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Jermaine Wilson didn't just 'do time.' He allowed his time in state prison to be the forge that reshaped his entire identity. While he was separated from his children by cold steel, he refused to let his fatherhood go cold. Through programs like Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree, he learned that you can be a 'present father' even when you aren't physically in the room.
Jermaine didn't just return to society; he rose to lead it—eventually becoming the Mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas. He has moved on from being a mayor to working for Prison Fellowship as a Mission Ambassador. He’s helping other men realize that a 'Second Chance' isn't a gift you wait for; it’s a mission you build.
To connect learn more about Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program or to get involved, visit: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/
To find other resources on The Fatherhood Challenge, visit: https://linktr.ee/thefatherhoodchallenge
Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge
00:12.91
Jonathan Guerrero
There's a specific kind of silence that follows a father's failure. It's the sound of a door closing, a phone not ringing, or a seat at the dinner table staying empty.
00:24.06
Jonathan Guerrero
Most men believe that if they fall far enough, if they break the law, break their sobriety, or break their family's trust, that the leadership chapter of their life is over.
00:36.09
Jonathan Guerrero
They let shame build a wall thicker than any prison stone, and they convince themselves that their kids are better off without them. But today's guest is living proof that your history is not your heartbeat.
00:50.97
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine Wilson didn't just do the times. He allowed his time in federal prison to be the forge that reshaped his entire identity. While he was separated from his children by cold steel, he refused to let his fatherhood go grow cold.
01:07.32
Jonathan Guerrero
Through programs like Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree, he learned that you can be a present father even when you aren't physically in the room. Jermaine didn't just return to society. He rose to lead it, eventually becoming the mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas.
01:22.84
Jonathan Guerrero
Today, as a justice ambassador, he's helping other men realize that a second chance isn't a gift you wait for. It's a mission you build. And I'm going to introduce you to Jermaine Wilson, and we'll hear his inspiring story in just a moment. So don't go anywhere.
02:21.52
Jonathan Guerrero
Greetings everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode called from cell to city hall. My co-host Isaac has taken a break, so it's just me this time, but I am so excited to introduce you to my guest, Jermaine Wilson.
02:35.16
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, welcome to the fatherhood challenge.
02:38.13
Jermaine Wilson
Hey, thank you for having me today. I'm blessed to be here.
02:41.93
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, I know you have a powerful story to share, so I'm going to just step out of the way for a bit and let you share.
02:49.82
Jermaine Wilson
Well, thank you, first off, just for allowing me to be here. Just want to start off giving glory to my Lord Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity. to Growing up, I was exposed to drug crimes and violence at a very early age. I was blessed to be raised by both of my parents, but neither one of my parents completed high school. They both dropped out in the ninth grade.
03:15.10
Jermaine Wilson
And my father struggled with drug addiction and incarceration throughout the early years of my life. So the struggle wasn't nothing new for me. I was exposed to the struggle and was born into the struggle with poverty, the the violence, to drugs, the addiction throughout my childhood. And growing up being the middle child out of nine children,
03:38.71
Jermaine Wilson
I was always trying to find my place. I was always trying to search for an identity. I just wanted to be loved, valued, accepted, and appreciated. But that came with challenges. And I began to search for acceptance in the wrong place. And that led to a life of crime and drug addiction, which was at the age of 11 was the first time i started using drugs. And by the age of 12, I had committed my first crime.
04:08.15
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow, that is a powerful start.
04:13.68
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, many fathers who crash, whether it's prison, addiction, or a failed business, feel a crushing weight of shame that makes them want to just hide from their kids.
04:24.89
Jonathan Guerrero
How did you silence the voice telling you that your children were better off without a criminal for a father?
04:31.74
Jermaine Wilson
Well, after I continued that criminal lifestyle at the age of 15, I committed a robbery charge with census to four years in juvenile corrections. And once I got released, that's when God tried to get my attention by blessing me with the son. But I wasn't ready to be a father, didn't know how to be a father. And i was only out 18 months before I was convicted of possession of narcotics and census to three years in prison.
04:56.63
Jermaine Wilson
But I wasn't the only one impacted by my incarceration. i had an eight-month-old son who was impacted by my incarceration. And while I'm in prison, at this moment, I feel inadequate. I feel lost, confused.
05:11.40
Jermaine Wilson
wishing I had an opportunity to be there with my son. And so while in prison, I felt less of a father not knowing what to do. And i was just suffering in my cell due to the fact that I couldn't be there for my son. And while I was in my prison cell, I realized that it wasn't a matter of if I was gonna go to prison, it was a matter of when. And that cycle of crime and incarceration was just being perpetuated throughout of my family.
05:42.49
Jermaine Wilson
And I realized that if I didn't change my life, my son would walk in the same footsteps that my father had laid before me, the footprints that was full of pain, shame, guilt, and incarceration.
05:56.54
Jermaine Wilson
I didn't want that for my son, but I knew i had to be willing to face the reality of my situation. I left my son out in the world by himself.
06:10.55
Jermaine Wilson
Now I'm inside of the cell. What am I going to do with the time that I have left? And at that moment, that's when I made the decision. I wasn't going to leave prison the same way that I came to prison. I'm going to change my life, but I need help.
06:26.36
Jermaine Wilson
And when I cried out to God, that's when God sent for a prison fellowship in my life.
