The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
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Parents are
cautioned that some material
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may be too candid
for younger children.
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Today we'll meet a gentleman
with an amazing testimony
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of what God has
done in his life.
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He's been on the
program before but this time
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he will be sharing the
amazing prison ministry work
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that he is doing.
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Be sure to tune in
to today's New Journey.
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Welcome back to the New
Journey on today's program,
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we have with us
Mr. Steven Radford.
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You seen before on
here share his testimony
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but this time he's
going to talk heavily about
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the ministry that
he is involved in.
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Mr. Radford, we thank
you for being on the program.
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It's a pleasure to
be here. All right.
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Now there are some people
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even though you have
been on here previously,
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that have not
heard your testimony.
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Briefly give
some of your details
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of where you from, a
little bit of your background
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and how you got lead up to
what you're involved in now.
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Before I do, let me
offer a word of prayer.
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Okay.
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Father in heaven,
we invite Your spirit
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that heart in man hear from You
and then You will be glorified.
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Thank You for this time to
share in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Amen. I'm from
Birmingham, Alabama.
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Okay.
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Very early on in my life,
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I begin to drink and smoke
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around the age of
about 10 years old.
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Okay.
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And the rest of the
drugs that I eventually doing
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throughout my life was
kind of like a progression.
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It started with
cigarettes and alcohol.
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And it
progressed to heroine. Okay.
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Now in between that
time, I believe that time
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I was 14 years
old, I was alcoholic
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because I was
drinking every day.
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I had smoked my first marijuana
joint at the age of 12.
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And then I got involved
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in peels and other
things in that age.
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I was able to finish high school
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and then I when into
the United States Air Force.
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And served for two years.
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I had an
opportunity to get out early
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and I took
advantage of that opportunity
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because I actually
did not like people
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telling me what to do.
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Okay.
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And at that point in my life,
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I dint realize that
God has a plan for us.
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Okay.
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But anyway, anyway after
I got out of the military,
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I came back to Birmingham.
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Okay.
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And I ran into some old
elementary school friends mine
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and to make a long story
short, a person died that night.
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And I was on the scene
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at the time of the
crime was committed
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and I didn't do
anything to prevent the crime
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or did actually take the
life and yet I was there.
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Okay.
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And I was
questioned about it later on.
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And when I was asked
about it, I responded with
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"I don't know" answer.
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Yeah, okay.
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Which is what, you know,
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they do in a
world they don't know.
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Yeah. And that I
don't know answer.
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They had me to be arrested
for murder and trial for murder
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and eventually I
received a life sentence.
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Okay.
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Now I have
received a life sentence
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in the state of Alabama
with the possibility of parole.
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Okay.
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I ended up remaining
in prison for 31 years.
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During that time, initially
I was angry at everyone.
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Because I thought
other people was the cause
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of my situation, my problem.
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Okay.
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And yet, I realize
I found out later on
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that other people were
in the problem that I was.
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Yeah, okay.
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After I've done
15 years in prison,
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I was placed in a hole
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because I was
violating institutional rules.
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Okay.
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They use a hole or segregation
as a form of punishment,
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as a form of investigation,
or as a form of they keep you
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to have you ahead
of the center state
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where you cannot live
with the general population.
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Okay, and you kind
of living by yourself.
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Right. Isolation.
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And I was on
investigation. Okay.
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And doing...Now this is after
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I have been in
prison for 15 years.
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For 15 years, I was violating
all the rules of prison.
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I was moving prison contraband.
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I had set up stores that
had illegal gambling games
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that were illegally
selling whiskey, illegal,
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you know, the whole nine yards.
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And but now while
I was in isolation,
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I began to reflect on my life.
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It was not
actually turning out the way
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that I thought it would.
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I was here in a position
that someone was telling me
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when to eat, when to
sleep, when I can take a shower.
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You know, everything.
What clothes I could wear,
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everything about my life.
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And here I am a person
that doesn't like people
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telling me what to do.
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Okay. And that
happened every day in your life.
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Every day in my life now.
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And my mom, and I
thank God for her today.
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When I was very young, early on
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she tried to get
me to accept Jesus.
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Okay. And
obviously I chose not to.
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And I ended up, you
know, in my situation.
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Okay.
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I mean, yet when I
was back in their home,
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I begin to think about
there might be another way.
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You know, there
might be a better way.
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And I thought about
what my mom was telling me.
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Well, I fortunate
that when you in isolation,
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they will let you have a Bible.
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And I had a little
red New Testament Bible.
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Okay.
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And so I determined that I want
something different in my life
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than what I have been getting.
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Why not try Jesus?
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Because I tried everything else.
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Because you tried
everything else, try Jesus okay.
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And I didn't know
any formal way of prayer
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but yet, you
know, I talk to God.
