was
there honestly I think I was the
00:27:46.16\00:27:50.07
one who was blessed. And
the same with Jewlee here. After
00:27:50.10\00:27:54.24
that I told Brad, who was
our director, and Lemuel, I said
00:27:54.27\00:27:59.61
every single time you guys do
this I want to be a part of it.
00:27:59.64\00:28:02.38
You know, I want to go because
it really is amazing to see, you
00:28:02.41\00:28:06.25
know, you see how God's worked
in your life and you watch how
00:28:06.28\00:28:10.29
He works in others. When
He's doing it in a large group
00:28:10.32\00:28:14.66
setting basically and you're
just seeing people get excited
00:28:14.69\00:28:18.09
for God, who want to ask you
questions. Who want to talk to
00:28:18.13\00:28:20.90
you about God. You see from one
moment they had zero hope and
00:28:20.93\00:28:26.03
then just a matter of minutes
later, their eyes, you know, the
00:28:26.07\00:28:31.31
smile on their face, their
whole demeanor just completely
00:28:31.34\00:28:34.58
changed. You see the Holy Spirit
moving. You see God working on
00:28:34.61\00:28:39.45
their hearts and it's
just incredible to watch.
00:28:39.48\00:28:41.48
Transforming power of Christ.
You know we got to record the
00:28:41.52\00:28:45.55
first season of Unshackled
Purpose and a lot of that we
00:28:45.59\00:28:50.03
were able to do in Boone
County jail and that was just an
00:28:50.06\00:28:54.36
incredible experience. We
actually have a roll that I
00:28:54.40\00:28:58.17
would like for us to check out
so you can get an idea of what
00:28:58.20\00:29:01.10
we experienced in there.
Let's take a look at that.
00:29:01.14\00:29:03.61
I lost contact with God. To take
you guys the time out to come
00:29:03.64\00:29:14.05
there and to spread
that word I thought was
00:29:14.08\00:29:17.62
was huge because a lot of
people just see us as criminals
00:29:17.65\00:29:20.39
you know and that's it. But
we're way more that; we're moms
00:29:20.42\00:29:22.82
we're people's children.
We're still, people and I think
00:29:22.86\00:29:26.76
it made us feel
00:29:26.80\00:29:29.13
like that, everybody in the
block. We couldn't stop talking
00:29:29.16\00:29:31.87
about it. We still talk about
it today and that was a couple
00:29:31.90\00:29:35.67
weeks ago. I'd lost my contact
with God, but I'm getting it
00:29:35.70\00:29:39.97
back. I'm definitely getting
it back one day at a time.
00:29:40.01\00:29:42.21
I have some people I know
personally, that have been
00:29:42.24\00:29:47.55
arrested and incarcerated and
if I'm being honest, I've not
00:29:47.58\00:29:53.05
the most compassionate towards
them in my heart. I tended to
00:29:53.09\00:29:56.66
have a harsh attitude towards
them and I think it was me going
00:29:56.69\00:30:02.03
to prison and seeing these
inmates and just listening to
00:30:02.06\00:30:06.90
them that these people are a
lot like me. I'm just like these
00:30:06.94\00:30:13.74
people. And so seeing that
and it really just hit me hard
00:30:13.78\00:30:18.78
especially when I saw young
girls there that were close to
00:30:18.81\00:30:22.45
my age. And just hearing how
easy it is to end up in a place
00:30:22.48\00:30:26.59
like they're in. It's so easy.
What if God treated me the way
00:30:26.62\00:30:32.63
that I'm thinking about these
people. Well Jewlee you messed
00:30:32.66\00:30:38.20
up. You had your chance but you
put yourself in this situation.
00:30:38.23\00:30:42.17
What if God treated us that
way? But He doesn't and He's a
00:30:42.20\00:30:47.51
compassionate God who is very
forgiving. So if we mess up He's
00:30:47.54\00:30:51.55
always there to forgive us. And
when we're struggling He'll pick
00:30:51.58\00:30:55.38
up and He'll carry us. I feel
like that's showing us what we
00:30:55.42\00:30:59.29
need to be doing as Christians.
Especially when someone is
00:30:59.32\00:31:04.26
struggling or may have messed up
We should be there for them and
00:31:04.29\00:31:07.96
we should encourage them and
help lift them up when they're
00:31:08.00\00:31:12.33
going through a rough time.
