England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales

Join us Login to your account Register for your account

John's Story

John's life was turned around when he was unexpectedly met with forgiveness while in prison.

Https vimeo com 235579189

Prisoners | 2:13

John's Story

DetailsAbout the video TranscriptWhat it says DownloadSave it offline

John's life was turned around when he was unexpectedly met with forgiveness while in prison.

About Prison Fellowship

Prison Fellowship's vision is to show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them. They seek, through prayer and practical care, to help, support and develop a Christian ministry to prisoners and their families.

Featured Resources

Prisons Week

Prisons week runs from 8th - 14th October

trypraying for prisoners

A little book for prisoners

Prison Hope

Prison Hope connects people and organisations – encouraging prayer, volunteering and giving.

Caring for Ex-Offenders

CFEO's vision is to reduce re-offending by reintegrating ex-offenders into society through the local…

Alpha in Prisons

There are more than 10 million people in prison around the world. Alpha's vision is that every inmate…

The Message Trust's…

Missions teams who partner with schools and churches in delivering schools weeks, one-off performances…

00:13

Eight weeks ago, I was released from Rochester Prison,

00:17

having spent 30 years of my life in custody.

00:20

My own journey started as a young man

00:23

when I tragically got involved in a robbery

00:25

with devastating consequences.

00:28

Then going to court and seeing the impact

00:30

that had on the victims family, my own family,

00:33

my son at the time, my ex-wife

00:36

led me down the path of self harm,

00:39

addiction, anxiety, depression,

00:42

a lot of guilt, a lot of shame, a lot of remorse.

00:45

I just couldn't get out of the dark hole

00:47

and just went deeper and deeper down, and down, and down.

00:50

And then, I came to Rochester

00:52

and I learned about the Sycamore Tree restorative justice.

00:56

Put my name down for it,

00:58

I waited about nine months to get on the course, ten months.

01:00

And when I got on the course it had,

01:03

I'd say, a life changing effect on me,

01:05

because I was able to see the victims of crime

01:08

face to face, firsthand

01:10

and to see they were able to forgive people

01:14

who'd committed devastating acts against families,

01:17

their family, and sometimes themselves and all that.

01:19

So, that was a healing process, myself.

01:21

Then knowing if people like that could forgive

01:24

people like myself, well I could, possibly, forgive myself.

01:28

And it, sort of, made me turn the corner

01:30

and start to feel better about myself and more positive.

01:34

And, in Rochester, I also became a born again Christian.

01:37

I attend church outside now,

01:38

as well as, AA meetings and all that like.

01:41

Rochester, most definitely, was life changing for me,

01:43

the support I got there.

01:45

I'd hope to come back to Rochester in the future

01:47

and be a facilitator and to empower other men

01:50

to make the changes in their life

01:52

that I have done, myself.

01:53

And, to get to where I am now, as a free man.

September 2017
From
Prison Fellowship
Topics
Prisoners