“Behold, I make all things new.”
Revelation 21:5,
KJV
“When
someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He
is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17,
LB
Troy Watson is now part of the
solution. He used to be a part of the problem but no longer. I've
written about my friend Troy before. He's the former frequent flier
at the Barron County Justice Center who I met back in March of 2011
while he was incarcerated for his most recent bout of drunkenness. A
few months later when he was released he began attending our
fellowship's weekly worship gathering and a month or so later made a
very public profession of faith in Christ (see Being born again on Sunday). It wasn't too
much longer after that he was baptized and at the beginning of 2012
became a member of the Refuge faith community. He's been a part of us
ever since.
Over the last two and a half years he
has donated his skills to the remodeling project in the lower level
of our facility, has participated in one Alpha course and hosted
another in his home. In perhaps one of the most significant events at
our fellowship this year, he and his wife, Marie, renewed their
wedding vows in February (see You were right, Lillie. It did lead to dancing.). And right up there with that
event was what happened in the summer of 2012 when he earned his
“get-out-of-jail” free card and became a volunteer at the Barron
County Justice Center – the very place where he once cooled his
heels in the orange jumpsuit that is regulation clothing there (see Sometimes the leopard can). Since that time he has been my right hand man at the JC. Where
once he was timid to say more than his name, he now does much of the
talking during the sharing time at the monthly services we lead
there. In fact, this past summer he began taking an on-line Bible
school class. His goal is to ultimately become certified so that he
can go to the jail as a chaplain and not just as my helper. My goal
is that one day he become the leader of our outreach to the JC and
that I go along as his helper.
 |
| Troy's baptism - Summer 2011 |
 |
| Troy & Marie's re-wedding day |
“Troy's
story is such an inspiration to me.” I heard that twice today by
two different inmates at the JC. The first time was this morning.
*Bill is on his way out of the Justice Center. He's on what they call
“short time.” He's just about served his sentence. He's gained
Huber privileges and that means he's back to work. I ran him to Rice
Lake this morning to get some issues squared with the Social Security
administration. On the way back to the JC as we were sharing back and
forth Bill expressed how Troy's story is such an inspiration to him
that by the grace of God he can make it, too. And then this
afternoon, while back at the Justice Center and sitting in
Professional Visitation #2 and getting acquainted with an inmate
named *Freddo whom I had never met before, I heard it again: “Troy's
story is such an inspiration to me.” Freddo is a guy who was never
raised in church and like Troy has dealt with repeated bouts of
alcoholism much of his life. According to him, this time he's lost
everything including the woman who is the mother of his three
children. He's only been locked up for about two months but one day
at the jail recently he asked for a Bible and began to read bits and
parts of it. “I've now given my life to God and I want to know how
I can rebuild it.” During our conversation that followed that
statement he made the assertion that the last time we led the worship
gatherings in October how inspired he was by Troy. “If he made it
maybe I can too.”
 |
| Priceless: Troy at his son's baptism this past summer |
I know
whenever Troy gets around to reading this it will encourage him –
to be called out twice in the same day by guys who are presently sitting where
he used to sit is high praise. But then he will be quick to deflect
attention to where it needs to be – to the One who can save to the
uttermost. In October, Tom Stamman was with us for another one of his
prophetic gatherings. During the evening he called Troy out of the
crowd. Even though Tom ministers at our fellowship twice a year, it
was Troy's first experience with him. This is what he said as he
prayed over Troy: “You used to be part of what's wrong with this
country. You used to be part of the problem but now you're part of
the solution.” Amen to that. Right now, Troy's ambition is to
organize a venture to hand out goodie-bags at the JC this Christmas
that will include not only something sweet but also personal care
products, things that are in high demand there. This, too, is the
fruit of salvation and living proof that God is more than able to
make all things new.
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