06:32.54
Jonathan Guerrero
So in a sense, it seems like you saw this opportunity as just that, an opportunity, a fresh start to make your future what you wanted it to be. And then furthermore, you saw that there was a potential for a generational cycle. You caught it right away and you were determined to break that cycle and change that that generational legacy going forward.
06:58.01
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir, that is correct. I realize we have the power to change. See, our change can break the chains of generational crimes and incarceration in our family.
07:10.65
Jermaine Wilson
It may have started with someone else, but it can stop with us because the moment that I changed my life, not only did it change the trajectory of my life, but it also changed the next generation, my son's life and his children, children, because the things that I was exposed to, I learned from those things and experienced them and was able to conquer them through Christ Jesus. And now I'm exposing my son to a new life, a life that's full of hope, potential and growth.
07:38.84
Jermaine Wilson
Prison didn't break me. God used prison to build me to be the father that I needed to be for my son.
07:46.58
Jonathan Guerrero
That time that you were in prison, you didn't feel alone, did you? do you you could Could you feel God's presence with you that entire time?
07:56.28
Jermaine Wilson
yeah Christ met me in my cell. And when Christ met me in my cell, his presence, the Holy Spirit, it was with me. Like throughout my life, I felt inadequate, incomplete, lonely, was searching for acceptance. But the moment that I surrendered my life, and gave my life to Jesus through the Prison Fellowship Program, that's when Christ met me in my cell. It fulfilled me. It completed me. Although I was physically in bondage, spiritually, i was free. And it was the free it was the most free I've ever experienced in my life. And the Bible tells us, for whom the Son says free is free indeed. And so all of those inadequacies, those those ah voids that I once had,
08:41.17
Jermaine Wilson
Christ literally started to begin to fulfill those void inside of my life. One prayer, one step, one day at a time. And when I went to prison, I felt like I was a deadbeat father. But the moment that I gave my life to Christ, that's when Christ restored everything that I had lost. And he gave me purpose and fulfillment as a father.
09:05.50
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay, so I know there's probably something deeper to that moment when you said Jesus met you. a lot of people think that an experience with God or Jesus is somewhat of a merit metaphorical or like an airy experience, but they don't think of it as a real tangible experience.
09:18.31
Jermaine Wilson
Mm-hmm.
09:24.86
Jonathan Guerrero
Talk about that moment, the actual moment when you encountered Jesus for the first time in your cell, when you understood His presence was real and was with you and he was meeting you right where you were and he was wanting to change you and to restore you. Talk about that exact moment when that happened.
09:45.86
Jermaine Wilson
I'll never forget. It was September, March 2008. I'm currently in the Prison Fellowship Academy program. I'm learning how to be a a better person, a good citizen, learning core values of good citizenship. Well, three months had went by and there was silence.
10:04.38
Jermaine Wilson
I have not heard from my son, my son's mother. I didn't know what was going on during this time period. And this was the loneliest I've have ever felt in my life.
10:15.10
Jermaine Wilson
And I'll never forget the day no one was in my prison cell. And I was just overwhelmed with emotions because I'm hurting and I'm feeling lost.
10:26.78
Jermaine Wilson
and um And I cried out. I said, God, if you are real,
10:30.13
Jonathan Guerrero
Thank you.
10:31.13
Jermaine Wilson
Please come come in my life. I don't want to know you like the way anyone else knows you. I need a personal encounter. And while I'm myself, I'm crying out to Jesus at this moment and I'm asking Lord to forgive me of my sins and everything that I've done. Please help me to be able to get my son back. I want my family, but change me, Lord, from the inside out. And when I i cried and said the Lord's prayer and asked for forgiveness, it was like chills coming over my body.
11:04.56
Jermaine Wilson
And as tears poured down my face, those tears of pain just began to become tears of praise because I started thanking God just for the transformation in the encounter.
11:05.94
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow.
11:15.36
Jermaine Wilson
But it was real because it it the change was starting from inside out, from my heart to my mind. And I just literally began to become complete and whole in that that frustration, the unforgiveness, all of those things that was once inside of me began to just dwindle away.
11:33.19
Jermaine Wilson
And so it's almost like listening to your favorite song. And, you know, like when you cut on that favorite song and it just puts you in the peace of mind, you just relax.
11:42.36
Jonathan Guerrero
Yeah.
11:43.64
Jermaine Wilson
Well, this was that times 10. It was the best experience I ever had in my life.
11:47.59
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow.
11:50.26
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow. That is amazing. So this was very, very real. This wasn't some metaphorical thing. There was a tangible experience and and a tangible encounter that you had with Jesus in your cell.
12:07.70
Jonathan Guerrero
Absolutely powerful.
12:08.06
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir.
12:09.27
Jonathan Guerrero
Absolutely powerful.
12:09.40
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir.
12:11.48
Jonathan Guerrero
You went through the in-prison program that equipped you for real skills. At what special moment did you stop identifying yourself as inmate number XXXX and start identifying as a leader again?
12:27.03
Jermaine Wilson
The moment that I began, the moment I surrendered and gave my life to the Lord, that's when I really begin to see things differently, like my mindset changed, my perspective changed. And that's when I was really able to not just learn the core values of good citizenship, I was able to apply them. And once I began to apply them, that's when the transformation really started to happen. That's when I realized like prison wasn't a place that was going to hurt me. God was using prison to help me. And the time that I had, it wasn't wasted time because anytime that you invest with God, God redeems the time. And so I wasn't just serving time. Time began to serve me. And i began to use my prison cell as a classroom, a place of education, learning, learning how to communicate, developing my skills, breathing my word, understanding.