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Okay.
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And you know, it was
really new for me to realize
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that when we pray, God
hears us and answers our prayer.
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Amen. Sometimes immediately.
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Well, in my
particular situation,
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God heard me and
answered my prayer.
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- Okay. - Right then.
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Amen.
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And because I asked
for forgiveness, I told Him
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that I wanted something
new, I wanted to do thing
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differently in my life.
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Okay.
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And I wanted to accept his son,
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Jesus Christ as
my Lord and Savior.
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- Okay. - And I did.
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That was in 1989. Okay.
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Later on, I met the founders
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of United Prison
Ministry International.
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Richard and Carolyn Bland.
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And one of the first
thing they said to me was
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don't trust man
and call for somebody
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coming from the
street does count unusual.
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You know, and what they did was,
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was back it up with
what the Bible says.
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You know, the Bible
says us, it tells us
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that in Jeremiah 17 to 5,
"If we trust man will curse".
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Yeah, okay.
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And yet, it also
give you some hope
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until you but if you
trust God, you can be blessed.
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Praise the Lord. So
I want to be blessed.
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And so that just told me
that I needed to trust God.
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When I began to
study what, you know,
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in the Prison
Ministry International
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and I eventually was
released from prison in 2006.
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Okay, and that
was after 31 years.
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That was after 31 years.
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Yeah. Okay.
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And after I was
released, I had an opportunity.
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I was given an
invitation to come and work
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with United Prison
Ministry International.
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So prayerfully, you know,
I prayed and asked God for,
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you know, to leading in
my life because I found out
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when I make
decisions, I make the wrong one.
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Yeah, make the wrong one.
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So I wanted God to lead
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and He led me to
accepting invitation
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to work with United
Prison Ministry International.
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Okay. And I've been now since.
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Now for those
that aren't familiar
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with UPMI or United
Prison Ministries International,
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give a brief background of what
the ministry is involved in.
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Well, United Prison Ministries
International at this point
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is going on 34 years of age.
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Okay.
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That's how long
they've been around.
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And they have they too full...
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Well, It's been
extended mission,
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spiritual and social.
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Spiritual in the sense
that they want to share
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the love of God
with incarcerated people.
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And also to share the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Social in the sense
that they want to prepare
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the man or woman to reenter
their families as a new person.
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Okay.
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So that they can
take the position
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that God had designed
from the very beginning
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for man as a husband
or a brother or a son him,
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as a priest at home.
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And, and also to
direct to them ex or friend
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or friend at churches.
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Okay.
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Because contrary
to probably opinion
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all the churches idea are not...
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Yeah, not, not
friendly in that manner.
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Now UPMI is just
starting a new program,
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this is where we're going
to spend a good amount of time.
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As the training
transitional program
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or known as a re-entry program.
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What led UPMI to
begin this type of program?
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And matter of fact,
what is that type of program
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for viewers that
aren't aware of it?
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Well training
transition can be considered
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also a halfway house.
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Yet we know, it
was over man not to
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we're trying to remove
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the thinking of
being incarcerated.
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And the things that we all full,
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all full of
training and transition.
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We were led to it
because we get numerous,
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a lot of letters
from people, men and women
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all over the United States,
writing us and saying to us
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that I have nowhere to go.
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Okay. I have no job.
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And this, you know, impress
me because being in prison,
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you know, I understand that.
00:10:16.51\00:10:17.88
You know, if all your family
members are no longer around,
00:10:17.91\00:10:21.28
when you go to
prison and you do your time.
00:10:21.32\00:10:23.92
Then when you get out,
you really have no support.
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Yeah, no support system. Okay.
00:10:26.89\00:10:28.82
And then we got one letter
that was really overwhelming.
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There was one guy
that was incarcerated
00:10:31.49\00:10:33.83
in the state of Texas.
00:10:33.86\00:10:35.20
Okay.
00:10:35.23\00:10:36.56
And he had been in
prison for like 25 years.
00:10:36.60\00:10:39.37
He had become an
Adventist in prison.
00:10:39.40\00:10:41.90
Okay. And got baptized.
00:10:41.94\00:10:45.27
And when he got
ready to get out,
00:10:45.31\00:10:46.84
he tried to contact the churches
00:10:46.88\00:10:49.48
and actually no
one responded to him.
00:10:49.51\00:10:53.25
And then he went a step further
to contact the conference.
00:10:53.28\00:10:56.38
Okay. And still
no one could respond.
00:10:56.42\00:11:00.46
As a matter of fact,
he even wrote a letter
00:11:00.49\00:11:02.52
to the General Conference.
00:11:02.56\00:11:04.56
Okay. And no one respond.
00:11:04.59\00:11:07.56
And at UPIM, I
ended up with that letter
00:11:07.60\00:11:10.47
and when we got it it
was actually unopened.
