PRISON IS NOT FOR KIDS

What has gone wrong? Is there something in the water, or the air, or is it by design? More and more young people are entering the criminal justice system every day. Isn’t it time that we rise up and do something about it. Every child that goes to prison affects his family and the community. Let’s reach the at-risk kids BEFORE they go down the wrong road. Far too many kids are left to themselves without any parental guidance. Parents are often struggling to earn a living and too overwhelmed with the affairs of life to properly guide their kids. Many of them have had very little guidance themselves. That’s where the village comes in. We have taken steps to form a village to stop the flow of our young people into the system. We are inviting you to join us today. There is strength in numbers. None of us can do it alone. But everyone can do something. Suggestions: Pray, donate, blog on our website to encourage and inform kids, attend a seminar, schedule a seminar at your Church or your child’s school. What’s your answer? Will you join us?

YOUR RIGHTS OR YOUR LIFE

Leo could see the car pulling up and it was obvious that the driver intended to back into the vacant slot to pump gas.  But Leo pulled in ahead of the man.

Thomas and his best friend Leo both worked at Handy Mart during the summer.  This was their last full time week before the fall session began.  They graduated from Winston High School and were headed to Winston Community College in the fall.  After work they ate at Burger Hut and went to get gas before heading to a movie.  They were in Leo’s car.  His dad gave it to him as a graduation present.

“Hey, I was backing into that slot,” the driver shouted.  Leo and Thomas had the windows down and were bouncing to the music.

“Move,” the little old man shouted as he exited his car and stared at the teenagers.

“This gas station is first come first serve.  You don’t have a reserved spot here,” Thomas said as Leo got out to pump his gas.  They continued to bounce to the music and ignored the old man.

They heard a loud noise and Thomas felt something hit the side of his head.  He touched his hand to the side of his face and felt something warm.  He looked at his hand a realized that it was blood.  He turned just in time to see the man fire again and the bullet hit him square in the face.   The old man pointed the pistol at Leo.  Leo let go of the gas hose and attempted to run around the car.  The man fired once more and was overtaken by two men who had been pumping gas at adjacent pumps.  Leo fell to the ground, and crawled around the car and got in.  He notice that Thomas was slumped forward and tried to start the car.

“Hey”, a bystander shouted, “don’t leave, an ambulance is on the way to help your friend.”  Leo could see that the man with the pistol had been thrown to the ground by several men.  He shut the motor off and turned his attention to Thomas.  The ambulance arrived and the EMR personnel rushed to the car to check on Thomas.  Once they checked him over, they put an oxygen mask on his face, loaded him on the stretcher, and prepared to head to the hospital.  “I’m going with him,” Leo insisted.  But he police arrived and began questioning Leo and the witnesses.  Leo’s mind was whirling.  He knew he should have gone with Thomas, but knew he would not have been permitted to leave once the police arrived.  The record kept playing in his mind.  All we wanted to do was get some gas and get to the movie.  How could such an awful thing have happened so quickly?  And Thomas looked so awful.  I hope he is still alive.  What will I tell his parents? What will I tell my parents? 

After the police questioned all the witnesses, the old man was arrested, and Leo was allowed to leave.  He called his parents and told them what happened.  He asked them to call Thomas’ parents.  He told them he was going to the hospital.  His parents told him to remain at the station and they would come down and his dad would drive his car.  They didn’t want him to drive alone.    Leo felt that this was the worst day of his life.

He kept asking himself, “What if I had let the old man pump his gas and go his way.  How long would it have taken to wait for him to go first?  Exercising our rights may have cost Thomas his life, the old man his freedom, and me my peace of mind and a good friend.  What I wouldn’t give to be able to turn back the hand of time.”

GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS

WFJ conducted “Keeping Kids out of Prison” Seminars in two high schools and two middle schools in DeKalb County in one day. We went back the following week for a follow-up presentation. The kids really grasped the information and warnings offered. They remembered their 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment rights. This was our opportunity to “show” them how to safely exercise those rights by showing respect for all those in positions of authority. The theme we presented was “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. As a matter of fact, that’s advice that can help all of us. Let’s all begin living by that principle in 2021 and live a long and prosperous life.

NORMAL

We are slowly moving toward our new normal. As we do so, we must all be aware of the affect the isolation has had on our young people. The violence seems to be on the up swing and we are losing young lives almost daily. Let’s join forces to turn this trend around. Our youth are our future. Saving lives and keeping our young people out of prison is everybody’s business. Contact us to see how you can help. Everyone can pray, donate, and encourage young people at every opportunity. When they think someone cares about them, it changes the way they think about themselves and others. Let’s let them know we care.