13:24.02
Jermaine Wilson
I was literally using this as preparation time for what God had in store for me because I knew that my life wasn't over. And I knew the moment that I gave my life to the Lord, I was experiencing my second chance in restoration and with life.
13:40.73
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay, so there are many programs that are out there for inmates and all of them are, I shouldn't say all of them, but a lot of those programs are not geared towards God or geared towards teaching about Jesus or anything like that. theyre They are secular programs, very, very much so, and and intentionally secular.
14:05.94
Jonathan Guerrero
So for inmates that go through those programs, versus inmates that learn about Jesus and involve Jesus in their life and in their restoration.
14:17.88
Jonathan Guerrero
What is the difference?
14:20.54
Jermaine Wilson
But the difference is you have the secular programs that could change the way that you think, change the way that you view things, But when it comes with Prison Fellowship Academy, they teach you life skills from a biblical worldview.
14:37.82
Jermaine Wilson
And so not only are you learning how to think, you're learning how to treat others. You're learning how to forgive yourself. You're learning how to communicate. You're learning how to live amongst individuals in your communities. You learn how to agree to disagree when it comes to being.
14:56.95
Jermaine Wilson
fully understanding what a person believe or how they believe, but you find that common ground where you're able to build on that unity rather than focusing on division. and But overall, the thing that I love most about Prison Fellowship Academy They open the program to anyone. They're receptive to bringing anyone faith of no faith, and they want to expose you to Christ principles. And once you've been exposed to Christ principles, transformation takes place.
15:28.66
Jermaine Wilson
And there's so many individuals I've witnessed come in the program that were nonbelievers, walked out as believers. And the the the belief isn't forced upon you. It's just presented to you. But those that receive what's being presented, the moment that they apply it, they see the transformation takes place. And so is it real? Yes, it's real based upon what I experienced and encountered throughout my own life.
15:53.94
Jermaine Wilson
I encountered Jesus Christ through the Prison Fellowship Academy program. And so it worked for me. And I seen it work for so many other individuals.
16:03.06
Jonathan Guerrero
I know that there are statistics out there about inmates who return back into the system again. it happens all the time over and over and over again. Is there a difference between other programs and programs like Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program where the return rate is either really low or at zero for programs like Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Program versus other programs that do not talk about God.
16:35.54
Jermaine Wilson
Yeah, but the recidivism rate is low. I don't have the statistics, but I know if you were to look at Carol Vance, which is our Prison Fellowship Academy program that's located in Texas, they have some statistics. I'll be more than happy to send you that information, but it is lower compared to other organizations and that does in-prison program. And so the the the rate is in definitely lower. But the most important thing about the Prison Fellowship Academy
17:08.31
Jermaine Wilson
It's they walk alongside you while you're in prison. They use Prison Fellowship Angel Tree to serve your children while you're in prison. And then they also like it all works hand in hand. Not only you being served as a parent, but your children and your family members are being served as well. That's the difference. It's holistic restoration. It's holistic programming. Not only are we trying to impact the individual, but we're also trying to impact the their children, as well as the prison facility, because we also have our ward and exchange program. And then we also have our advocacy department that's advocating for individuals who are justice impacted.
17:50.40
Jermaine Wilson
And so it's a holistic ministry that is serving individuals because we truly want to help make a difference inside the prison and outside the prison together as a whole.
18:02.71
Jonathan Guerrero
Maintaining a relationship with your kids while incarcerated is incredibly difficult. What are the tactical things that you did to stay present in their lives when you couldn't physically be present in the home in their home?
18:17.26
Jermaine Wilson
I journaled every single day and wrote letters to my son because I wanted my son to know his father was always thinking about him. and when I signed up for the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program, the church presented a gift to my son on my behalf with the handwritten note that says, Dad loves you, I miss you, and I'm always thinking about you. And once my son received that that gift,
18:44.30
Jermaine Wilson
Although I couldn't physically be present, the presence of God showed up and he used that gift to create a connection between my son. My son loved that gift, played with that gift. But that was a reminder to my son that dad never forgot about him. And so as a parent that was once incarcerated, Prison Fellowship Angel Tree gave me an opportunity to be able to serve my son, which allowed the church to come around my family, serve my family, and welcome them into their community as well.
19:19.96
Jonathan Guerrero
For dads listening who don't know, how did that program specifically act as a bridge that kept your heart connected with your children during the holidays specifically?
19:32.85
Jermaine Wilson
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program gave me hope to be an apparent behind bars. Prison might have locked up my body, but it never locked up my purpose as a father.
19:46.52
Jermaine Wilson
As a father, We want to provide. We want to protect. We want to be present for our children. I was limited to what I could do for my son, but Prison Fellowship Angel Tree allowed me the opportunity to present a gift, to be present in the spiritual way. And that gift allowed me to be present in a tangible way.
20:07.96
Jermaine Wilson
But it gave me hope as a father, knowing that I had an opportunity to still provide for my son.
20:17.98
Jonathan Guerrero
So around the holiday times, you weren't completely disconnected from your family. the The prison fellowship gave you a bridge to be able to stay connected with your family, even over those holiday times that can be extremely difficult.
