Tales from the West Texas Dust

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We continue with the conclusion of our interview with Randy and Rosie Williamson:

101: A follow-up question...in terms of the political thing, the recent initiative goin on with faith-based ministries dealing with the fact and the recent emphasis like I saw in a recent article from the Houston Chronicle that profiled what Prison Fellowship has done with the InnerChange program over at Jester [II unit in the Houston area]...in terms of those things about that type of program, what are your comments towards it? What is your response to that? Do you think it helps, hinders, or what? What are your thoughts towards it?

Mr. Williamson: I don't know that much about the InnerChange program except that...if it's being done by Prison Fellowship, the guy who started that ministry - he was sent to prison, and his eyes were opened. And when he came out, he saw the need. And I would say that if Prison Fellowship is involved in anything in the State of Texas, it can only produce good.

101: I want both of you personally to tell me - what would ya'll personally say to those in the general public who are either distrustful or afraid of an ex-convict and, as a result, are unwilling to allow them to reintegrate back in to society?

Mr. Williamson: I would say to those people - if you don't trust an ex-convict to mow your yard or to work for you in your company or to sit with you in the same pew with you in church; if you don't trust him because he's an ex-convict, then go into you local prison and check yourself in for 30 days and live the life of an inmate for 30 days. And when you come out, you will have a different attitude about convicts and ex-convicts. That's what I'd say to them.

Mrs. Williamson: I would say if you don't trust an ex-convicts - you don't trust God because God is in both of you. You are the Church - whether you're a convict or not.

101: What advice would you two personally offer inmates who are about to be released back into the free world? And what about also ex-convicts, maybe those like yourself who have been out int the free world for a while? What advice would you offer both those types of people?

Mrs. Williamson: I would say - everything you do, do it for the good of God. And the more you do it in the name of God, the stronger you get to not be an ex-convict. You'll feel better about yourself.

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