00:31:12.37\00:31:13.70
I've been in and out of jail.
I can't even tell you how many
00:31:13.74\00:31:19.21
times but a lot. When Christmas
Behind Bars came in I actually
00:31:19.24\00:31:24.51
was still in bed and I just kept
hearing him talk about how God
00:31:24.55\00:31:32.32
had changed his life. And
I mean I've never seen it.
00:31:32.35\00:31:36.99
I've never heard your
00:31:37.03\00:31:38.36
story. And it really gives
us hope and I had still had to
00:31:38.39\00:31:44.50
come to my door. And I didn't
want to interrupt so I just
00:31:44.53\00:31:47.24
stood at my door and listened
and it was such an inspiring
00:31:47.27\00:31:52.07
story. This time in my
incarceration I have never been
00:31:52.11\00:31:56.14
more serious than in any of
my other incarcerations. I have
00:31:56.18\00:32:01.15
really just dove into the Bible.
I've been you know praying for
00:32:01.18\00:32:05.32
the Holy Spirit and it all
started with Christmas Behind
00:32:05.35\00:32:09.92
Bars really. So your story
was really amazing. And then the
00:32:09.96\00:32:14.73
gifts were
awesome too. So thank you.
00:32:14.76\00:32:18.13
How does your faith
play a role in what you do?
00:32:18.17\00:32:21.84
Aw, I think it's huge. Where
would I be without the Lord
00:32:21.87\00:32:27.31
Jesus Christ. I can only imagine
right. As the song says so.
00:32:27.34\00:32:33.68
They're no different. If He can
change a person like myself, He
00:32:33.72\00:32:36.85
can change any of those people.
They have to know that somebody
00:32:36.89\00:32:44.19
believes in them. So I'm no
different. It's a great way that
00:32:44.23\00:32:49.16
we can change their lives even
if it's one of them. I can't
00:32:49.20\00:32:53.13
tell you how many times this guy
has come in. Calls last minute,
00:32:53.17\00:32:57.34
We've got bags. I'm like yeah
bring them. And you can just see
00:32:57.37\00:33:02.94
how receptive these people are.
Because I think the love...Yeah
00:33:02.98\00:33:06.65
they're goody bags, I get
it. But the love that you're not
00:33:06.68\00:33:10.69
going to surpass that. And in
the first block that we went to
00:33:10.72\00:33:14.16
the ladies that were in there,
the tears, those are raw, those
00:33:14.19\00:33:19.86
are real. And some of
those people and some of those
00:33:19.89\00:33:21.80
people when some of these
individuals in this facility are
00:33:21.83\00:33:24.43
so hardened and so hard, for
you to get the tears out of them
00:33:24.47\00:33:27.64
that's not us. That is the Holy
Spirit. Again I think that your
00:33:27.67\00:33:33.84
heart has to be compelled to
give back to see somebody change
00:33:33.88\00:33:39.61
and really what kind of
price tag can you put on that so
00:33:39.65\00:33:43.49
Lemuel asked my cousin Jewlee
and I to come and perform a skit
00:33:43.52\00:33:47.56
for the inmates. At first, it
was to speak with the women but
00:33:47.59\00:33:51.86
after we had finished all the
women's blocks he had asked us
00:33:51.89\00:33:55.10
to go and speak to the men. So
Primarily what we did there was
00:33:55.13\00:33:58.17
go and perform skits in
every cell block and talking and
00:33:58.20\00:34:02.34
interacting with the inmates. I
had never been in a setting like
00:34:02.37\00:34:04.84
that before and I was
scared. I guess I was expecting
00:34:04.87\00:34:09.21
people to kind of not listen
to what we had to say because we
00:34:09.24\00:34:13.58
were young. I felt unqualified I
guess for it. I was scared that
00:34:13.62\00:34:17.12
you know people wouldn't
care what we had to say or they
00:34:17.15\00:34:21.39
listen. I mean, I was expecting
probably the worst of the worst.
00:34:21.42\00:34:25.19
That's just how my mind goes.