20:35.29
Jonathan Guerrero
In a way, they weren't completely without you.
20:39.77
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, it did. And like I said, three months prior to Christmas time, there was no communication between my son and I. But when that gift showed up that was presented on behalf of the um on behalf of me from the church,
20:55.90
Jermaine Wilson
You know, my my son's mother received that gift and presented it to my son. So not only did it have an impact on my son, but it also had an impact on my son's mother, which is now my wife.
21:08.31
Jermaine Wilson
And the beautiful impact that it had, it let her know that I was growing I was maturing and I was no longer a selfish individual because I decided to put my son before my own needs, my own personal needs. And so that touched her heart, ministered to her heart. But that gift created that bridge that created a connection between my son and I, as well as my son's mother, because not long after that, she surrendered and gave her life to the Lord as well.
21:42.33
Jonathan Guerrero
Oh, wow.
21:45.29
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow. How did that transpire? Was that due to your experience? was Was your experience the influence that caused her to give her life to Jesus?
21:55.22
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, because she started visiting me after she received that gift um and started bringing my son up. And I began to pray with him. I began to read the Bible with him during our visitations. And so she not only witnessed the change happening from the inside out, but she felt it. And the Holy Spirit is tangible. What's inside of you will connect to those around you. And so as I just continue to you know not act out of out of out of anger, frustration. She's seen that I've literally started communicating different. I was no longer using profanity, but I was always responding with peace and love. like That had an impact on her. And she said, what's ever inside of you? I want it for myself as well, because she got tired of living in society, serving time without me.
22:47.10
Jermaine Wilson
And she just surrendered and gave her life to the Lord, was tired of carrying that weight. But she's seeing how I was able to be free while in prison. And so she wanted that same freedom that I experienced as well.
23:00.41
Jonathan Guerrero
That's amazing. So the Holy Spirit literally was unit uniting your family, actually bringing your family together closer. Even during that time when you're physically separated by prison, the Holy Spirit was actively uniting your family.
23:19.32
Jonathan Guerrero
That is awesome. Absolutely amazing.
23:27.45
Jonathan Guerrero
So this next question is is very, very difficult, but it's important because there are many dads out there that are stuck in cycles of shame. who They've made decisions in their past or maybe currently are making decisions that are are really tough. ah Let's just say that they are not proud of.
23:51.67
Jonathan Guerrero
and And they're struggling with that and and they either have broken free or they're trying to break free.
23:58.66
Jermaine Wilson
Mm-hmm.
23:58.71
Jonathan Guerrero
And at some point, if you have kids, there are some conversations that are going to come up.
23:58.80
Jermaine Wilson
Great.
24:04.98
Jonathan Guerrero
How did you handle the conversation with your children about why you were gone? And how do you balance being honest about your mistakes without losing your authority as their fathers?
24:16.98
Jermaine Wilson
Well, to the fathers that's listening today, truthfully, you can only conquer those things that you're willing to confront. It took me confronting my past, owning my past, learning from my past, but most of all, surrendering my past to Jesus.
24:33.66
Jermaine Wilson
And once Christ forgiven me, once he forgave me, i had to learn to forgive myself as well. And so the moment that I began to forgive myself, I was able to not live a life of fear, shame or guilt.
24:50.17
Jermaine Wilson
So whenever I encountered my son, I was very truthful with my son once I was released from prison and shared with him the mistakes that I made. And I also share with him the teaching moment from those mistakes, because everything that we experience throughout our life, it's a lesson to be learned. And once you've learned that lesson, you're able to share with other individuals. And teaching my son from my mistakes, it helps me to not live in my past. It helps me to not be afraid or shameful of anything that I've done, because I know Christ has given me a second chance and he's forgiven me.
25:28.79
Jermaine Wilson
So I'm very open with sharing my story to my other children as well, because I want them to learn from my mistakes. I think the biggest mistake that parents make when they're not being transparent about their past, because there's nothing new under the sun. That's what the Bible tells us. So which means what you struggle with, your children are going to struggle with as well. So it's an opportunity for us to be able to teach them so they can learn from my experience so they don't have to make those same mistakes.
26:02.17
Jonathan Guerrero
When you ran for the mayor of Leavenworth, you were essentially asking the entire city for a second chance. Did your experience of reconciling with your family give you the confidence to reconcile with your community?
26:15.67
Jermaine Wilson
Yes. And the beautiful part about that reconciliation and restoration process, God allowed me to be able to get my criminal record expunged. And once I was released from prison, I just didn't wait on the sidelines to start serving my community.
26:31.10
Jermaine Wilson
I got actively involved. I reached out to the chief of police.
26:34.84
Jonathan Guerrero
Give me, hold on one second. Sorry to interrupt you. My system just powered off. Give me a second here.
26:55.35
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay. I apologize. Would you answer that question one last time I got it back up and running?
27:01.91
Jermaine Wilson
Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes. And so once I was released from prison, I started to serve my community immediately. i got involved with working with the police department to establish trust between citizens and law enforcement, started doing different outreach events, started feeding a homeless in the community.
27:22.94
Jermaine Wilson
The community that I grew up in, that I once took so much away from, I started to invest and give back to. And so the more that I was serving the community, I was getting forgiveness from the community along my journey.