00:11:10.50\00:11:13.70
I didn't bring it
today because it's kind of...
00:11:13.74\00:11:16.10
but he basically
was saying was that,
00:11:16.14\00:11:19.41
"Thank you,
Seventh Day Adventist,
00:11:19.44\00:11:22.78
but no thank you
because I understand the day
00:11:22.81\00:11:25.95
that you do not
desire acts of friendness
00:11:25.98\00:11:29.65
to sit next to
you in your church.
00:11:29.68\00:11:32.52
So as a result. I am
going to go to another church.
00:11:32.55\00:11:38.46
A Baptist church
where I can be accepted.
00:11:38.49\00:11:41.90
So that I can
experience true love of God."
00:11:41.93\00:11:44.23
What he talks
about in Matthew 25.
00:11:44.27\00:11:45.93
Oh yeah, oh yeah, most of that.
00:11:45.97\00:11:47.37
And that day I really
just, you know, impressed me to,
00:11:47.40\00:11:50.37
wow, we are
missing something here.
00:11:50.41\00:11:52.17
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's exactly right.
00:11:52.21\00:11:54.28
Now the training
transition program
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.04
is entitled The Remote House.
00:11:56.08\00:11:58.08
Yes.
00:11:58.11\00:11:59.45
Talk a little bit
about how you got the name
00:11:59.48\00:12:01.78
based out of the
cities of refuge in the Bible.
00:12:01.82\00:12:03.79
Give some details of that.
00:12:03.82\00:12:05.25
Well, in the book
of Names, chapter 35.
00:12:05.29\00:12:07.42
Okay.
00:12:07.46\00:12:08.79
God told Moses to
his establish six cities.
00:12:08.82\00:12:11.86
Yes.
00:12:11.89\00:12:13.23
Three on one side of the
Jordan and three on the other.
00:12:13.26\00:12:17.13
One of those cities
00:12:17.17\00:12:18.83
were eventually
established in Ramoth in Gilead.
00:12:18.87\00:12:22.20
Okay.
00:12:22.24\00:12:23.57
Now, and it was ordained of God.
00:12:23.61\00:12:25.71
Remote House is ordained of God.
00:12:25.74\00:12:28.28
Okay.
00:12:28.31\00:12:29.64
We were led to
establish something
00:12:29.68\00:12:33.92
that was spiritually connected.
00:12:33.95\00:12:37.25
Remote House here
that's our primary goal
00:12:37.29\00:12:40.32
is to associate or provide
00:12:40.36\00:12:43.63
spiritual growth,
spiritual development,
00:12:43.66\00:12:47.63
so that, you
know, the men and women
00:12:47.66\00:12:49.76
that do not have it
can have an opportunity
00:12:49.80\00:12:52.53
to know Jesus as
a Lord and Savior.
00:12:52.57\00:12:54.60
For those that do, that
they can come to know him
00:12:54.64\00:12:57.67
better in the truth of his word.
00:12:57.71\00:12:59.64
It's interesting that
Yahweh use the cities of refuge
00:12:59.67\00:13:03.08
as an example.
00:13:03.11\00:13:05.01
Because part of the aspects
of the cities of refugees,
00:13:05.05\00:13:08.72
if a person was
accused of murder,
00:13:08.75\00:13:10.99
they could run to
the city of refuge
00:13:11.02\00:13:12.99
and receive a fair trial.
00:13:13.02\00:13:15.16
And it's interesting
that some of the people
00:13:15.19\00:13:16.83
that you are dealing
with are ex murderers,
00:13:16.86\00:13:19.29
they are ex
convicts, things like that.
00:13:19.33\00:13:21.03
And it's like they can
come to this house for refuge.
00:13:21.06\00:13:24.23
And to learn of God
and to get fair treatment
00:13:24.27\00:13:26.27
and things like that.
00:13:26.30\00:13:27.64
Well, when you
hear the word "refuge,"
00:13:27.67\00:13:29.67
it actually means
a place of safety.
00:13:29.70\00:13:32.71
Now in the Bible, the people
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.14
that were able to go to the city
00:13:35.18\00:13:36.88
were people that have that
had committed murder unaware.
00:13:36.91\00:13:41.28
Yeah. That was right.
00:13:41.32\00:13:42.65
Or something
happened that they didn't know
00:13:42.68\00:13:44.02
or they didn't intend to do.
00:13:44.05\00:13:45.89
Now, dealing with the
word refuge, we wanted a place
00:13:45.92\00:13:49.82
where people could come,
where they would not feel
00:13:49.86\00:13:54.10
they destroyers of society.
00:13:54.13\00:13:55.76
Okay.
00:13:55.80\00:13:57.13
So they would feel
secure in their environs
00:13:57.17\00:13:59.43
and their environment.
