Jerry has been with us for a three years and 4 months. Like our brother Stew, Jerry has been with us longer than usual. Most of our men move on after eighteen months. Although he does not actually work FOR the ministry, Jerry continues to be with us because of two things: (1) we love having him with us as a discipling/stabilizing influence on the men who have come after him and (2) he wants to be with us to help the ministry in any way he can (serving at our Saturday Breakfast Outreaches and with our Sunday Street Ministry, etc.).
Jerry has a very sober opinion of himself. He knows where he would be apart from his relationship with Jesus Christ. Jerry is a very hard worker. He really puts his hand to whatever task the Lord places before him. When we first met Jerry he was living in a motel and working at the Golden Corral in Audubon, NJ. He came to live with us on the recommendation of his parole officer and continued to work at the Golden Corral. He worked long hours there but loved it. Unfortunately, that location closed down and he, along with all of the other workers, lost their jobs. It was difficult for him to find another position given his criminal history. He worked for a friend or two whenever work was available...he also worked for a few people from various local churches doing odd jobs (installing water heaters, anything). But he always knew that the Lord would place him in the right place as long as he kept applying for jobs and was patient. That position opened up at a local Dunkin Donuts when he ran into a guy that he had served time with and who was already working there. The position that was open was the overnight shift...9pm until 5 or 5:30am.
Jerry knew working that shift would create some issues concerning church (he would be dead tired on Sunday mornings) and with his attendance at the Thursday night Reentry Meeting for ex-offenders that South Jersey Aftercare hosts at Antioch Baptist Church (he would not be able to attend because he would be on his way to work right in the middle of the meeting). So he thought he would give it a go "for a season". As you may have expected, the "season" began to appear never-ending and Jerry was beginning to feel the effects of not being alert in church on Sundays and not being in regular fellowship with other Christian men on Thursday evenings. He began asking the manager of the Dunkin Donuts if he could switch to a shift that was more conducive to church and consistent fellowship but nothing was really happening in that regard...we prayed about it and then put it out to our regular Prayer Team for the ministry...not long after we had a number of people praying for Jerry's situation things began to change. A slot opened up on the 2pm to 9pm shift and a replacement was found for Jerry's old overnight shift. So now he is alert for church on Sunday and he requested and received Thursdays off so that he could attend and participate in the Thursday evening Reentry group for ex-offenders.
The change in schedule did not come without a cost. In order to switch from the overnight shift to his current shift, Jerry had to take a $1.25 PER HOUR pay cut. He felt, however, that his relationship and walk with the Lord and consistent fellowship with like-minded men outweighed the extra $40.00 per week. We are confident that the Lord is going to honor Jerry's faithfulness and commitment.
Another life changed..."I was blind, but now I see..."