27:36.73
Jermaine Wilson
And so when the time came for me to run for public office and become the mayor, the community knew exactly who I was.
27:42.76
Jonathan Guerrero
Thank
27:44.64
Jermaine Wilson
They were familiar with my past. And the thing that they loved the most about my journey I was always open and transparent about everything that I had done and what I had accomplished. And not only was I just sitting on my story, I was sharing my story with different kids. I became a mentor and a role model. But that just really touched the hearts of the voters and supporters in our community because they said we need someone who understands every side of life Because at this particular time, there was no one that represented everyone in our community. When individuals heard my story, they could relate to it because they were either impacted by the justice system or they had someone who's been impacted by the justice system. And they wanted someone that could have a voice and speak for all people and not just a small portion of our community.
28:43.54
Jonathan Guerrero
In your role with Prison Fellowship, you saw men at their absolute lowest. What is the one fatal lie you see incarcerated fathers believing most often, and how did you help them break it?
28:57.37
Jermaine Wilson
There are so many individuals that are currently in prison that feels like prison is the ending place. When I go inside a prison and communicate to the men and women, I let them know prison is not an ending place. This is a place of new beginning.
29:16.15
Jermaine Wilson
We all will experience rock bottom at a certain part of our life. And sometimes it takes a person being broken down and stripped away from everything they have in order for God to get their attention.
29:27.64
Jermaine Wilson
Now that you've experienced rock bottom, there's only one other place to go, and that is up. And so once you realize that Christ is your rock bottom, he's there with you every season of life. Now you have the strength to be able to stand there.
29:44.09
Jermaine Wilson
But you're not going to be standing by yourself because you have an advocate. You have someone that's standing with you. And that's our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so the message that I share with every individual that I encounter, Christ is real.
30:00.12
Jermaine Wilson
I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And then also, you never know who you are until you've encountered who you are not.
30:13.30
Jonathan Guerrero
As we close, what is your challenge to dads listening now?
30:20.58
Jermaine Wilson
Don't give up hope. Where you are is not who you are. God has created each and every last one of us on purpose for purpose.
30:34.42
Jermaine Wilson
We've all fallen short. We've all made mistakes, but your mistakes does not define who you are. God has called you to be a father and God will be with you and equip you with everything that you need to be able to serve your family.
30:52.12
Jermaine Wilson
During this time that you're in prison, don't waste the time. Use this as preparation time because time invested with God, God redeems that time. And one day you will soon be with your children and use Prison Fellowship Angel Tree as a bridge to connect you with your children.
31:10.36
Jermaine Wilson
God bless.
31:12.79
Jonathan Guerrero
A huge, huge thank you to the mayor, to Mayor Jermaine Wilson for his vulnerability and his service as Justice Ambassador. If you want to support the mission of keeping incarcerated fathers connected to their kids, check out Prison Fellowship and the Angel Tree Program.
31:30.14
Jonathan Guerrero
If you go to thefatherhoodchallenge.com, that's thefatherhoodchallenge.com, and you go to this episode and you're looking for the episode that's called From Cell to City Hall.
31:43.16
Jonathan Guerrero
from cell to city hall, go to that episode, look right below the episode description. I'm going to have the link posted to prison fellowship and the angel tree program posted right there for your convenience until next time, stay durable, stay humble.
31:58.55
Jonathan Guerrero
And remember that the greatest comeback of your life starts with the vit within the very next decision that you make. We will see you in the next episode.
By Jonathan GuerreroJermaine Wilson didn't just 'do time.' He allowed his time in state prison to be the forge that reshaped his entire identity. While he was separated from his children by cold steel, he refused to let his fatherhood go cold. Through programs like Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree, he learned that you can be a 'present father' even when you aren't physically in the room.
Jermaine didn't just return to society; he rose to lead it—eventually becoming the Mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas. He has moved on from being a mayor to working for Prison Fellowship as a Mission Ambassador. He’s helping other men realize that a 'Second Chance' isn't a gift you wait for; it’s a mission you build.
To connect learn more about Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program or to get involved, visit: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/
To find other resources on The Fatherhood Challenge, visit: https://linktr.ee/thefatherhoodchallenge
Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge
00:12.91
Jonathan Guerrero
There's a specific kind of silence that follows a father's failure. It's the sound of a door closing, a phone not ringing, or a seat at the dinner table staying empty.
00:24.06
Jonathan Guerrero
Most men believe that if they fall far enough, if they break the law, break their sobriety, or break their family's trust, that the leadership chapter of their life is over.
00:36.09
Jonathan Guerrero
They let shame build a wall thicker than any prison stone, and they convince themselves that their kids are better off without them. But today's guest is living proof that your history is not your heartbeat.
00:50.97
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine Wilson didn't just do the times. He allowed his time in federal prison to be the forge that reshaped his entire identity. While he was separated from his children by cold steel, he refused to let his fatherhood go grow cold.
01:07.32
Jonathan Guerrero
Through programs like Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree, he learned that you can be a present father even when you aren't physically in the room. Jermaine didn't just return to society. He rose to lead it, eventually becoming the mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas.
01:22.84
Jonathan Guerrero
Today, as a justice ambassador, he's helping other men realize that a second chance isn't a gift you wait for. It's a mission you build. And I'm going to introduce you to Jermaine Wilson, and we'll hear his inspiring story in just a moment. So don't go anywhere.
