“It’s my time to shine brightly in the darkness of incarceration.”
Growing up with two loving parents and excelling in school, Robert’s life took a sharp turn when he followed his older brother into substance abuse. At just 17, he found himself in prison—scared, alone, and feeling abandoned by God.
His first stint in prison was traumatic, filled with violence, abuse, and humiliation. “I would cry at night and miss my mom,” Robert recalls. After his release three years later, reentering society was difficult. He struggled with anger, self-medication, and feelings of unworthiness. Despite his efforts to move forward—graduating from college and starting a family—he found himself on a path back to prison.
But this time, something was different. Robert began using his time behind bars to better himself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Crossroads’ mentorship program became a lifeline, showing him that even in prison, he still had a purpose. “I love the fact that I can continue to thrive spiritually while being caged physically,” he wrote.
Through his faith, Robert realized the importance of love and forgiveness. He now sees his mission as passing these lessons on to his son, raising him not in anger but in the church (Ephesians 6:4). “Now it’s my time to shine brightly in the darkness of incarceration.” Robert embraces his role as a “strong soldier for God,” using his pain and experiences to testify to God’s power to change lives.
Crossroads helped Robert reclaim his faith, and now he is determined to live out his purpose—bringing hope to others and showing that no matter the circumstances, God can heal and transform.
Did you know that more than a third of people in state prisons were first arrested before their 16th birthday? According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “about 1 in 11 youth held for a criminal or delinquent offense is locked in an adult jail or prison.” Like Robert, many of these young people face the harsh realities of incarceration at a young age and struggle with recidivism, often returning to prison later in life.
Crossroads is committed to breaking this cycle by offering life-changing mentorship to incarcerated individuals. Through correspondence-based lessons that focus on spiritual growth, emotional healing, and personal development, Crossroads mentors empower students like Robert to reclaim their lives and find purpose, even behind bars. By providing hope and guidance, you can reduce recidivism and help men and women in prison forge a path toward a brighter future. Give today to support this important work.