00:13:59.47\00:14:00.80
Okay. And so
they will feel safe.
00:14:00.84\00:14:02.77
So we, you know,
God gave us Ramoth
00:14:02.80\00:14:06.81
as a house of refuge
00:14:06.84\00:14:08.21
Now there's three
phases of ministry.
00:14:08.24\00:14:10.55
Three phase of
ministry, and you said
00:14:10.58\00:14:12.01
this is the preventive
phase, the redemptive phase,
00:14:12.05\00:14:14.22
and the post
incarceration phase.
00:14:14.25\00:14:16.08
Talk about each
one of these phases.
00:14:16.12\00:14:18.42
Well, initially,
00:14:18.45\00:14:21.66
Prison Ministry had
been made to understand
00:14:21.69\00:14:24.33
what it entails
is going into prisons
00:14:24.36\00:14:28.66
and worshipping with the
men and women that are there,
00:14:28.70\00:14:32.13
sharing the gospel,
you know, the word of God.
00:14:32.17\00:14:33.67
Okay.
00:14:33.70\00:14:35.04
And yet, God has shown us
00:14:35.07\00:14:36.40
that it extends a
little farther than that.
00:14:36.44\00:14:39.24
There is the preventive phasing.
00:14:39.27\00:14:42.31
In other words, there are
people that are living lives,
00:14:42.34\00:14:45.98
lives out there now
00:14:46.01\00:14:48.18
and the things
that they are doing is
00:14:48.22\00:14:50.69
going to lead them to prison.
00:14:50.72\00:14:53.25
However, we understand today
00:14:53.29\00:14:55.46
that United Prison
Ministry International
00:14:55.49\00:14:57.89
can do something to
affect that group of people.
00:14:57.93\00:15:00.30
Okay.
00:15:00.33\00:15:01.66
Then of course,
there's a redemptive state
00:15:01.70\00:15:03.67
where we are already, you
know, primarily involved in.
00:15:03.70\00:15:06.84
And that's gone
into the prisons.
00:15:06.87\00:15:08.20
As a matter of
fact, we go to prisons
00:15:08.24\00:15:10.41
on Sabbath evening on Sabbath.
00:15:10.44\00:15:12.41
Okay. And then we go Mondays.
00:15:12.44\00:15:15.48
And then we'll go
into a kind of jail now,
00:15:15.51\00:15:18.18
a home church on Sunday.
00:15:18.21\00:15:19.75
Okay.
00:15:19.78\00:15:21.42
And then of course, the men
and women get out of prison.
00:15:21.45\00:15:25.25
And so that's post
incarceration phase.
00:15:25.29\00:15:27.59
Now to prevent
it, they're redemptive
00:15:27.62\00:15:30.33
in the post
incarcerated phase so...
00:15:30.36\00:15:32.66
We want to be able to
work and in a complete...
00:15:32.69\00:15:34.86
Yeah and the
whole aspects of it.
00:15:34.90\00:15:36.67
That's good.
00:15:36.70\00:15:38.37
If somebody was to come
00:15:38.40\00:15:40.04
to your program to Remote House,
00:15:40.07\00:15:43.84
what kind of
programs do you offer them
00:15:43.87\00:15:47.14
when they're
reintegrating back into society?
00:15:47.18\00:15:49.74
Well, we have established
a job training program.
00:15:49.78\00:15:55.58
We have a farm
that's called Verbena Hills
00:15:55.62\00:16:01.92
and Verbena Hills
farm is being used as,
00:16:01.96\00:16:05.89
as I said, a
job training program
00:16:05.93\00:16:07.60
where men can come and
they can work in a garden.
00:16:07.63\00:16:12.73
They can work
with soil of the earth.
00:16:12.77\00:16:15.24
They can work with
what God has given us
00:16:15.27\00:16:17.84
in order to be able
to produce something.
00:16:17.87\00:16:20.28
Okay. You know.
00:16:20.31\00:16:23.21
Dirt is kind of
like the blood, you know,
00:16:23.24\00:16:25.65
if the blood is not a
good thing the body that...
00:16:25.68\00:16:28.88
Yeah. Exactly.
00:16:28.92\00:16:30.25
Plants get their
blood from the dirt.
00:16:30.29\00:16:34.82
So if the soil is good
and their produce can live
00:16:34.86\00:16:39.69
and, you know, and thrive.
00:16:39.73\00:16:41.20
Exactly, exactly.
00:16:41.23\00:16:43.00
So it's an
opportunity for some discipline.
00:16:43.03\00:16:45.80
You know, it's an
opportunity like I said,
00:16:45.83\00:16:48.90
to be able to
work with your hands
00:16:48.94\00:16:50.31
and also
completely organic farm.