02:21.52
Jonathan Guerrero
Greetings everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode called from cell to city hall. My co-host Isaac has taken a break, so it's just me this time, but I am so excited to introduce you to my guest, Jermaine Wilson.
02:35.16
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, welcome to the fatherhood challenge.
02:38.13
Jermaine Wilson
Hey, thank you for having me today. I'm blessed to be here.
02:41.93
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, I know you have a powerful story to share, so I'm going to just step out of the way for a bit and let you share.
02:49.82
Jermaine Wilson
Well, thank you, first off, just for allowing me to be here. Just want to start off giving glory to my Lord Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity. to Growing up, I was exposed to drug crimes and violence at a very early age. I was blessed to be raised by both of my parents, but neither one of my parents completed high school. They both dropped out in the ninth grade.
03:15.10
Jermaine Wilson
And my father struggled with drug addiction and incarceration throughout the early years of my life. So the struggle wasn't nothing new for me. I was exposed to the struggle and was born into the struggle with poverty, the the violence, to drugs, the addiction throughout my childhood. And growing up being the middle child out of nine children,
03:38.71
Jermaine Wilson
I was always trying to find my place. I was always trying to search for an identity. I just wanted to be loved, valued, accepted, and appreciated. But that came with challenges. And I began to search for acceptance in the wrong place. And that led to a life of crime and drug addiction, which was at the age of 11 was the first time i started using drugs. And by the age of 12, I had committed my first crime.
04:08.15
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow, that is a powerful start.
04:13.68
Jonathan Guerrero
Jermaine, many fathers who crash, whether it's prison, addiction, or a failed business, feel a crushing weight of shame that makes them want to just hide from their kids.
04:24.89
Jonathan Guerrero
How did you silence the voice telling you that your children were better off without a criminal for a father?
04:31.74
Jermaine Wilson
Well, after I continued that criminal lifestyle at the age of 15, I committed a robbery charge with census to four years in juvenile corrections. And once I got released, that's when God tried to get my attention by blessing me with the son. But I wasn't ready to be a father, didn't know how to be a father. And i was only out 18 months before I was convicted of possession of narcotics and census to three years in prison.
04:56.63
Jermaine Wilson
But I wasn't the only one impacted by my incarceration. i had an eight-month-old son who was impacted by my incarceration. And while I'm in prison, at this moment, I feel inadequate. I feel lost, confused.
05:11.40
Jermaine Wilson
wishing I had an opportunity to be there with my son. And so while in prison, I felt less of a father not knowing what to do. And i was just suffering in my cell due to the fact that I couldn't be there for my son. And while I was in my prison cell, I realized that it wasn't a matter of if I was gonna go to prison, it was a matter of when. And that cycle of crime and incarceration was just being perpetuated throughout of my family.
05:42.49
Jermaine Wilson
And I realized that if I didn't change my life, my son would walk in the same footsteps that my father had laid before me, the footprints that was full of pain, shame, guilt, and incarceration.
05:56.54
Jermaine Wilson
I didn't want that for my son, but I knew i had to be willing to face the reality of my situation. I left my son out in the world by himself.
06:10.55
Jermaine Wilson
Now I'm inside of the cell. What am I going to do with the time that I have left? And at that moment, that's when I made the decision. I wasn't going to leave prison the same way that I came to prison. I'm going to change my life, but I need help.
06:26.36
Jermaine Wilson
And when I cried out to God, that's when God sent for a prison fellowship in my life.
06:32.54
Jonathan Guerrero
So in a sense, it seems like you saw this opportunity as just that, an opportunity, a fresh start to make your future what you wanted it to be. And then furthermore, you saw that there was a potential for a generational cycle. You caught it right away and you were determined to break that cycle and change that that generational legacy going forward.
06:58.01
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir, that is correct. I realize we have the power to change. See, our change can break the chains of generational crimes and incarceration in our family.
07:10.65
Jermaine Wilson
It may have started with someone else, but it can stop with us because the moment that I changed my life, not only did it change the trajectory of my life, but it also changed the next generation, my son's life and his children, children, because the things that I was exposed to, I learned from those things and experienced them and was able to conquer them through Christ Jesus. And now I'm exposing my son to a new life, a life that's full of hope, potential and growth.
07:38.84
Jermaine Wilson
Prison didn't break me. God used prison to build me to be the father that I needed to be for my son.
07:46.58
Jonathan Guerrero
That time that you were in prison, you didn't feel alone, did you? do you you could Could you feel God's presence with you that entire time?
07:56.28
Jermaine Wilson
yeah Christ met me in my cell. And when Christ met me in my cell, his presence, the Holy Spirit, it was with me. Like throughout my life, I felt inadequate, incomplete, lonely, was searching for acceptance. But the moment that I surrendered my life, and gave my life to Jesus through the Prison Fellowship Program, that's when Christ met me in my cell. It fulfilled me. It completed me. Although I was physically in bondage, spiritually, i was free. And it was the free it was the most free I've ever experienced in my life. And the Bible tells us, for whom the Son says free is free indeed. And so all of those inadequacies, those those ah voids that I once had,
08:41.17
Jermaine Wilson
Christ literally started to begin to fulfill those void inside of my life. One prayer, one step, one day at a time. And when I went to prison, I felt like I was a deadbeat father. But the moment that I gave my life to Christ, that's when Christ restored everything that I had lost. And he gave me purpose and fulfillment as a father.
