“Love as I have loved” - Part IV
In their ministry to prison inmates and ex-offenders, Glenn and fellow volunteers of Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS) work hard to assure them that they are not alone in their journey of reintegration and rehabilitation.
“All of us have problems and we need support. That is why we are walking together. When we are in constant contact, we can detect emerging problems and apply the emergency brakes when one slides back into sin or trouble. In such times, we will need someone to warn us, ‘Don’t go deeper, brother. Jesus loves you. Don’t go back to the pit when you’ve already jumped out.’”
Follow Through is crucial
Part of Glenn’s ministry involves visiting the prison twice a month together with other PFS volunteers, to offer Christian counselling or help in gang desistance programs. As one who has been impacted by such a ministry during his incarceration, he knows how critical and life-changing this work can be.
“Every occasion that we go into the prison to see the inmates, is an evangelistic opportunity. It is important that we let them hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and our testimonies when they have a clear mind and not under the influence of drugs. We want them to see hope and know that they have an opportunity to change.”
Going further, Glenn added that they must be prepared to lead and guide the inmates after their release and know how to follow up with them. He said, “Many ex-offenders don’t know how to walk out (of their situation) and can easily fall back into their old ways. We must take them by the hand and walk with them step by step and are willing to journey together with those whom we have counselled in the prison. We tell them that if they want to find us, they can go through PFS and PFS will lead them to us.”
Not a fleeting connection
When ministering to ex-offenders, Glenn feels that he must be a part of their lives to have an influence and allow them a part in his. Having such a thought, he allows them to get to know him, and invites them over for dinners with his family. He will also organize outings and visits to their homes to learn more about their family situations. Some ex-offenders, for example, do not have good relations with their parents, wives or children.
“We will pray together, worry together, laugh together and cry together. Having this kind of relationship is important if we truly want to support each another. Personally, I feel that this is a long journey that can take many years. It could start before the brother goes to jail, during his incarceration and leading up to his release, into his search for a job and getting married.” said Glenn.
For this reason, he understands that he needs to exercise prudence in taking on mentees, committing to being a companion to only one or two brothers at any one time. Even though he walks closely with them, there are occasions where the brothers fall back into their old patterns of living. “We must love them just as God has loved us. Within my boundaries, where I can help, I will help them.”
God’s truth lived out
One ex-offender that Glenn helped was Mallory* (not his real name). Due to his drug habits, he kept slipping back into a life of crime, to the extent that nobody believed Mallory whenever he said he wanted to change. However, Glenn told him, “When you want to change, I will be there for you… I will go and meet you.” With God’s help and Glenn’s support, Mallory finally made good of his word and changed his life. Through it all, it was Glenn who brought him to a halfway house and introduced him to a church. Looking back, Mallory has come a long way since. He is now a husband and father, living a drug-free life and he never ceases to praise God for all that the Lord has done in His life.
Mallory’s turnaround made Glenn realize that he should never give up hope on others. “We often have doubts about people who expressed their desire to change but never did. Despite our best intentions to help, we can’t help but wonder if he truly means what he says or he is wanting to take advantage of us. In all of this, we need to practice wisdom.”
In the Bible, it was Peter who asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22) Seventy times seven reflects the ethos of offering countless second chances with true big-hearted forgiveness. Glenn strives to apply this truth in his life, especially towards the ex-offenders. “You cannot simply be holy in church when it is easy but be another person at work or out of church. We receive very good teaching from God’s Word that we can apply in our lives and let people see the glory of God.” (Matthew 5:16)
Second chances
Glenn now runs a company called Summit Vision Pte Ltd, which provides commercial display and TV wall mount installation services.
He started employing ex-offenders in 2017. He does so because he wants to help them. He said, “I believe many of them want a fresh start, but they just couldn’t find help, or they don’t know how to get started. I can easily understand their struggles because I’ve come down this path as an ex-offender myself. I’ve also experienced being despised by others. We all need a second chance to gain the trust of others with the right attitudes. I’ve received help from others along the way, and I want to give back by helping others.”
As such, he perseveres in employing ex-offenders despite many failed attempts and difficulties along the way. Some of them started employment with anger management issues, attitude problems or were still susceptible to bad influences outside. “It is normal that friction exists among co-workers. The question is how we resolve problems when we face them. I always tell my team to treat me as their leader more than their boss. What I want is more communication. If they are facing problems at work, lets’ solve it together! Let us talk it through, hear each other out, and be open to understand and reconcile. Even pray together.“
Staff Family
Glenn and his employees are a very close-knit team. More than a company, they are a family who welcome ex-offenders – those who are willing to change and learn - to come onboard with them.
Early on in his practice, Glenn saw the need to have a good organizational structure by ensuring that there was a sensible ratio of ex-offenders to regular staff. This helped offer his team a positive influence and a good support system.
Over the years, Glenn has built up a small and reliable team of staff. Among them is Sze How, an ex-offender. Sze How appreciates Glenn for being a very patient boss and brother. He shared that Glenn would never leave them to struggle on their own when they ran into problems at work, made mistakes, or not finish their job in time. He would made sure to see to the issue personally or that help was on the way. Sze How also feels most at home as Glenn would often rally the staff to eat out together and invite them to have dinner with his family.
“I want to have the ability to provide my staff with a good working environment, and not a place where they are left to fend for themselves. I want it to be such that we can see and look out for each other. If you have a problem, you can find and approach me. I don’t want to be a boss who is distant and unapproachable. I want them to have a comfortable environment to learn and work.
Joyful stewardship
Glenn is also heartened to see Sze How doing well. Initially a camp boy at The Helping hand, he has proven himself to be trustworthy and a reliable project leader since coming under Glenn’s wings.
Out of concern for Sze How and his other staff, Glenn constantly encourages them to pick up new skills and learn more things. “I want the best for them. I want them to go and upgrade their skills. I encouraged Sze How, for example, to get his driving license, and gave him time to go take lessons. I’ve told him before, that if he finds better opportunities elsewhere, I will not hold him back. I am assured now that even if my company shuts down, my staff can still make a good living elsewhere with his skillset and experience.”
Ministering to the needs of ex-offenders as we journey with them through life’s ups and downs is challenging, but not without joy. The changed lives and enduring friendships are to be celebrated! Like the Apostle Paul, Glenn and his fellow volunteers can rejoice in the glory of Jesus Christ manifest in the lives of those He has redeemed: “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor 3:3