00:16:50.34\00:16:52.74
Okay. From sea to fruit.
00:16:52.77\00:16:56.04
Okay.
00:16:56.08\00:16:57.41
There is no, no, GMO, no
genetically modified organism.
00:16:57.45\00:17:02.08
You know, in a
produce, we are producing this.
00:17:02.12\00:17:04.65
You know, it's
designed for providing
00:17:04.69\00:17:08.72
locally grown produce for
the community that we're in.
00:17:08.76\00:17:12.16
We eat it.
00:17:12.19\00:17:13.53
You know, the
lettuce and the squash
00:17:13.56\00:17:15.60
and the zucchini and
tomatoes that are grown.
00:17:15.63\00:17:18.37
So you all have all full garden
there that people can work in.
00:17:18.40\00:17:21.30
We have a little over
three acres there to work in.
00:17:21.34\00:17:23.81
Okay, praise the Lord.
00:17:23.84\00:17:25.51
And you know, and we also have
an area where people can come
00:17:25.54\00:17:28.88
and just, you
know, pick produce,
00:17:28.91\00:17:31.91
you know, at their leisure.
00:17:31.95\00:17:33.48
Now how could an inmate obtain
residence at the Remote House?
00:17:33.52\00:17:38.59
Or if a family member
viewing this program, they say,
00:17:38.62\00:17:42.06
"Okay, well, look I
want to send my brother,
00:17:42.09\00:17:43.69
my sister, mother, father,
00:17:43.73\00:17:45.06
whoever it is, to
this type of program."
00:17:45.09\00:17:48.30
How would they go about
doing something like that?
00:17:48.33\00:17:49.66
Well, of course, right now
there is a screening process.
00:17:49.70\00:17:52.63
Okay.
00:17:52.67\00:17:54.00
And an application
has to be field out.
00:17:54.04\00:17:56.50
And we have an advisory
board that reviews application.
00:17:56.54\00:18:01.41
And you know, accept or
approve or decline an applicant.
00:18:01.44\00:18:05.58
Now we are not denying
anyone opportunity to come.
00:18:05.61\00:18:09.92
We just had that
process that, you know,
00:18:09.95\00:18:12.69
to men and women
have to go through.
00:18:12.72\00:18:14.62
Okay, okay.
00:18:14.66\00:18:16.26
What is the capacity of
the house that you hold?
00:18:16.29\00:18:19.69
We have the capacity right now
is for 12 guests or residents.
00:18:19.73\00:18:25.03
Okay, okay.
00:18:25.07\00:18:26.40
So if somebody...if it was
an inmate from another state,
00:18:26.43\00:18:29.64
like you mentioned about
the gentleman from Texas.
00:18:29.67\00:18:32.77
If a person is not
locked up, not incarcerated
00:18:32.81\00:18:35.21
in Verbena, Alabama
or anywhere in Alabama,
00:18:35.24\00:18:38.15
can they obtain
residence at your program
00:18:38.18\00:18:40.92
or do they have to be
an inmate in the state?
00:18:40.95\00:18:43.55
Oh, absolutely. Okay.
00:18:43.59\00:18:45.45
You know, one at
the time understand that
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.06
this is not a UPMI effort.
00:18:48.09\00:18:50.99
Okay. It's a world effort.
00:18:51.03\00:18:52.53
Praise the Lord.
00:18:52.56\00:18:53.90
The church,
everybody has to be involved
00:18:53.93\00:18:56.30
in order for this to be able
to come to the full fruition
00:18:56.33\00:18:59.60
that we decided God has
shown us that it can be.
00:18:59.63\00:19:02.24
Okay.
00:19:02.27\00:19:03.61
You know you asked about
the things that we offer.
00:19:03.64\00:19:06.21
Not only do we
offer jobs or any,
00:19:06.24\00:19:08.88
you know, in the future
we want to have councils.
00:19:08.91\00:19:10.58
Okay.
00:19:10.61\00:19:11.95
That will be able to,
00:19:11.98\00:19:13.52
to give classes in
things like anger management.
00:19:13.55\00:19:17.69
Financial planning because
you have a lot of men and women,
00:19:17.72\00:19:20.39
they get out of prison.
00:19:20.42\00:19:21.76
And they've been out for
such a long period of time.
00:19:21.79\00:19:24.29
Some of them have problem
of making simple decisions.
00:19:24.33\00:19:27.20
Yeah, that is true.
00:19:27.23\00:19:28.56
So we want to offer, you
know, these type of tools.
00:19:28.60\00:19:31.67
Substance abuse counselors.
00:19:31.70\00:19:33.44
You know, we
don't have counselor.
00:19:33.47\00:19:34.80
But, you know, we
offer healthy eating habits.
00:19:34.84\00:19:38.47
You know, because when
people get out of prison,
00:19:38.51\00:19:40.31
they don't have anything.
