Reflections- How It All Began

Today I had the privilege of sharing the Word of God with the female inmates in Mark Luttrell Correctional Center. I love being able to go back and share with those that are still “behind the wall”. While sitting in my office, I found the letter that I wrote to my wife on 12-06-03, the night I preached my first message! I was an inmate at the Shelby County Correctional Center. The LeMoyne-Owen College Gospel Choir (LOCGC) provided the music.


While I was away at prison, “on vacation”, I wrote a letter to my wife every night, as a journal. She kept every last one of them. I’ve contemplated putting them together in book form, but I haven’t decided if anyone would be interested in reading it. In the meantime, I have decided to share some of them on our blog. I’ll share that letter now:

12-6-03

Hey! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! I just got back from church. I’ve been nervous all day, so I couldn’t write. I’ve been in deep meditation. I’ve been focused on my message. I love LOCGC and Mrs. Saulsberry. Tonight couldn’t have been any better. Mrs. Holloway even showed up. I want to write, but I’m just full. Mark this day. To see all of those souls didn’t make my day- it made my life. “Boys run in packs. It takes a man to stand alone”. For one night, I WAS FREE! I was right back in the choir. I’m so glad to know my purpose in my life. I have all the confirmation I need. I’ll write more about tonight tomorrow. But, I do want to add to what I wrote yesterday. He (God) has been preparing me since Junior High. I’ve been speaking in front of crowds since 8th grade. It had to be God because my first speech came at a time I had no idea would come. We had just consolidated 3 Junior High Schools together. I didn’t know a lot of people. The second day of school, we were all brought into the gym. Then, out of the blue, they had student government elections. I was nominated class president by my cousin, Michelle. I was up against 3 white girls. Remember, this is Arkansas and I believe we were in the minority. I won. I was President of our class until my Senior year, when I became Student Council President. I couldn’t be President of the class and Student Council at the same time. So I became V.P. It was funny. In 9th grade, I had several opponents. I won by a landslide. No one ran against me ever again. That was God. Mr. Ford, the principal, called a class meeting trying to get anyone to oppose me. NEVER! I had to give speeches to the class all the time. And my Senior year, I had to address the entire school at every event. I’d lead the Alma Mater and the Pledge of Allegiance. I became comfortable in front of people. He was preparing me then. But I ran away. Now I can’t run. That’s enough for tonight. My head is beginning to hurt. I’m too high! It’s almost 11pm and I’m still excited. Thank you for being in my corner. I love you. KEEP YOUR FAITH! GOOD NIGHT!

Why Do We Need LifeLine?

LifeLine to Success is a very unique program. I use the word program because it is our job to literally change the person that comes to us from a burden on society, one who has no desire to do anything constructive and is selfish, self-centered and greedy, into a person that is an asset to the community and is a positive role model. Our task is to deprogram and then reprogram. This job is not an easy one. Our clients have issues and habits that have been embedded in them for decades. Those issues and habits have become the comfort zone for them. Anything contrary to those issues and habits are seen as negative and unwanted, even though those are the very things needed to turn their lives in a positive direction.

We have had a tremendous amount of success because we love our clients. We aren’t looking for anything from them. We want to pour into them. Simple. The love that we have shown has allowed us to build lasting relationships with our clients and Lifeline to Success has become their new safehaven and comfort zone. That was never more evident that last week, on a day that I canceled class for lack of dedication and participation.

I sent everyone home through a message. I told Stonie to tell everyone to take the day off. When I pulled up, one of our clients was waiting on the bus. He asked me why I canceled class. I told him that I needed him to trust my judgment. He respected that and went on to explain to me why he did NOT want to go home.

“Mr. Brown, I wanna thank you for what you are doin for me at LifeLine. Mr. Brown I don’t wanna go home cause Ima drug deala and I don’t wanna do that no mo. If I go home, um around dope and folks sellin dope. If I try ta hang out wit my old friends, they all doin stuff ion do no mo. I NEED this Mr. Brown. PLEASE don’t make me go home. I gotta new family now. Ya’ll my family and I need ya’ll. PLEASE Mr. Brown, I wants ta work taday.”

It broke my heart to send him home. I told him to pray and hold on to the teaching and I would see him in the morning. He did. And he is still with us. His story is not the only one like that. Most of our clients don’t want to go home. They will come early and stay late. We have an environment that is inviting. They can just come up and hangout.

LifeLine to Success strives to be a beacon of hope for our community. We are a place where you can lay your burdens down. We will counsel you, talk with you, assist in any way that we have the ability. I love what I do. The heart aches and heartbreaks and frustrations are drastically minimized by the sight of our clients reunited with their families and feeling like a part of society again. Gotta love it!