Praises & Prayers
November 19, 2003
On November 15th, Jesse walked out of prison a free man! It has been
a thrill to watch him rediscover the world and greet all the many friends
who have stood by him over the years. Look for updates in the coming
weeks. Send Jesse a note -- he still needs your encouragement!
November 2003
With thanksgiving and great joy, Jesse will come home November 15th.
His five-and-a-half year ordeal will finally be over. My prayer has
been that the flame of faith, hope and love be kept alive within him in
the midst of a place filled with doubt, despair, and fear. Words
fail to express how much your cards, letters and prayers have meant during
his incarceration. They were proof positive to him that goodness
still exists. That for all its hardness, the world is still a kind,
tender place. Thank you for lifting him up.
We
praise God that Jesse has been blessed with so many friends eager to
welcome him home. We are grateful that Jesse has found a job that
will begin soon after his release. Please continue to pray for Jesse
as he makes his transition home.
October 2003
Jesse will be home next month! We still aren't sure of the
exact date. It will be somewhere in the range of November 15th-27th.
He is eager (to say the least) to be free, to be home, to be with friends
(new, positive friends!!!) and to begin to give back what he has received
these past five-plus years from so many. Drop him a note of
encouragement as he heads into his final days in prison. Pray
that he will be able to find a job upon release. And pray that he
will be safe, and that he will emerge from this horror with faith, with
hope, and with a deep and enduring love of life, freedom and God.
Some sat in darkness and in
gloom,
prisoners in misery and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor;
they fell down, with no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
he brought them out of darkness and gloom,
and broke their bonds asunder.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.
For he shatters the doors of bronze,
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
Psalm 107:10-16 (NRSV)
August 2003
"The darkest hour is just before dawn". Jesse has
recently suffered some setbacks and has lost his job (in his unit) and
some of his good days. We are now anticipating November for his
release date. Pray that his focus will remain where it should be.
June
2003
Jesse's in the home stretch! You would think we would know
precisely the day (and hour) he will walk out of there, but we're not
entirely sure. He earns a certain number of "good days"
per month for good behavior, classroom and work participation, and
security classification. Jesse has control over his behavior, but
not the other categories! If everything goes as we hope, Jesse will
be out in September. Pray for him -- this is an important
time.
April
2003
Jesse turns 21 this month (April 21st -- his golden
birthday!). I'd like to encourage you to jot him a quick note or
send him a card. Getting a note of encouragement in prison is so
important -- It's hard to express how much this simple act means. In
my view it is an act of worship (See Matthew 25:34-36). He's been
locked up since he was 15 -- and the love and support he has received from
friends like you have carried him through this nightmare.
That's my praise! Please pray for Jesse as he's in the home stretch
and looking forward to being released this summer or early fall!
January
2003
Thanks to everyone who sent Jesse a Christmas card. In all,
he received 65 cards! Thanks to your support and prayers, Jesse made
it through what we hope will be his last Christmas.
October
2002
Jesse has kept his sense of humor despite all the setbacks.
It's great to hear him laugh during our visits together. Although
his parole appeal was declined, Jesse has somehow managed to
persevere. He's grateful to have so many friends who've stuck by him
through all the ups and downs.
July 2002
In the wake of his parole denial, Jesse has continued to
demonstrate great faith, hope and resolve. This isn't to say that he
hasn't also experienced weariness and pain as he eyes the additional two
years he has yet to serve. Each day is a challenge to stay focused
and on track. He is doing remarkably well considering all that he
has faced. He has appealed the parole board's decision and we are
waiting for that verdict. Please continue to write to him -- prison
is a lonely place. To hear his name at mail call is the highlight of
his day.
April 2002
Things went very well at the initial hearing and he was
recommended to be paroled -- However, when the decision of the full
board of parole came back, Jesse's request for parole was declined.
They have told him he will have to serve the remainder of his term (2
additional years). This was a devastating decision. Jesse
is handling this setback with remarkable resiliency and resolve. His
faith and the support and prayers of his many friends have carried him
through. Thanks to everyone who has been there for Jesse on this
journey. Please write him a note and let him know he's not alone.
February 2002
Jesse's parole hearing is quickly approaching. On March
6th at 8 a.m. we will make our case for why Jesse should be granted
parole at this time. Thanks you to those who have written the parole
board in support of Jesse. This is a stressful and exciting time --
filled with hope. Please pray for Jesse and his hearing -- as well
as his knee! He's having great pain in his right knee -- he's been
playing basketball recently after many months of inactivity because of his
confinement in "Protective Custody".
January
2002
Jesse made it through another Christmas and continues
to do very well. He loves watching college basketball on TV and
hopes that Duke will go all the way again this year. He is grateful
to have so many supportive friends who write him and keep him in their prayers. He's getting anxious for his parole hearing as you can
imagine. Please continue to think of him.
December 2001
I'm thankful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving with
Jesse this year. As Jesse's 4th Christmas in prison approaches, I
ask that you keep him in your prayers. Prison is a lonely and depressing
place, no more so than at Christmas. But at Christmas we are
joyfully reminded that God is with us. I hope this will be Jesse's
last Christmas behind bars -- his parole hearing is March 1st.
October
2001
I haven't been able to update this webpage since July because of
technical problems! Jesse is doing exceptionally well. I'm
really proud of him -- he's hanging in there, despite all the negativity
around him. He got his visits back in early October which is making
things much easier for both of us. His attitude is very good,
bolstered by the numerous letters and cards he's been receiving from new
and old friends alike. Thanks to all who have written or asked about
Jesse -- please keep him in your prayers.
July 2001
This past month of isolation has been one of the most difficult yet for
Jesse. While he is physically safe, he's been struggling emotionally with
depression. A note or card would be much appreciated! There's a chance that
Jesse will get his visits back soon. Please keep him in your prayers.
June 2001
They say it's always darkest before the dawn.... Jesse's visits have
been suspended for 6 months after a cell search turned up contraband. Jesse had
recently been moved into the cell and he had no knowledge the contraband was there.
Pray that Jesse's deep frustration and disappointment will turn to trust and hope.
May 2001
Jesse was thrilled to receive about 50 birthday cards! "Thank you"
to everyone who took the time to write -- your notes and expressions of encouragement mean
more than you'll ever know. Jesse is enduring (that's about the only way to put it)
being locked down 22 hours a day. Please pray that he will not grow weary and lose
heart.
April 2001
Jesse has gone through some tough times in a very dangerous place. Earlier
this month he was moved to the protective custody unit. While safe now (we hope), he
must endure being locked in his cell 22 hours a day. He has roughly 11 months until
his next parole hearing. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
March 2001
Please pray for Jesse's physical safety as well as his emotional and
spiritual health during some very dark and difficult days.
February 2001
We praise God for the way He's worked through Jesse to bring his cellmate Terry to
salvation. "The
LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He
will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
January 2001
Jesse asks that you keep his cellmate Terry in your prayers. Terry's mother
passed away January 16th.
December 2000
Please keep Jesse in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas. (This is his
third Christmas in prison.)
Jesse really enjoyed his woodworking class in prison and made
some very beautiful things, including this clock.
November 2000
Pray for Jesse's safety and that he will continue to be faithful in the midst of
trial.
September 2000
Pray for Jesse as he grieves the loss of his dear friend, Heather Nicole Tipton,
18, in an automobile accident.
August 2000
Good news - Jesse passed his GED!!!
Jesse's graduation at NECC, 9/29/00
July 2000
Praise God for keeping Jesse safe and away from harm. Please pray for
Jesse's continued physical safety.
April 2000
We thank God for moving Jesse to a facility closer to home.
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On My Way
by Bernie Jesse Evans, 1999
Moving
Moving from place to place, house to house was just
part of life for me growing up. It had a huge effect on me. Moving meant going
to new schools, losing old friends, meeting new friends and never having stability.
I never really had a stable home life. Part of reason was that my grandmother was
always sick, so we would move so we could afford to take her to her doctor's
appointments. I would sometime skip school to go with her to the doctor's. My
grandmother was a big part of my life. She passed away when I as 13, and that's when
I started down the dark path leading to destruction.
Destruction
My grandmother passed on into heaven on November 18,
1995. I was heart- broken, mad at everyone, including Jesus for taking my
grandmother, my favorite person in the world. I started getting in trouble --
fighting, skipping school to get high, stealing things I couldn't afford. The way I
looked at thing was like this, if I want it and can't buy it, I'll just take it. I
didn't care about anyone or anything, especially God. I wouldn't listen to my mother
and I wouldn't obey the law. I thought I was above the law.
Facing Time
This way of thinking caught up with me. I had
gotten into a lot of trouble in the summer of 1996. In October of that year they
were ready to send me away, so I thought, "They'll have to catch me first."
So me and two of my so-called friends went and stole a Jeep. Of course, we
got caught. I was sent off for 45 days to a place called the Observation and
Assessment Center in Johnson City, TN. While there I was doing good and not getting
into any trouble. About a week into my stay, I was approached by a stranger who was
a volunteer there. Little did I know that this stranger would turn out to be my
greatest friend in my life. His name was Mark Peacock. He was telling me about
God and how He sent His only Son to die on a cross for my sins. I told Him that I
used to go to church with my Grandma and I had accepted Christ as my Savior, but that I
went astray, leading a very sinful life. That night I accepted Christ for a second
time into my life and it felt great. My 45 days were up and I went back to court.
However, I got sent back off for 6 to 9 more months. I never knew why I had
gotten sent away for a second time when I had done everything right for a change.
The day I went to court they put me in lock-up again. Mark came to tell me that
everything was gonna be alright because God has a plan for me.
But I was angry. Angry enough to go back to my
old ways again. On January 1st, 1997 I ran once again. Four days later, I
turned myself in. This time they sent me to a place called Mountain View
Detention Center in Dandridge, TN. It's a secure, lock-down facility that houses 144
teenage felons. Mark came to visit me and I got back on track. Eventually I
was moved to a group home in Johnson City where I did great -- going to church with Mark
every Sunday night. Even though I still made plenty of mistakes while locked up, I
had changed a lot with the help and love of my Savior.
This is a picture of Jesse, myself and our friend Eddie Joe taken at church in June 1997 when Jesse was 15 years old.
Coming Home
October 3, 1997, I left the state's custody to go
back home. I was doing so great for the first month and a half, but then I started
back to my old ways. This time I was worse. I became involved with a
gang. I was using and selling drugs. I was having the time of my life (or so I
thought!!!). Soon after the first of '98, I was back in trouble with the law.
I had threatened a bus driver with a knife. Nothing happened to me when I went in
front of the judge. So I thought, "Hey, once again I'm above the
law."
Using
I was really strung out on weed -- my friends and I
smoking about $80-120 worth a day. We thought of ways of stealing cars, robbing,
beating people up. And we thought that it was cool. All this time I never once
thought of something positive. I only thought of ways I could get a buzz.
While doing that I didn't know or care how I was treating my family or my Savior Jesus
Christ, nor did I care for myself. This went on for four more months until I got
locked back up for something really bad. I had kidnapped three people -- and if that
wasn't bad enough I escaped the day before my 16th birthday -- stealing the state's van
and driving down to Florida. They charged me as an adult and sentenced me to 7
years.
Turning a New
Leaf
Now in detention again, I thought about all the mean
and hateful things I had done to people, myself and God. I was really upset with
myself. I had been so bad for so long -- when I should have just kept my faith and
trusted in God. I asked God for His forgiveness (again) and my life is so much
better now. I can pray to my Father about anything and He listens. Jesus died
for my sins, and that's the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me. He gave me
His life and paid the price so I wouldn't have to spend eternity in hell.
I'm still in prison now, but I'm not alone.
Not even for a second. God is always watching over me and walking beside me.
It's a hard struggle for a Christian in this place, but I look at it like this: Jesus
suffered pain, so much pain for me, I should not complain. It's a struggle to stay
focused on being a Christian, especially with all the evil and temptations in this
place. But I can make it through with the help of my Savior.
Thanks
Brothers and sisters, thank you for letting me share
my walk with God. I hope it inspires you to stay focused on the Lord.
In Christ,
Jesse
P.S. If you
have any questions or would like to share your testimony with me, here's my address:
Bernie J.
Evans
P.O. Box 741
Milligan College, TN 37682 |
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