00:19:40.34\00:19:42.41
So we are
providing a place to stay.
00:19:42.44\00:19:44.75
Okay. We're providing the foods.
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.85
We're providing
a work environment.
00:19:47.88\00:19:50.49
And we also want him to
provide emotional stability.
00:19:50.52\00:19:55.69
Praise the lord.
00:19:55.72\00:19:57.06
What have you noticed
00:19:57.09\00:19:58.89
in working with
many people over years
00:19:58.93\00:20:01.30
that has caused people
to be repeat offenders?
00:20:01.33\00:20:04.90
Is it maybe they don't
have the support system?
00:20:04.93\00:20:08.70
What do you think
it is with some people?
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.84
Well, their support
system is a part of it
00:20:10.87\00:20:13.51
and it's very important.
00:20:13.54\00:20:14.88
Okay.
00:20:14.91\00:20:16.24
However in my life,
00:20:16.28\00:20:17.61
I found out that
00:20:17.65\00:20:19.45
when you accept Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior,
00:20:19.48\00:20:21.92
there is a
change that comes about.
00:20:21.95\00:20:25.62
You know, you're
thinking is transform.
00:20:25.65\00:20:27.62
So God has to, one,
you have to allow God
00:20:27.66\00:20:31.13
to change the
way that you think.
00:20:31.16\00:20:33.09
Okay.
00:20:33.13\00:20:34.46
You know, because
00:20:34.50\00:20:35.83
as a Christian
as a child of God,
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.47
you know, you don't think like,
you know, people in the world.
00:20:37.50\00:20:40.27
And the second thing
that God showed me is that
00:20:40.30\00:20:42.67
we must change our environment.
00:20:42.70\00:20:44.94
Okay.
00:20:44.97\00:20:46.31
A lot of people have a tendency
of going back to the places
00:20:46.34\00:20:48.71
that they came from.
00:20:48.74\00:20:50.71
And when you do that,
00:20:50.75\00:20:52.11
then you pretty
much get to same results.
00:20:52.15\00:20:54.32
Okay.
00:20:54.35\00:20:55.68
The recidivism rate, you know,
00:20:55.72\00:20:57.05
just for the state
that I come from, Alabama,
00:20:57.09\00:20:58.69
it's like ten people get
out of prison, seven return.
00:20:58.72\00:21:03.39
You know, not in my
heart, that's not acceptable.
00:21:03.43\00:21:06.09
I know that God's not
pleased with that number.
00:21:06.13\00:21:07.73
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
00:21:07.76\00:21:09.10
You know, there's a lot of work
00:21:09.13\00:21:10.47
that many Adventist
churches can be doing.
00:21:10.50\00:21:12.33
Yes. And that many are doing.
00:21:12.37\00:21:14.47
Yes.
00:21:14.50\00:21:15.84
To help, to help the
rate, maybe decrease some.
00:21:15.87\00:21:19.21
Now you are
offering a CHOICES program.
00:21:19.24\00:21:22.54
Give a little details
about this CHOICES program
00:21:22.58\00:21:25.31
and what it involves.
00:21:25.35\00:21:27.22
CHOICES is an
acronym that stands for
00:21:27.25\00:21:30.62
Concern How Innocent
Children Evolve Socially.
00:21:30.65\00:21:34.52
Okay.
00:21:34.56\00:21:35.89
It's the first phase of Prison
Ministry, preventive phrase.
00:21:35.92\00:21:39.46
Okay.
00:21:39.49\00:21:40.83
What we want to do is to
be able to, as matter of, fact
00:21:40.86\00:21:44.73
we've contacted
the superintendent
00:21:44.77\00:21:46.63
in the area of
schools where I come from.
00:21:46.67\00:21:49.60
Okay.
00:21:49.64\00:21:50.97
We are all offering
our sales, men, women
00:21:51.01\00:21:54.34
that have been incarcerated.
00:21:54.38\00:21:55.74
And also other
members of the community
00:21:55.78\00:21:58.68
to be able to go
into the schools.
00:21:58.71\00:22:01.68
And not just
schools, into the churches
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.42
and whatever institution
that we were invited at no cost.
00:22:04.45\00:22:09.06
You know, it
doesn't cost anything.
00:22:09.09\00:22:10.73
Nobody's paid anything.
00:22:10.76\00:22:12.46
We want to be able to share
with our youth the experiences,
00:22:12.49\00:22:18.13
the pain, the agony,
the hurt that we experience
00:22:18.17\00:22:23.20
behind or because as a result
of the choices there we make
00:22:23.24\00:22:26.94
with a hope and a pray
that it will enable them
00:22:26.98\00:22:29.98
or affect their lives
00:22:30.01\00:22:31.61
that they will make different
choices in their own life.
