Conrad once believed his life was defined by failure.
“There was a time I felt like I had failed at everything,” he said. After years of carrying deep regret, he struggled to see any good in himself or his life. But over time, and through time in God’s Word and Crossroads’ Bible studies, his perspective began to shift.
Conrad served twenty years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a sergeant. He earned several medals and awards along the way—accomplishments he used to overlook. “I’ve learned to look at what I have accomplished,” he reflected. “When I retired, I went back to school and graduated with a 4.0 in electronic engineering. That’s something to be proud of.”
Even with that history, it wasn’t until he encountered God in a deeper way through Crossroads that he truly began to believe he was loved—not for what he had done, but for who he was.
“I know now that God accepts me—broken, confused, lost a lot of the time,” Conrad shared. “But He still accepts me. I don’t have to earn His love. I just have to believe in Him and trust Him.”
A fellow student introduced Conrad to Crossroads. “He had a form, and I filled it out. I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” Conrad said. The lessons and mentor letters came at just the right time—when he most needed encouragement to keep going.
“There are days I feel really low. I get down and beat myself up over past decisions,” he admitted. “But every time I work through a lesson, it gives me strength. It reminds me that I’m not defined by what I’ve done or what others think about me. I’m defined by what God says about me.”
For Conrad, that truth is reinforced by the mentors who write to him faithfully. “The letters are so engaging and inspiring. They give me courage and help me see that this isn’t the end of my story. This is just a moment in my life—it doesn’t define me.”
The encouragement he receives from Crossroads helps him hold onto hope. “The mentors remind me that I’m not just an inmate. I’m not just a number. God knows who I am. He knows my name. I’m His son.”
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Watch Conrad’s story below: