Article by Lori Benoit | lori.benoit@gdc.ga.gov
My story begins in 1974, when I went to prison with two life sentences. While incarcerated, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship (FGBMF) in America came into the Rock Quarry Prison, now Phillips State Prison in Buford, and through them I was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1980.
It was at that time I stopped praying to get out of prison and began to ask God to train me, give me strength and boldness, and to be a good witness and example to men. This is when the second chapter of my sentence began. God told me he was putting me in the mission field ministry.
Having two life sentences, you have no idea when you will be released; so, between God and the outside FGBMF ministers, I decided that I was going to make the very best of my time and preach his word to help as many men as I could. My actions and attitude won me a great favor with the men. Very similar to the story of Joseph in Genesis, once I got started down the road God planned for me, there was no quitting or changing my mind. God was my motivator. In 1989, I was released after serving 15 years in prison.
In my prayers I asked where was the road going and what will happen now that I am out. I was plainly told that he wanted me to come back and minister to the others that were still incarcerated. They needed an example and a mentor to help keep them in their path. Two years after I was released, I began ministering and showing them there is life after prison.
As a volunteer, we make a commitment to be there and build trust within the prison community. We strive to be the example for people to follow. We want to stop the revolving prison door, and by doing so, we offer the men an option to participate in our Set Free After Care Ministry program when they are released.
"We want to stop the revolving prison door..."
- Tom Allanson
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