00:22:31.65\00:22:34.88
For a, a ministry or
just the average person
00:22:34.92\00:22:38.75
that has the
burden of the souls,
00:22:38.79\00:22:41.49
people incarcerated,
whatever it may be.
00:22:41.52\00:22:43.73
And they would like
to start a program like
00:22:43.76\00:22:45.99
UPMI's Remote House.
00:22:46.03\00:22:48.76
What are some of the steps
that a person would need to take
00:22:48.80\00:22:51.00
to do something like that?
00:22:51.03\00:22:53.13
I think the most
important thing is that
00:22:53.17\00:22:55.20
we have a love for God.
00:22:55.24\00:22:57.61
Okay, yeah.
00:22:57.64\00:22:59.54
Now and also, we have
to have a love of people.
00:22:59.57\00:23:02.74
Oh, yeah.
00:23:02.78\00:23:04.41
I've come to understand,
particularly in my life
00:23:04.45\00:23:07.12
that there was a time
that I was in love with things.
00:23:07.15\00:23:10.59
Yeah, okay.
00:23:10.62\00:23:12.15
And which we had to
have a love for people.
00:23:12.19\00:23:13.96
And, you know, in
prayer for to seek God
00:23:13.99\00:23:15.86
for whatever
guidance that you need.
00:23:15.89\00:23:17.99
You know, the Bible
actually says. it tells us that
00:23:18.03\00:23:20.46
if we lack wisdom, ask God.
00:23:20.50\00:23:22.66
He'll give it to
us. He'll give it to us.
00:23:22.70\00:23:24.47
You know, there are
avenues and there are partners
00:23:24.50\00:23:26.94
that they can
contact to give them
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.67
all the necessary specific
00:23:28.70\00:23:30.71
or peculiar
information in doing this.
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.14
We were bless and fortunate
00:23:33.17\00:23:34.61
that UPMI has
already established.
00:23:34.64\00:23:37.55
And, you know,
God gave us a house.
00:23:37.58\00:23:42.92
A family just awarded us some
property in the house and...
00:23:42.95\00:23:46.82
You know, we knew
that this was something
00:23:46.86\00:23:48.66
you know that God
wanted us to be a part of.
00:23:48.69\00:23:50.29
Praise the Lord.
00:23:50.33\00:23:51.66
So it takes the
love of God which is,
00:23:51.69\00:23:54.46
you know, very, very important.
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.43
Okay. And a love for people.
00:23:56.46\00:23:57.80
Okay.
00:23:57.83\00:23:59.17
And that desire, that
passion, that compassion
00:23:59.20\00:24:02.57
that you have for
people will guide you
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.74
or direct you to spirit of God.
00:24:05.77\00:24:07.18
Okay.
00:24:07.21\00:24:08.54
To where, you know,
00:24:08.58\00:24:09.91
what department
you need to talk to
00:24:09.94\00:24:11.55
or of course...
Or you contact us.
00:24:11.58\00:24:13.98
We can tell you more,
you know, you in more detail.
00:24:14.02\00:24:18.02
Okay, what steps you take.
00:24:18.05\00:24:19.39
Yes. Okay.
00:24:19.42\00:24:20.76
Now I have to ask
you this question.
00:24:20.79\00:24:22.12
After 31 years in
prison, you come out
00:24:22.16\00:24:25.46
and you haven't
gone back to prison.
00:24:25.49\00:24:28.73
What did you implement in
your own life to, you know,
00:24:28.76\00:24:32.37
you spent most of
your life incarcerated...
00:24:32.40\00:24:35.37
What things did you implement
that kept you from going back
00:24:35.40\00:24:39.24
to being another statistic,
00:24:39.27\00:24:41.44
another black man going
right back to the penitentiary?
00:24:41.48\00:24:44.25
What if you implement?
00:24:44.28\00:24:46.58
Remember I said
earlier there were two things
00:24:46.61\00:24:48.38
that God showed me.
00:24:48.42\00:24:49.85
One was to allow him to
change the way that we think.
00:24:49.88\00:24:54.56
And the second thing was
to change my environment.
00:24:54.59\00:24:58.33
Okay.
00:24:58.36\00:24:59.69
You know, I realized that
00:24:59.73\00:25:01.06
there was no
point in me going around
00:25:01.10\00:25:03.26
people that were drinking
and smoking and using drugs.
00:25:03.30\00:25:06.40
And you know, things like that.
00:25:06.43\00:25:07.77
And they should because
00:25:07.80\00:25:09.14
when you don't
always get same result.
00:25:09.17\00:25:12.67
So God showed me
that I had a new family.
00:25:12.71\00:25:15.04
Okay.
00:25:15.08\00:25:16.41
And my family
was into doing this.