09:05.50
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay, so I know there's probably something deeper to that moment when you said Jesus met you. a lot of people think that an experience with God or Jesus is somewhat of a merit metaphorical or like an airy experience, but they don't think of it as a real tangible experience.
09:18.31
Jermaine Wilson
Mm-hmm.
09:24.86
Jonathan Guerrero
Talk about that moment, the actual moment when you encountered Jesus for the first time in your cell, when you understood His presence was real and was with you and he was meeting you right where you were and he was wanting to change you and to restore you. Talk about that exact moment when that happened.
09:45.86
Jermaine Wilson
I'll never forget. It was September, March 2008. I'm currently in the Prison Fellowship Academy program. I'm learning how to be a a better person, a good citizen, learning core values of good citizenship. Well, three months had went by and there was silence.
10:04.38
Jermaine Wilson
I have not heard from my son, my son's mother. I didn't know what was going on during this time period. And this was the loneliest I've have ever felt in my life.
10:15.10
Jermaine Wilson
And I'll never forget the day no one was in my prison cell. And I was just overwhelmed with emotions because I'm hurting and I'm feeling lost.
10:26.78
Jermaine Wilson
and um And I cried out. I said, God, if you are real,
10:30.13
Jonathan Guerrero
Thank you.
10:31.13
Jermaine Wilson
Please come come in my life. I don't want to know you like the way anyone else knows you. I need a personal encounter. And while I'm myself, I'm crying out to Jesus at this moment and I'm asking Lord to forgive me of my sins and everything that I've done. Please help me to be able to get my son back. I want my family, but change me, Lord, from the inside out. And when I i cried and said the Lord's prayer and asked for forgiveness, it was like chills coming over my body.
11:04.56
Jermaine Wilson
And as tears poured down my face, those tears of pain just began to become tears of praise because I started thanking God just for the transformation in the encounter.
11:05.94
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow.
11:15.36
Jermaine Wilson
But it was real because it it the change was starting from inside out, from my heart to my mind. And I just literally began to become complete and whole in that that frustration, the unforgiveness, all of those things that was once inside of me began to just dwindle away.
11:33.19
Jermaine Wilson
And so it's almost like listening to your favorite song. And, you know, like when you cut on that favorite song and it just puts you in the peace of mind, you just relax.
11:42.36
Jonathan Guerrero
Yeah.
11:43.64
Jermaine Wilson
Well, this was that times 10. It was the best experience I ever had in my life.
11:47.59
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow.
11:50.26
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow. That is amazing. So this was very, very real. This wasn't some metaphorical thing. There was a tangible experience and and a tangible encounter that you had with Jesus in your cell.
12:07.70
Jonathan Guerrero
Absolutely powerful.
12:08.06
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir.
12:09.27
Jonathan Guerrero
Absolutely powerful.
12:09.40
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, sir.
12:11.48
Jonathan Guerrero
You went through the in-prison program that equipped you for real skills. At what special moment did you stop identifying yourself as inmate number XXXX and start identifying as a leader again?
12:27.03
Jermaine Wilson
The moment that I began, the moment I surrendered and gave my life to the Lord, that's when I really begin to see things differently, like my mindset changed, my perspective changed. And that's when I was really able to not just learn the core values of good citizenship, I was able to apply them. And once I began to apply them, that's when the transformation really started to happen. That's when I realized like prison wasn't a place that was going to hurt me. God was using prison to help me. And the time that I had, it wasn't wasted time because anytime that you invest with God, God redeems the time. And so I wasn't just serving time. Time began to serve me. And i began to use my prison cell as a classroom, a place of education, learning, learning how to communicate, developing my skills, breathing my word, understanding.
13:24.02
Jermaine Wilson
I was literally using this as preparation time for what God had in store for me because I knew that my life wasn't over. And I knew the moment that I gave my life to the Lord, I was experiencing my second chance in restoration and with life.
13:40.73
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay, so there are many programs that are out there for inmates and all of them are, I shouldn't say all of them, but a lot of those programs are not geared towards God or geared towards teaching about Jesus or anything like that. theyre They are secular programs, very, very much so, and and intentionally secular.
14:05.94
Jonathan Guerrero
So for inmates that go through those programs, versus inmates that learn about Jesus and involve Jesus in their life and in their restoration.
14:17.88
Jonathan Guerrero
What is the difference?
14:20.54
Jermaine Wilson
But the difference is you have the secular programs that could change the way that you think, change the way that you view things, But when it comes with Prison Fellowship Academy, they teach you life skills from a biblical worldview.
14:37.82
Jermaine Wilson
And so not only are you learning how to think, you're learning how to treat others. You're learning how to forgive yourself. You're learning how to communicate. You're learning how to live amongst individuals in your communities. You learn how to agree to disagree when it comes to being.
14:56.95
Jermaine Wilson
fully understanding what a person believe or how they believe, but you find that common ground where you're able to build on that unity rather than focusing on division. and But overall, the thing that I love most about Prison Fellowship Academy They open the program to anyone. They're receptive to bringing anyone faith of no faith, and they want to expose you to Christ principles. And once you've been exposed to Christ principles, transformation takes place.