I walked in there scared and
00:34:25.23\00:34:28.93
expecting the worst and being
afraid. And it just seemed that
00:34:28.96\00:34:31.97
God gave me strength and
knowledge to be able to do what
00:34:32.00\00:34:36.60
I did even though I was up there
shaking half of the time. Just
00:34:36.64\00:34:40.31
to see Him soften the hearts
of people. You know, I went
00:34:40.34\00:34:44.15
in there expecting nobody
to listen to what we had to say
00:34:44.18\00:34:46.38
and then just seeing God
move through the room and seeing
00:34:46.41\00:34:50.12
people's demeanors just change
from being hardened criminals
00:34:50.15\00:34:53.69
to these opening, like receiving
people. That impacted me so much
00:34:53.72\00:34:59.89
just seeing what the power of
the Holy Spirit could do in the
00:34:59.93\00:35:03.37
room and I was very
blessed to be a part of that.
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.53
Many nights crying here, you
know. It don't make you less of
00:35:05.57\00:35:10.87
a man, but you realize what you
lost when you are in these cold
00:35:10.91\00:35:15.14
walls. I've lost a lot. I've
had houses had cars, trucks,
00:35:15.18\00:35:21.92
motorcycles and I've traded
it all in for alcohol and drugs.
00:35:21.95\00:35:27.46
It's a hard lesson to learn. I'm
really grateful for the chance
00:35:27.49\00:35:33.09
to have a second turn at life at
my age. I'm ready to get off of
00:35:33.13\00:35:40.87
drugs and alcohol. Well
Christmas Behind Bars is
00:35:40.90\00:35:44.31
definitely a blessing to the
literature you guys give us to
00:35:44.34\00:35:46.37
magazines to read. Those
are really nice. It's a blessing
00:35:46.41\00:35:52.25
people put in the work to give
that to us. To know hey there's
00:35:52.28\00:35:57.05
life and hope out there for
us you know. Somebody's thinking
00:35:57.09\00:36:01.42
about us. The cards that you
know people sign and you read.
00:36:01.46\00:36:05.93
You know a lot of
people don't get that.
00:36:05.96\00:36:09.43
Wow, I'm so happy that we were
able to go in there and we went
00:36:09.46\00:36:14.30
and we wanted to be a blessing
but we received just such a
00:36:14.34\00:36:18.77
blessing from being there.
I just want to thank you again
00:36:18.81\00:36:21.28
Captain Turner for really
opening up your jail, your
00:36:21.31\00:36:26.18
facility to allow us to come
in and spread the Gospel. I want
00:36:26.21\00:36:29.55
to give this to you for
your facility. What this is is a
00:36:29.58\00:36:35.12
My SDA TV Interless system.
We call it the D2D prison hard
00:36:35.16\00:36:39.59
drive. It contains 3901
Christian lifestyle television
00:36:39.63\00:36:45.30
programs. And you can hook
that up to your in-house closed
00:36:45.33\00:36:48.70
circuit television channel and
it can be broadcast throughout
00:36:48.74\00:36:51.74
your facility at no cost to your
facility and it doesn't even
00:36:51.77\00:36:56.24
require internet. So
that's yours to keep.
00:36:56.28\00:36:58.91
That's awesome.
Thank you so much.
00:36:58.95\00:37:00.88
You're very welcome. Thank you
for all that you're doing. Also
00:37:00.92\00:37:04.79
we'll give you this so that you
can have an idea of some of the
00:37:04.82\00:37:08.46
things that are on there. But
what you're really going to get
00:37:08.49\00:37:12.66
too in addition to all that is
this plaque here and what this
00:37:12.69\00:37:18.33
plaque says This is with our
greatest appreciation. We hereby
00:37:18.37\00:37:22.67
present you, Captain Tim Turner,
with the outstanding community
00:37:22.70\00:37:26.07
service award for your
dedication to spreading the
00:37:26.11\00:37:30.15
gospel behind bars. This is from
3ABN and I just want to hand
00:37:30.18\00:37:34.28
that to you too. I
mean I'm just really amazed.
00:37:34.32\00:37:38.12
You're welcome...at what
you have done and how you're
00:37:38.15\00:37:42.52
spreading the gospel. I mean
this is huge. You're not even
00:37:42.56\00:37:46.59
the chaplain. You're the jail
commander and you've allowed
00:37:46.63\00:37:54.80
you know your faith to shine and
your light for Christ to shine
00:37:54.84\00:37:59.01
bright in there and
that is to be recognized.