00:25:16.44\00:25:17.85
So I went...You know,
after I got out of prison,
00:25:17.88\00:25:20.82
I realized that
I was an Adventist
00:25:20.85\00:25:23.52
because I believed
that Christ is coming again.
00:25:23.55\00:25:26.92
Then I realized it
allows a Seventh-day Adventist
00:25:26.96\00:25:29.72
because I believe in
the Bible Sabbath day.
00:25:29.76\00:25:33.40
So I had to find a
church that my family,
00:25:33.43\00:25:36.87
my church family
that was serving God
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.33
according to the
truth of his word.
00:25:39.37\00:25:41.87
And I did that,
I found a church.
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.11
Okay.
00:25:44.14\00:25:45.47
And then I begin to,
you know, with an urgency.
00:25:45.51\00:25:49.08
Okay.
00:25:49.11\00:25:50.45
To, to be
involved in God's church.
00:25:50.48\00:25:53.15
Yeah, that very important.
00:25:53.18\00:25:55.02
You know, it's
really time for us
00:25:55.05\00:25:57.19
to be about our
father's business.
00:25:57.22\00:25:58.55
Exactly, exactly.
00:25:58.59\00:25:59.92
And so, you know, once I,
00:25:59.95\00:26:01.99
as I continue to
allow God to change my mind,
00:26:02.02\00:26:04.96
my way of thinking, you know,
00:26:04.99\00:26:06.66
and allow Him to give me
the strength to be able to say,
00:26:06.70\00:26:09.13
"No, I'm not going there
and change my environment."
00:26:09.16\00:26:11.90
You know, I just
try to surround myself
00:26:11.93\00:26:14.07
with people that, you know,
00:26:14.10\00:26:15.44
they serve with
the love of Lord.
00:26:15.47\00:26:16.81
Yeah, a lot
more positive people.
00:26:16.84\00:26:19.07
What I want to do,
00:26:19.11\00:26:20.44
I want to take me
about 30, 45 seconds or so
00:26:20.48\00:26:22.78
and I want to
look into the camera
00:26:22.81\00:26:24.15
and I want you to talk to those,
00:26:24.18\00:26:26.48
those individuals that
are heading to the streets
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.58
or those that
are in the streets,
00:26:28.62\00:26:30.12
the mother and the father
00:26:30.15\00:26:31.49
that have children
that are out there.
00:26:31.52\00:26:33.19
Talk to them and give them
some words of encouragement.
00:26:33.22\00:26:37.16
You know, I was once doing
a ministry in a county jail
00:26:37.19\00:26:42.76
and after that I
gave my testimony,
00:26:42.80\00:26:45.57
I think I gave my testimony.
00:26:45.60\00:26:47.80
One of the guys came
up and shared with me.
00:26:47.84\00:26:50.41
He said, "Steve,
if God will save you,
00:26:50.44\00:26:53.24
He can save anybody."
00:26:53.27\00:26:55.24
So what I want
you to hear from that
00:26:55.28\00:26:58.31
is that be encouraged.
00:26:58.35\00:27:00.32
You know, whatever you tried
00:27:00.35\00:27:02.05
obviously has not given
you the peace or prosperity
00:27:02.08\00:27:04.82
that you desire in life.
00:27:04.85\00:27:06.86
Try Jesus. He is a guarantee.
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.79
Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
00:27:09.82\00:27:11.19
You know, and even,
even looking back on my life,
00:27:11.23\00:27:13.53
and I know for you
looking back on your life,
00:27:13.56\00:27:17.03
you had the things where
00:27:17.07\00:27:18.63
maybe you were
happy you know one point
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.24
but it never gave you that
inner joy, that inner peace.
00:27:20.27\00:27:23.20
And even though
things may not go
00:27:23.24\00:27:24.57
right for us every day of
the week being, a Christian,
00:27:24.61\00:27:27.71
there's that
peace, that inner joy
00:27:27.74\00:27:30.05
that you can't get from
anywhere else except Jesus.
00:27:30.08\00:27:33.95
And I'm sure you can
attest to that, right?
00:27:33.98\00:27:35.72
Because we have to remember
that as ambassadors for Christ,
00:27:35.75\00:27:42.32
God desires of us
to display the love
00:27:42.36\00:27:45.23
that we've come to
know in Him through His son.
00:27:45.26\00:27:48.00
Okay, okay.
00:27:48.03\00:27:49.86
Folks, we'd like to thank you
00:27:49.90\00:27:51.23
for tuning into the New Journey.
00:27:51.27\00:27:53.23
Please make sure
to tune in next week
00:27:53.27\00:27:55.30
for another exciting
program of the New Journey.
00:27:55.34\00:27:58.31
Mr. Radford, Thank you so much.
00:27:58.34\00:28:00.21