Through the jail, we have the opportunity to meet and help many people who have lost their way. This is the story of one of them, told by Chaplain Robin:
Several years ago, Chaplain Steve was able to preach at one of the women’s classes in the Macomb County Jail. At that time, he met a young woman who recommitted her heart to the Lord at the end of his class. After returning to the office, he mentioned her to me and asked if I would follow up with her. Before I could visit her, I received a phone call from one of the Officers asking me to see her before she was released (she had touched this Officer’s heart as well).
Upon meeting this young woman I was struck by her sweet, china doll face, and her soft heart. In our conversation, she explained that she was concerned about getting out and not really having a safe place to land. So, I mentioned Life Challenge (with whom we work very closely). Unfortunately she was on some medication that Life Challenge wouldn’t allow. Upon learning she would have to wean off that medication before going there, she found another place to go to in Port Huron. I told her that Steve and I would transport her there when she was released.
The day came for her release and I met her at the doors to the jail at 5am. She was released in the middle of winter, so I took her to Meijer where we were able to find a couple of warm sweaters (all they had at the time), then I took her to breakfast. She was so pleasant to be with and, again, I was struck with her sweet disposition and desire to grow closer to Christ.
After breakfast, we went back to the Chaplain’s office for her to make some phone calls and get some paperwork in order. Afterwards, Steve and I took her to lunch then to Port Huron.
I stayed in touch with her by phone for a short period of time, but then contact with her began to dwindle. Pretty soon, I could not get hold of her at all - which indicated that she was off and running (using drugs again).
After some time elapsed, Steve was preaching at another women’s class, and there she was – back in jail. We were ecstatic; she was still alive! I again, met with her, she agreed to enter Life Challenge, and we arranged to get her there.
Sensing a connection, I became her mentor, visiting her every other week at Life Challenge. Encouraging her to ask the Lord for a “life verse” (Scripture that will carry her throughout her life), Jessica felt the Lord led her to Isaiah 61:3: “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”
During her year there, the Lord met her, fed her and kept her strong when her strength of resolve was waning. She graduated Life Challenge in November 2015, (incidentally, the Officer who had contacted me on her behalf, was able to attend her graduation and was moved to tears to see the transformation that had taken place). After her graduation, the young lady decided to stay there as an intern for 6 months.
After the 6 month commitment was over, the Gateway Board had been feeling led to open a women’s house and had the opportunity to do so, so the young lady became the first resident (and because of clean time and leadership abilities, also became the women’s house manager). She continued as the house manager for 3 years. Many of you know her, the young lady’s name is Jessica.
Just last year, our amazing God brought a Godly young man (Brandon) into Jessica’s life and, on February 1, 2020, in front of 120+ people, Jessica and Brandon recited their vows of marriage to one another! Incidentally, Brandon’s life verse is Ephesians 2:10; “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
Coming from a similar background (not to mention having life verses that compliment each other), these two share the testimony of God’s unrelenting love! They are trophies of His amazing grace! As they begin their new lives as husband and wife, we pray that the grace that captured them will hold them, mold them, and continue to abound toward them as they work together to fulfill His calling on their lives.
Amazed by His transforming power,
Chaplains Steve and Robin Malek