00:37:59.04\00:38:02.74
We're all called to be ministers
somewhere right? Amen. Amen.
00:38:02.78\00:38:07.48
So the only thing that I can
do is help them figure out what
00:38:07.52\00:38:12.62
labels have been placed on
them, help them get them off.
00:38:12.65\00:38:18.69
Amen. Thank you for what you're
doing. Lemuel, how appreciative
00:38:18.73\00:38:23.77
are you?
00:38:23.80\00:38:25.13
I'm real appreciative. I didn't
bring a plaque but I'm going to
00:38:25.17\00:38:26.53
go get one. (Laughter) I'll
be right back. Thank you, Sir.
00:38:26.57\00:38:29.77
Thank you, thank you thank you.
I need to give everybody plaques
00:38:29.80\00:38:32.87
But in all reality, Jewlee
said that she felt God the Holy
00:38:32.91\00:38:37.98
Spirit was there. And a lady
wrote a letter and she said we
00:38:38.01\00:38:41.45
didn't get a chance to give her
a bag. She opened her bag and
00:38:41.48\00:38:44.15
she said she saw Jesus. So the
Lord is showing up doing great
00:38:44.19\00:38:48.12
things and we want to give Him
all the honor and glory for this
00:38:48.16\00:38:52.56
program, for the packages, for
the sponsors, for the trucks,
00:38:52.59\00:38:55.20
for 3ABN, for your baggage skit,
for our testimony just the last
00:38:55.23\00:38:59.97
season we filmed. So Jason just
thank you for being faithful
00:39:00.00\00:39:03.57
thank you being this capacity,
3ABN thank you for seeing value
00:39:03.61\00:39:07.18
in these prisoners lives.
We want to say thanks to the
00:39:07.21\00:39:09.61
sponsors for 3ABN who made these
boxes possible Christmas Behind
00:39:09.64\00:39:14.38
Bars. God gets the honor and
glory. And our whole theme when
00:39:14.42\00:39:17.72
we go to these places, our whole
theme is would you be willing
00:39:17.75\00:39:21.46
to try one more time. Because
see all of our lives we've tried
00:39:21.49\00:39:25.53
They ended up at a place they
don't want to be. Their best
00:39:25.56\00:39:28.03
efforts have gotten them into
this dungeon in this hopeless
00:39:28.06\00:39:31.33
situation. As Jewlee said,
They begin to see hope. That's
00:39:31.37\00:39:34.54
because they know that we come
in because we love them. There's
00:39:34.57\00:39:37.54
no other reason. We're giving
them something, no strings
00:39:37.57\00:39:39.91
attached because we care. A bar
of soap, we know you don't got
00:39:39.94\00:39:43.14
one, we know you need one. A
toothbrush. And they know the
00:39:43.18\00:39:46.38
value of that. So praise
the Lord. He gets the honor and
00:39:46.41\00:39:49.12
glory.
00:39:49.15\00:39:50.82
Amen, yes He does. So Lemuel
I know that you've been on
00:39:50.85\00:39:53.15
countless times but give us
a little bit of the background
00:39:53.19\00:39:56.22
information on your testimony.
Share a little bit of your
00:39:56.26\00:39:58.86
testimony and how Christmas
Behind Bars got started.
00:39:58.89\00:40:01.63
Oh wow, that's going to take
another whole program. Can we do
00:40:01.66\00:40:04.43
this on Live Thursday Night. You
know 18 years old I was sitting
00:40:04.47\00:40:08.34
in the county jail in Indiana
facing 10 to 20 years in prison.
00:40:08.37\00:40:11.77
And Captain Turner, my bond was
$110,000 so that means it's a
00:40:11.81\00:40:16.48
lot. I was probably a bad boy.
And I got a good attorney out of
00:40:16.51\00:40:20.02
Indianapolis, Niles Stanton.
He was a fancy attorney, drove
00:40:20.05\00:40:23.02
Jaguar really and I got
sentenced to a maximum security
00:40:23.05\00:40:26.92
prison. So I went to Pendleton.
