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Unshackled
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| Knowing someone cares about you is a fundamental need. But for hundreds of kids, that simple idea can make the difference between a life locked up and a life full of potential. Allysa Adams introduces us to some United Methodists taking the message of “unconditional love” inside prison walls. | |||
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Joaquin Pillado has a destructive streak. For years, that destructive energy was self-directed.
Joaquin Pillado: “I started doing drugs, starting huffing paint.”
At 16, he ended up in a juvenile jail with nothing but attitude to help him survive.
Joaquin Pillado: “I thought nobody cared about me; nobody liked me.”
That all changed when Joaquin stumbled upon a Chayah prayer meeting at the jail.
Joaquin Pillado: “That people really cared about me. That’s what was making sense.”
The United Methodist-supported Chayah Ministries is a group of volunteers who make weekly visits to this Arizona juvenile detention center. For about an hour, they sing, pray, talk and make a difference in these kids’ lives with simple efforts.
Jan Harrison / Chayah Ministries Volunteer: “By talking to them and listening to them, we validate their self-worth.”
The volunteers also tutor and mentor individuals both in and out of the detention center.
Once Nicholas Chvoscovsky got out of the detention center, he had no job and no place to stay. But he had contacts with Chayah volunteers.
Nicholas Chvoscovsky / Chayah Participant: “It definitely helped to expand the support network. When I got out of Adobe, I made phone calls to the volunteers and they really were there for me.”
Today, both Nick and Joaquin work for the company of a Chayah volunteer. Every day, they use the simple lessons learned from strangers who became friends.
Unshackled—Tag:
Chayah Ministries is an ecumenical group made up of volunteers from all faiths. In Phoenix, a number of United Methodist churches serve as the organizers and sponsors of the prison ministry.