Living Above Reproach
A New Life from Jesus’ Love

        My dyslexia has had a very strong influence in my life. In all my years of going to school, I thought that I was defeating myself trying to learn. I went to church, before I came to prison, with my children. We were involved in doing things within the church. One day my life changed.I was convicted of a crime and went to prison. I was entering a new kind of life (in prison) that I would be living for many years. I was told it was a very hard, dark, and a hateful place where you can never show any fear.

The day I stepped off of the prison bus at Delano State Prison-Reception Center, we were herded like sheep going to the slaughter. A prisoner pulled me to the side.  He was a skin-head, huge with no fat, and tattooed from the neck down. He said, “Always wear your boots to the shower…” and began to explain many other things for survival while in prison. One thing that stood out to me was that he told me there was a better way to live in here, “every Sunday there is church.” A few days later, he was transferred.

I began attending church services and never looked back. Everything started to look brighter in that darkand hateful place I was in. I went to different prisons, and God always put a good Christian brother in my path to take me under his wing. No matter what the race, it always turned out right. I was learning a new life style by going to church and takingdifferent kinds of Christian classes. Some programs were secular, but I always used my Christian studies through the years. I had my ups and downs, but I continued trying to fully understand how to improve my thoughts, feelings, struggles,and how to control them all.

Then, I was transferred to Solano State Prison. I had a new way of looking at things through Jesus’ eyes. I completely understood how much discipline and determination I needed to understand what the Bible is saying. You need very strong brothers in Christ. I found there are many Christians here that are willing to go out of their way to help you. I found this out in the very building I was housed by some of my brothers in Christ.

God, through Life Above Reproach program, has opened my eyes even more. The facilitators’ research and hours of preparing to provide all the material needed for classes was a huge influence in creating a desire in me to learn and grow spiritually. If I want to succeed while having any self-worth in my life, I needed to have very strong values while wanting to improve so as to keep learning. I found that with my brothers in Life Above Reproach, I have learned that sometimes you have to give up things or put them on hold. The outcome of such self-sacrifices is a feeling you can only feel in Jesus Christ our Savior. I never felt anything like it before.Just doing His will by learning the Bible and living it in Jesus, I gained new life and strength. I gained this new life from being in Christ through my Bible, Life Above Reproach, and attending church regularly.

I now carry self-worth, motivation, determination, and my hunger to keep learning. Changing and improving my lifestyle, all comes from Pastor Carl, Life Above Reproach, and the six dedicated brothers that attended this program with me every Saturday. They are my mentors, and my Christian friends. I also have to thank my very best friend Cliff who taught me the true value of life, faith, hope, and love from Jesus. As long as you have all these values in Jesus, you will get through the hard times. I am blessed to have a strong Pastorand strong Christian friends that go out of their way to help and teach Baby Christians like me. Thank you for your time, and dedication Brother Mondo and all my true friends in the class. I am being blessed beyond my wildest dreams. May God be with us all!

By  Richard L. Griffith