And you know Captain Turner I
00:40:26.96\00:40:29.72
was in the back of the cop car,
leaving my little country, going
00:40:29.76\00:40:33.19
to RDC (Reception Diagnostic
Center) and I OD'd in the back
00:40:33.23\00:40:34.66
of that cop car because I was
scared. I'm going to prison. I
00:40:34.70\00:40:37.20
almost died. And you know
shackled and handcuffed to some
00:40:37.23\00:40:40.50
guy, I didn't even know going
in the back gates of a prison,
00:40:40.54\00:40:43.17
30-foot walls. You know
this guy's doing life in prison.
00:40:43.20\00:40:47.18
I got eight years. And it's
just...The reality is I found
00:40:47.21\00:40:51.68
out Jason is prison doesn't
change our lives. It doesn't
00:40:51.71\00:40:54.98
It doesn't. Because otherwise
you just go to jail once, you'll
00:40:55.02\00:40:57.39
never get in trouble again. You
go to rehab once, you never get
00:40:57.42\00:40:59.39
in trouble again. You know...
Whatever. It doesn't work that
00:40:59.42\00:41:02.79
way. I couldn't even get my GED
in prison, I tried. Got out of
00:41:02.82\00:41:05.63
prison, I failed. Twelve years
I struggled with addiction. You
00:41:05.66\00:41:08.76
know I went to treatment.
Doctors tell me I need
00:41:08.80\00:41:11.63
medication. I said, Man, I don't
want to be on this bandwagon no
00:41:11.67\00:41:14.84
more. And I prayed and I
asked God for help with my life.
00:41:14.87\00:41:18.57
I said, Dear Jesus please help
me. I want to quit but I can't.
00:41:18.61\00:41:20.68
And this whole ministry,
Christmas Behind Bars was the
00:41:20.71\00:41:26.11
pastor's wife's idea at the
church that we were attending
00:41:26.15\00:41:28.28
It was her idea to make packages
for the folk down at the county
00:41:28.32\00:41:32.32
jail. I just remember being
one of them folk. I remember the
00:41:32.35\00:41:34.69
pain and no mail, I remember.
So I said, that'd be a great
00:41:34.72\00:41:37.79
idea. And God had blessed
me with a grocery business and
00:41:37.83\00:41:41.20
brother I'm selling potatoes,
apples, oranges, granola bars,
00:41:41.23\00:41:43.16
chips and snacks, door to door
to the Amish people. Six months
00:41:43.20\00:41:48.07
clean, I'm out hustling
groceries. She had the idea.
00:41:48.10\00:41:49.44
I said, Oh this would be great.
Let's take them some things.
00:41:49.47\00:41:52.71
They would really appreciate it.
And our whole idea is just to
00:41:52.74\00:41:55.91
encourage them to try one more
time. Christ is the answer. You
00:41:55.94\00:41:59.41
can start here with your GED you
can start with this program just
00:41:59.45\00:42:02.68
try, keep trying, and moving
forward. It will get brighter
00:42:02.72\00:42:06.39
stronger and you will
reach that destination.
00:42:06.42\00:42:08.32
Amen, Amen. That's powerful.
Thank you for sharing that.
00:42:08.36\00:42:11.59
Captain Turner, what do you see
as far as the recidivism rate.
00:42:11.63\00:42:17.30
Are you seeing
some return offenders.
00:42:17.33\00:42:21.90
Some. Our recidivism rate was
really high six years ago. And
00:42:21.94\00:42:28.81
with our programs that we have
in place with, I believe in my
00:42:28.84\00:42:35.12
heart, with Christmas Behind
Bars, with 3ABN coming in there
00:42:35.15\00:42:40.12
we've taken our recidivism rate
of addicts that we have on the
00:42:40.16\00:42:46.33
MAP (Medically Assisted
Treatment) Program from 44
00:42:46.36\00:42:49.90
percent to 16.5 percent. So it
works. And ultimately at the end
00:42:49.93\00:42:58.67
of the day all the glory goes
to the Lord because you're right
00:42:58.71\00:43:05.65
the programs, the classes, the
counseling all of that stuff is
00:43:05.68\00:43:08.12
great, don't get me wrong. But
at the end of the day, that's
00:43:08.15\00:43:11.12
where it starts is in His word.
He's the beginning and the end.
00:43:11.15\00:43:16.46
I have a question. That was a
really big word, recidivism rate
00:43:16.49\00:43:21.40
What does that mean?
00:43:21.43\00:43:22.76
Repeat offenders. So they get
out of jail, they go commit a
00:43:22.80\00:43:27.24
crime, they end up right back
in jail. Think about a revolving
00:43:27.27\00:43:30.64
door.
00:43:30.67\00:43:32.01
So he's saying what's your rate
now of people that do not return
00:43:32.04\00:43:33.38
to jail?
00:43:33.41\00:43:34.74
So on the MAP program which
is people that have been deemed
00:43:34.78\00:43:40.85
acceptable or fit the criteria
for the medically assisted
00:43:40.88\00:43:46.49
treatment program we
went from 44 percent to 16.5.
00:43:46.52\00:43:49.89
So now only 16 out of
every 100 return versus 44.
00:43:49.92\00:43:54.43
That's correct.
00:43:54.46\00:43:55.80
Forty-four out of 100. Wow
Praise the Lord. If Christ is
00:43:55.83\00:43:58.10
the center of that equation
they're going to continue to
00:43:58.13\00:44:00.77
grow stronger on the outside too
00:44:00.80\00:44:02.40
And it's taken footholds in not
only...because our sheriff was
00:44:02.44\00:44:06.54
the only sheriff in the county
that wanted to start that two
00:44:06.57\00:44:10.21
years ago, in the state, in the
state. Now other sheriffs are
00:44:10.25\00:44:15.12
getting on board because they've
seen. There's always got to be
00:44:15.15\00:44:18.89
one that leads the charge, right
That goes and plows the ground.
00:44:18.92\00:44:22.22
And now that they've
seen that it can be done.
00:44:22.26\00:44:25.86
Yes, they've seen the results.
You know a lot of people deal
00:44:25.89\00:44:31.90
with baggage. A lot of people
have issues with baggage. Jewlee
00:44:31.93\00:44:36.40
you and Tiara did a skit about
baggage and all of that. Tell us
00:44:36.44\00:44:40.04
a little bit about the meaning
behind that skit and what it
00:44:40.08\00:44:44.25
entails.
00:44:44.28\00:44:45.71
Yeah we kind of just go through
something that everyone relates
00:44:45.75\00:44:48.72
to is baggage. And we get
there how we pick up baggage.
00:44:48.75\00:44:52.39
Sometimes we pick it up
ourselves. Sometimes other
00:44:52.42\00:44:54.89
people put it on us and it just
seems unfair but we carry it
00:44:54.92\00:44:59.33
around and it gets really heavy
and exhausting and you just
00:44:59.36\00:45:02.50
feel overwhelmed by the amount
of baggage that you have but at
00:45:02.53\00:45:06.43
the end of the skit we show you
that we have a God that wants to
00:45:06.47\00:45:10.54
take your baggage from you.
And He wants to give you rest so
00:45:10.57\00:45:14.31
that way you can live a life
more abundantly than you can
00:45:14.34\00:45:17.48
ever think or imagine. And
so giving that baggage up and
00:45:17.51\00:45:21.92
surrendering it to Christ
and how we need to surrender to
00:45:21.95\00:45:25.15
Christ because He has the best
for us and just trusting in Him.
00:45:25.19\00:45:29.89
And so that's what kind of we
wanted to show to these inmates
00:45:29.92\00:45:33.09
there and going in it was scary
because kind of thinking in my
00:45:33.13\00:45:38.53
head, I'm going into jail. Well
that's where the bad guys are.
00:45:38.57\00:45:42.07
and they're all bad guys and you
know I was kind of scared about
00:45:42.10\00:45:46.61
it. But after going in and
seeing these aren't bad people
00:45:46.64\00:45:52.11
These are people like we
are who are just struggling? And
00:45:52.15\00:45:57.45
you can see in some people's
eyes they want to be good and
00:45:57.49\00:46:01.12
they want to change. They just
feel so stuck in this spiraling
00:46:01.16\00:46:05.69
sin that they feel like they
can't get out of it. And I love
00:46:05.73\00:46:11.03
that like Lemuel was saying
the last place he went to he was
00:46:11.07\00:46:14.14
asking everyone you know,
who here has tried to change.
00:46:14.17\00:46:17.37
Everybody raised their hands.
