Laurens County group leads effort to keep people out of prison

A local organization wants to not only help adults when they leave prison, but hopefully also keep young people from becoming part of the system in the first place.

This was the message during the second annual Restoring the Broken Workshop, held by The Compassionate Advocate, Inc., on Aug. 29 at City on a Hill. The event brought together faith leaders, community organizations and others involved in law enforcement and the legal system, with the goal of preventing crime before it happens by addressing the issues that lead people to becoming incarcerated.

“It’s good to see so many people have the heart and desire to come out and hear about prison re-entry ministry and how we can try to prevent crime from happening because it affects all of our families,”  said Melisha L. Johnson, executive director of the Compassionate Advocate Inc. “Re-entry (from prison) is one thing, but we are trying to reach them before bad things happen. A lot of our young people are getting in trouble. We want to show them that we aren’t here to judge them.” 

Johnson wants youth to realize that going to prison is not a badge of honor. And she knows from experience.

“I was one who was caught before and went back in,” Johnson said. “When I went back, I knew I had to have a heart change. I was tired and I was getting older. I was missing my family, and my grandmother died while I was in prison. I knew I had to make a stop and a change.” 

She saw so many young people in prison, so she began to mentor them. Johnson got tired of seeing so many of them.

“I asked the Lord to help me to help them,” she said. “It started in prison and came out with me.” 

Johnson was happy to have Dublin Circuit District Attorney Harold McLendon at the event.

“It’s amazing that I am a former incarcerated person and I have the DA here on my side,” Johnson said. “He was here because we are all about the same thing. Just because he’s a prosecutor, he doesn’t want to send so many people to jail. So, let’s figure out what we can do to keep them from going into the system. To be able to work together and be able to collaborate and help others is a good thing.”

One of the speakers, Pastor Christopher Watkins, said everyone has been through some tough things in life, especially young people.

“They don’t know which way to go,” Watkins said. “They are looking for someone to tell them which way to go. Youth need to know the word of God and the church provides sound doctrine.” 

He said it was important to have youth at events like the
Restoring Broken Workshop.

“We have got to help them before the cycle begins,” Watkins said. “Mommy and daddy have to be together whether they are in the same house or not. I am divorced, but (my son) never saw bitterness between us.” 

It is important to have people invested in young people. It is also important for young people to take responsibility when they make a mistake.

“I was lost as a youth, but I was trained and came back (to the church),” Watkins said. “The kids need to know that I did somethings, but they need to hear that I put those things away and I’m with Jesus now. I’m high with God!”

Pastor Nate Dudley mentioned he saw dark cultures and violence when he worked in Texas before moving to Dublin to lead Liberty Church. He agreed with Watkins in that youth need the Bible.

“If you give me the Gospel, I’ll reach the next generation,” Dudley said. “We need to be relational. Jesus did life with people. Sixty percent of leadership is presence. Just show up. That will change relationships.” 

He admitted to also doing some crazy things when he was a youth. In fact, things he probably should have been arrested for.

“I was an idiot as a kid,” Dudley said. “Therefore, I’m going to love them where they are and be relatable. That creates connection. That gives truth to voice. Be the real Jesus. Be who God called you to be. Kids have plenty of friends. They need leaders.”

And the adults need to share Jesus.

“If your foundation is built on anything other than the Bible, it will crumble,” Dudley said.

The Compassionate Advocate will soon be working with the Angel Tree program to help young people in Dublin receive Christmas gifts.

“We give gifts from the incarcerated parents to their children,” she said. “Last year we had 135 children who had parents or grandparents who were incarcerated and there is probably more. We are looking to be a blessing to them.” 

Johnson works with community leaders, correctional institutions, churches and government agencies, with her sights set to help people re-enter society and to keep others from going in.

“There is a need. This is a real need,” she said. “Everybody needs someone to talk to. The goal is for people not to go to jail or prison. Whatever we can do to try to help them, that’s what we do.” 

For people seeking more information about the Compassionate Advocate can reach out to Johnson at (706) 631-6389. 

“We have so many calls coming in so please leave a message or number and we’ll get back to them,” Johnson said. “We’ll hear what they need and we’ll try to go find it for them.”