When Manuel entered prison, he felt overwhelmed with shame, confusion, and loneliness. He had been running away from God for nearly 15 years, focused on his own plans and ambitions. But behind bars, stripped of everything familiar, Manuel found himself searching for answers, comfort, and hope.
“I was in the prison yard feeling upset, sad, and lost,” Manuel recalls. It was then that he was given the opportunity to enroll in the Crossroads program. “I felt a need to reconnect—to know God again.”
Through the correspondence-based Bible studies and the gift of his own Bible, Manuel began to rediscover his identity. The early lessons focused on who he was in Christ—a child of God with value, purpose, and dignity.
“When I began the lessons, I discovered who I am, why I am here, and what my purpose is,” he says.
One verse stood out to him, John 8:32, which says: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Even while physically confined, Manuel experienced a new kind of freedom through knowing Christ. His perspective began to change. Instead of feeling worthless and forgotten, he began to see himself, and others, through God’s eyes.
Crossroads mentors helped guide him through his studies when he felt discouraged, answered his questions, and prayed with him during his darkest moments.
“When they prayed for me, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” Manuel says. “I felt comforted. I felt valued. I knew I wasn’t alone.”
Their support gave Manuel the courage to grow in faith and even share hope with others in his cell. He witnessed how God’s Word brought peace into the chaos of prison life and reminded men that their lives still had meaning.
Today, less than a year after his release, Manuel is attending church and rebuilding his life with renewed faith and purpose. He knows his story is still being written—and he is determined to follow God’s plan for his future.
Looking back, Manuel is certain his life would be different without Crossroads.
“There are many people in prison who are hungry for God’s Word,” he says. “Crossroads must continue. People need someone to encourage them and to remind them they still have hope.”
You can be that source of hope. Your support helps provide Bible study lessons, mentors, and Scripture to men and women who feel lost and forgotten. Through your support, more students like Manuel can discover their identity in Christ and begin a new life filled with purpose.
Give today to help reach someone in prison with the hope of the Gospel.