I came from a broken home and a broken family. My mother was
addicted to drugs and my father passed away when I was two years old. My mother
had five children from four different men.
I started taking a lot of drugs at a very young age. It seemed that I
was always in trouble at school. I fought with other students a lot, and
even told teachers that I was
going to kill them. Eventually, I
dropped out of high school in my junior year at the age of 19. This broken lifestyle
of mine continued until I ended up in prison.
In June of 2003, I was arrested and taken to prison to serve
a lengthy sentence. This is when I realized how worthless my life had really
become. My family would not talk to me anymore and I lost all contact with the
outside world. It hurt because I never received any pictures of my daughter or
anyone else for that matter. This is when I decided that I was going to kill
myself. I felt that I had nothing to live for anymore. I was really set on
going through with it. However, I was scared because, I had herd about Jesus
Christ and that you couldn’t go to heaven if you committed suicide. I was
encouraged by a few lifers(guys who aren’t getting out) to go to some of the
religious activities at the prison. So I started attending Cornerstone Prison church
services and Bible studies along with other ministries activities. I gave my life over to God and because I was involved
with the church, it changed my life forever. As the church grew, my faith
grew along with it.
I decided to make this time in prison a positive aspect in
my life. I was going to make real changes to my life. I was no longer alone in
this prison. This church made me feel very welcome. I started to belong to a
family that cared about me and really loved me. I had become a part of the
Cornerstone family and I was very happy. You don’t need to have any one on the
outside (even though it would be nice); you only need the family of God. I have
now obtained my GED and have learned how to use a computer. I have also learned
a trade in custom cabinetry. I am happier now than I have ever been in my
entire life even though I am incarcerated in the South Dakota State
Penitentiary. I just want to say thank you to God, the Cornerstone Prison
Church and the inmates who cared about me and saved me from suicide
If my family could only see the grown man that I have
become; they would not even recognize me. I think about it often, and wonder
what they would say.
God’s Gift
By Charles Long 2007
To destroy a gift
Given from Christ
Corrupting the temple
At pleasures price
Why me oh God?
So many cry
Failing to see
Caught in a lie!
Freedom of choice
To take or give?
To love or desire
For whom do you live?
Forgiveness is given
When learning to love
With trust and faith
In God above
Then through Christ
Might we rejoice
Giving to God
Our freedom of choice
