Dear Special Friend of Damascus Way:

Alfred Freeman's conversion to Jesus Christ came while he was serving a 122-month sentence in Minnesota's Stillwater State Correctional Facility. Most of the cells in his cell block had been freshly painted but his, number 413 A-West, remained unpainted and still bore the handwriting and artwork of many past occupants. A floor-to-ceiling cross was drawn in pencil on the back wall of his 8 by 10-foot cell with the words JESUS LOVES ME written across it in large letters.

His father and two older sisters raised Al in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Al said the most positive part of his growing up years was before age seven when he had often visited and stayed with his Grandpa who was a preacher. The sermons he heard his grandpa preach Sunday after Sunday never were forgotten. His mom passed away when Al was seven after that there was little discipline at home. While his dad was at work, Al and his sisters pretty much did whatever they wanted.

Al's older cousins who lived near by were already living the street life and soon introduced him to alcohol, drugs, stealing and all that comes with that lifestyle. He was arrested and served jail and prison time for possession of marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs. In between serving time in jail and using and selling drugs on the street, Al tried his best to get off drugs by spending months in drug treatment. He did manage to stay sober for two years but then decided to sell drugs for profit and not use them himself. This decision sent him to prison for one last time. He was arrested for drug sales and sentenced to serve 10 years in state prison.

Al always knew that what he was doing was wrong because his grandpa's words were always there to remind him. Three months into his prison term Al accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Facing 10 years in prison, sick of living, empty and unhappy with his life, he sat on his bed looking at the cross on his back wall night after night. He felt condemned for his past sin, struggling in his mind with doubts regarding who Christ really was. One day as he looked at the cross he began to remember his grandpa's words reminding him that in spite of his sin, doubts and failure, AJesus loves you anyway@. He walked over to the cross and wrote the word AANYWAY@ by JESUS LOVES ME.

Al said he cried out to the Lord, ATake this life from me, I want you, Lord,@ and asked God for forgiveness. The next day it was like he had new eyes. He was in the same prison but everything looked so different. After that day he never smoked or used drugs again and he was filled with a desire to read the Bible and seek out other men of God. During his last six months in prison, a prison counselor told him about Damascus Way. After his release he entered the Damascus Way Reentry Center program. Today he is a graduate of the program, working at the job he found while at Damascus Way, newly married and a member of Antioch Christian Center.

Al said he learned great lessons in the Bible Studies and enjoyed the activities, like seeing a Passion Play while he was in the Damascus Way program. He was also encouraged by what he called the Christian stability of the staff, and some of the men in the program with him there. He was challenged and encouraged to continue growing in his walk with the Lord.

I want to thank you for the prayer and financial support you give to this ministry. Your gifts are vital to the success of this outreach. Thanks in advance for your continued support.

For the men of Damascus Way,

Rev. Dick Harden