And he says the only way you can
00:46:17.41\00:46:22.01
truly change is through Christ
and who here is willing to try
00:46:22.04\00:46:27.28
just one more time. Every
single person raised their hand.
00:46:27.32\00:46:30.79
How powerful, how powerful.
00:46:30.82\00:46:33.32
Very much so. Ian have you
ever had any baggage in your
00:46:33.36\00:46:37.06
life or has your life
been just baggage-free?
00:46:37.09\00:46:39.36
No, I think it's free, baggage
free. I've carried a lot in my
00:46:39.39\00:46:42.30
life. On our last trip to the
prison I shared a piece of that.
00:46:42.33\00:46:47.94
You know growing up my whole
life I always felt inadequate.
00:46:47.97\00:46:53.61
I always felt like I wasn't good
enough. And then I spent you
00:46:53.64\00:46:56.21
know 12 years in the army
and did some things that I'm not
00:46:56.24\00:47:00.82
proud of. You know I
know Captain Turner even spoke
00:47:00.85\00:47:03.59
earlier when you're a part
of something like that you see
00:47:03.62\00:47:05.95
things that you can't take away.
I mean those are things that are
00:47:05.99\00:47:08.96
burned into my brain forever.
They're never going to leave.
00:47:08.99\00:47:12.89
And you know because of that I
carried this pain with me for a
00:47:12.93\00:47:17.27
long time. And because of that
I turned to alcohol and got into
00:47:17.30\00:47:22.80
things I shouldn't have. You
know, just trying to fill that
00:47:22.84\00:47:25.27
void to drown things out and
you know went into all the wrong
00:47:25.31\00:47:29.41
places so it was like each way
I just kept turning away from
00:47:29.44\00:47:31.78
God, turning away from God
and every time you turn away you
00:47:31.81\00:47:35.25
just pick up another piece
of baggage. You know and so yeah
00:47:35.28\00:47:38.52
I definitely had a lot and
it wasn't until I myself in my
00:47:38.55\00:47:43.43
desperation I was losing
everything around me. You know
00:47:43.46\00:47:46.13
my family, I was on the brink of
losing them and it wasn't until
00:47:46.16\00:47:50.07
I turned to God that He took all
my baggage and I think of you
00:47:50.10\00:47:55.50
know Psalm 120: In my distress
I cried to the Lord and He heard
00:47:55.54\00:47:59.11
me. And that's really what it
was you know. He heard my call
00:47:59.14\00:48:02.34
calling out to Him, telling
Him to please take this from me
00:48:02.38\00:48:04.81
and He did. It's powerful what
God can do you know and not just
00:48:04.85\00:48:09.85
in my life and the inmates lives
Being there is just amazing
00:48:09.88\00:48:13.05
because you see God at work and
it's...Even their skit it didn't
00:48:13.09\00:48:18.13
just touch the prisoners I know
when we were there it touched
00:48:18.16\00:48:21.36
Captain Turner, it
touched me. I was crying.
00:48:21.40\00:48:23.16
I was crying, and I was crying.
00:48:23.20\00:48:24.90
Yeah I was crying and you were
crying. I was definitely crying
00:48:24.93\00:48:29.34
Your skit doesn't just
touch the prisoners. I mean it's
00:48:29.37\00:48:37.78
generational. It breaks walls
for everyone who's there to
00:48:37.81\00:48:39.85
witness it. It was Holy Spirit
inspired. It never got old even
00:48:39.88\00:48:46.12
when we went to the other
prisons and you did them seven,
00:48:46.15\00:48:48.86
eight, nine, ten times.
Each time you're listening to it
00:48:48.89\00:48:51.79
and I remember looking at you
Jason. You're smiling. Hearing
00:48:51.83\00:48:56.26
the skit and the story but yeah
it's just...It's incredible what
00:48:56.30\00:48:59.37
God did with you two with that
skit and just taking out the
00:48:59.40\00:49:05.04
baggage in our lives.
It helped me a lot as well.
00:49:05.07\00:49:06.91
Lemuel.
00:49:06.94\00:49:08.28
You know Jason in one of the
closing prayers last week in the
00:49:08.31\00:49:11.61
prison one of the inmates said
if God can change your life and
00:49:11.65\00:49:16.08
take what He did out of your
life, he said brothers, come on
00:49:16.12\00:49:20.56
now. He can help us.
