Unintended Consequences

This article was originally published in the Franklin News-Post.

An aspect of our ministry, My Brothers’ Crossing, is an outreach to those that find themselves incarcerated.  I would estimate that we are ministering to more than two dozen men who are behind bars at local and regional jails and state correctional centers.  I promise you that this is not a place that I ever saw myself as recent as three years ago.  And, it has come with some unintended consequences.  I want to share a story with you with permission of the woman recently who wrote to me.

My wife, Terri Lee, and I were ministering to a man who was incarcerated at the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin, VA.  It started with a telephone conversation and exchanging written letters.  I was approved for a pastoral visit to see him.  While he was incarcerated, he expressed compassion and concern for his aunt and her family.  He asked if my wife and I would reach out to her to offer prayer and support.  We did.

This woman lives in the New River Valley.  To this day, my wife and I have never met her in-person.  She had shared with us that she has a son who suffers from effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Her son is 18-years-old and was a handful when he experience an outburst that is common to some who are affected by ASD.  This woman expressed grave concerns for her safety because of her son’s size and strength.  She also expressed a mother’s love – a love for her son that was clear in words and action.  She expressed that she was at her breaking point and did not know what else to do.

Of course, we prayed with her and for her and her son.  We offered encouraging words and bible verses upon which to read and meditate.  I then reached out to a colleague in this part of our region.  I explained the situation to him and asked for a resource with whom I could possibly connect this woman and her son.  After a series of telephone calls, I provided some information to this woman and suggested that she reach out to them.  

Recently, I received this communication from this woman.  She was writing to share her experience and to encourage my wife and I to continue pressing on in our ministry work.

“I wanted to take a minute this morning to say thank you.  Since first talking with you and your wife, I felt as though there was someone praying for this family.  Prayers are being answered in ways that can for the first time be seen.  My son is doing so well.  I cannot begin to tell you how good it is to feel him giving me a hug and to hear him say he loves me.  It is so good to see a real happiness in his eyes.  His doctor, who you helped connect us to, has finally found a medication that works for him.  He can have a life without being ‘drugged out of his head.’  We are sleeping at night.  I can sit down and have some calm and peace.  Many in the world see my son as a kid with autism that can never do anything.  To me, he is a wonder and an amazement every day.  He is intelligent, funny, loving, and empathetic toward others.  God used you and your ministry to lead us to this doctor that has helped my son and our family.  It’s been a long, hard, dark road.  But today, I can look up with hope and faith that it’s all okay.  The storm is almost over.  The sun is shining, J.T., the darkness is moving away.  God has brought us through.  I praise Him. And I thank you for your prayers and actions.”

My wife and I did not set out to minister to this woman.  It was an unintended consequence of an outreach toward a man who is imprisoned.  To God, there are no unintended consequences.  When we walk in love toward His people, He is there.  As for my wife and me and our ministry, we will continue reaching out to Love God…Love People!