Letters From Prison (Part 4 of 6)

The first Summit at Southeast Correctional Center in Missouri was held last August with the sponsorship and the support of the team at La Croix Church. They caught a vision to serve prisoners, unleash potential and change the culture of the prison from inside out, using the tools offered by the Global Leadership Summit (read more about the event here).

We received letters from several of the prisoners who were able to attend, and we are blown away by the powerful impact the Summit has had on these men.

Over the past couple weeks, we’ve been posting a series on our blog called “Letters From Prison,” highlighting the impact that the Summit has had on these prisoners’ lives. We hope you’re as encouraged, challenged and inspired by their words as we were when we received them.

A letter from Dwayne, GLS attendee, Southeast Correctional

I just want to take the time to let you know that I really enjoyed attending this year’s Global Leadership Summit. Up until a few months ago, I had never even heard of this. My participation is the result of numerous people seeing the value of this event and many individuals caring enough to sacrifice their time and money for me to attend. A number of “Volunteers in Corrections” from the La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau, MO have been involved in past GLS events and they had the vision to see that inmates could benefit from this two day event. Administrators—from our warden all the way to the director of corrections in Missouri—believed this would benefit us, so our chaplain, Steven Johnson, the training officer, Alan Hughes, and a handful of volunteers from La Croix organized this event for us.

They handpicked 40 men to be a part of this program and it was a blessing to be recognized as a leader among 1600+ inmates here. Two months ago, we were assembled and informed about this event and I had no clue what the GLS was. I am familiar with Willow Creek Church as I work for Set Free Ministries and I know that Willow Creek uses some of the courses and evangelistic tools. I also have a brother in the Lord who has talked of Willow Creek in the past.

So I went into this thing as any leader would – with an open heart and a willingness to learn. I was not disappointed! Each and every speaker touched my heart and shared something I could apply to my life that would not only make me a better leader, but a better servant of God! To be honest, there was so much to take in that it was almost overwhelming!

It’s been several weeks since I participated in the GLS and as I reflect on those two days, I find that the GLS recharged my spiritual battery. I don’t think this is something that should be limited to just leaders – any child of God can be a part of this and it will inspire you to be a leader. Learning to love and others should be our objective in life.

I have been incarcerated for almost 26 years and have a life without parole sentence. Some days its hard to get up and motivate myself to go about my day serving and loving others, but reflecting on what Christ has done for me and that everything I do has eternal value, helps me focus on what I need to be doing instead of my circumstances. God has used me in ways I could never have imagined and I know he has even greater plans for me in the future!

I thank you for equipping me with the knowledge to make me a better leader and I hope God will bless me with an opportunity to participate in future GLS events. I know there are probably hundreds of people involved in making this event possible. Please let them know they are touching the lives of thousands and anything we do for the Lord is never in vain! (1 Cor. 15:58). God bless you and your families, and again, thank you for the GLS in 2015.

Your brother in Christ,
Dwayne, GLS attendee, Southeast Correctional

Please pray for our prison sites in 2016. This year there will be 25 prisons experiencing the GLS teaching. Imagine what God might do?