00:49:20.59\00:49:23.63
And that's powerful and that's
what it's all about. We want
00:49:23.66\00:49:26.36
people to know that there is
hope for them through Christ.
00:49:26.39\00:49:30.30
Like Christ can transform their
lives. And He wants to unshackle
00:49:30.33\00:49:36.00
them and break those shackles.
Lemuel, what are some of the
00:49:36.04\00:49:39.74
needs of Christmas Behind Bars?
00:49:39.77\00:49:41.54
Uh, we need new tires for a semi
truck. We need diesel fuel. When
00:49:41.58\00:49:46.25
go all the way to Alabama and
you got a thousand miles there
00:49:46.28\00:49:50.09
and back, you know you get six
miles a gallon so...Lowes gift
00:49:50.12\00:49:53.86
cards for some of the black
plastic bags that we always try
00:49:53.89\00:49:56.76
to get back, Lowes gift cards.
Diesel fuel, tires, but above
00:49:56.79\00:50:02.63
all prayers.
00:50:02.66\00:50:04.93
Um do you have any need for what
size Bibles. If people want to
00:50:04.97\00:50:08.40
donate new Bibles.
00:50:08.44\00:50:10.11
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. They can
donate new or used Bibles and
00:50:10.14\00:50:12.37
send those to us. Used Bibles
are worth their weight in gold
00:50:12.41\00:50:16.95
because a used Bible is
highlighted, underlined. And one
00:50:16.98\00:50:19.88
inmate said every time he opened
the Bible it was like God knew
00:50:19.91\00:50:22.78
exactly what he needed because
somebody had already underlined
00:50:22.82\00:50:25.65
highlighted, Used
Bibles! Thank you.
00:50:25.69\00:50:27.89
Used and in good condition. Yes.
Used in good condition for sure.
00:50:27.92\00:50:32.29
Yeah. What about volunteers?
00:50:32.33\00:50:33.83
Volunteers yeah. You've heard
from all volunteers right here.
00:50:33.86\00:50:38.03
What a blessing it is to go, to
serve, homemade Thinking of You
00:50:38.07\00:50:41.84
cards, yeah. Volunteers as well.
00:50:41.87\00:50:44.97
When you were locked up Lemuel
how important was it to receive
00:50:45.01\00:50:48.74
a piece of mail?
00:50:48.78\00:50:50.41
Oh, mail is phenomenal. There's
50 guys on your range. There
00:50:50.45\00:50:56.62
might only be three or four
that the officer would stop. You
00:50:56.65\00:50:59.72
watch them go down the range
and they'll pass your cell, pass
00:50:59.75\00:51:02.02
your cell. If your name gets
called at mail call, Turner, you
00:51:02.06\00:51:04.76
got mail. That's like wow! You
look at that mail, you look at
00:51:04.79\00:51:08.60
how that stamp's put on you look
how they wrote it, you look at
00:51:08.63\00:51:11.40
everything, you look at the date
on it and you read, read and
00:51:11.43\00:51:13.84
reread that
letter. Mail is phenomenal.
00:51:13.87\00:51:17.37
Yes, yes. And in the packages
that you hand out there's an
00:51:17.41\00:51:21.08
envelope that contains different
ministries in there that you
00:51:21.11\00:51:24.18
Oh yeah, yeah. Yep, we put an
envelope in the bottom of every
00:51:24.21\00:51:27.25
bag. 3ABN has a book offer
in there. Many ministries are in
00:51:27.28\00:51:31.59
this envelope so there's about
eight or ten different books or
00:51:31.62\00:51:33.99
Bible study offers. Letter
of encouragement. So everyone's
00:51:34.02\00:51:36.83
going to get mail when they get
a bag and then they can fill out
00:51:36.86\00:51:40.26
those forms and we'll send them
Bibles or devotional material.
00:51:40.30\00:51:42.93
That's beautiful. Well we want
our viewers and listeners to
00:51:42.96\00:51:45.47
know-how can support Christmas
Behind Bars. We're going to take
00:51:45.50\00:51:48.17
a short break and
we'll be right back.
00:51:48.20\00:51:51.31
¤ ¤
00:51:51.34\00:52:34.05