15:28.66
Jermaine Wilson
And there's so many individuals I've witnessed come in the program that were nonbelievers, walked out as believers. And the the the belief isn't forced upon you. It's just presented to you. But those that receive what's being presented, the moment that they apply it, they see the transformation takes place. And so is it real? Yes, it's real based upon what I experienced and encountered throughout my own life.
15:53.94
Jermaine Wilson
I encountered Jesus Christ through the Prison Fellowship Academy program. And so it worked for me. And I seen it work for so many other individuals.
16:03.06
Jonathan Guerrero
I know that there are statistics out there about inmates who return back into the system again. it happens all the time over and over and over again. Is there a difference between other programs and programs like Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program where the return rate is either really low or at zero for programs like Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Program versus other programs that do not talk about God.
16:35.54
Jermaine Wilson
Yeah, but the recidivism rate is low. I don't have the statistics, but I know if you were to look at Carol Vance, which is our Prison Fellowship Academy program that's located in Texas, they have some statistics. I'll be more than happy to send you that information, but it is lower compared to other organizations and that does in-prison program. And so the the the rate is in definitely lower. But the most important thing about the Prison Fellowship Academy
17:08.31
Jermaine Wilson
It's they walk alongside you while you're in prison. They use Prison Fellowship Angel Tree to serve your children while you're in prison. And then they also like it all works hand in hand. Not only you being served as a parent, but your children and your family members are being served as well. That's the difference. It's holistic restoration. It's holistic programming. Not only are we trying to impact the individual, but we're also trying to impact the their children, as well as the prison facility, because we also have our ward and exchange program. And then we also have our advocacy department that's advocating for individuals who are justice impacted.
17:50.40
Jermaine Wilson
And so it's a holistic ministry that is serving individuals because we truly want to help make a difference inside the prison and outside the prison together as a whole.
18:02.71
Jonathan Guerrero
Maintaining a relationship with your kids while incarcerated is incredibly difficult. What are the tactical things that you did to stay present in their lives when you couldn't physically be present in the home in their home?
18:17.26
Jermaine Wilson
I journaled every single day and wrote letters to my son because I wanted my son to know his father was always thinking about him. and when I signed up for the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program, the church presented a gift to my son on my behalf with the handwritten note that says, Dad loves you, I miss you, and I'm always thinking about you. And once my son received that that gift,
18:44.30
Jermaine Wilson
Although I couldn't physically be present, the presence of God showed up and he used that gift to create a connection between my son. My son loved that gift, played with that gift. But that was a reminder to my son that dad never forgot about him. And so as a parent that was once incarcerated, Prison Fellowship Angel Tree gave me an opportunity to be able to serve my son, which allowed the church to come around my family, serve my family, and welcome them into their community as well.
19:19.96
Jonathan Guerrero
For dads listening who don't know, how did that program specifically act as a bridge that kept your heart connected with your children during the holidays specifically?
19:32.85
Jermaine Wilson
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Program gave me hope to be an apparent behind bars. Prison might have locked up my body, but it never locked up my purpose as a father.
19:46.52
Jermaine Wilson
As a father, We want to provide. We want to protect. We want to be present for our children. I was limited to what I could do for my son, but Prison Fellowship Angel Tree allowed me the opportunity to present a gift, to be present in the spiritual way. And that gift allowed me to be present in a tangible way.
20:07.96
Jermaine Wilson
But it gave me hope as a father, knowing that I had an opportunity to still provide for my son.
20:17.98
Jonathan Guerrero
So around the holiday times, you weren't completely disconnected from your family. the The prison fellowship gave you a bridge to be able to stay connected with your family, even over those holiday times that can be extremely difficult.
20:35.29
Jonathan Guerrero
In a way, they weren't completely without you.
20:39.77
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, it did. And like I said, three months prior to Christmas time, there was no communication between my son and I. But when that gift showed up that was presented on behalf of the um on behalf of me from the church,
20:55.90
Jermaine Wilson
You know, my my son's mother received that gift and presented it to my son. So not only did it have an impact on my son, but it also had an impact on my son's mother, which is now my wife.
21:08.31
Jermaine Wilson
And the beautiful impact that it had, it let her know that I was growing I was maturing and I was no longer a selfish individual because I decided to put my son before my own needs, my own personal needs. And so that touched her heart, ministered to her heart. But that gift created that bridge that created a connection between my son and I, as well as my son's mother, because not long after that, she surrendered and gave her life to the Lord as well.
21:42.33
Jonathan Guerrero
Oh, wow.
21:45.29
Jonathan Guerrero
Wow. How did that transpire? Was that due to your experience? was Was your experience the influence that caused her to give her life to Jesus?
21:55.22
Jermaine Wilson
Yes, because she started visiting me after she received that gift um and started bringing my son up. And I began to pray with him. I began to read the Bible with him during our visitations. And so she not only witnessed the change happening from the inside out, but she felt it. And the Holy Spirit is tangible. What's inside of you will connect to those around you. And so as I just continue to you know not act out of out of out of anger, frustration. She's seen that I've literally started communicating different. I was no longer using profanity, but I was always responding with peace and love. like That had an impact on her. And she said, what's ever inside of you? I want it for myself as well, because she got tired of living in society, serving time without me.
22:47.10
Jermaine Wilson
And she just surrendered and gave her life to the Lord, was tired of carrying that weight. But she's seeing how I was able to be free while in prison. And so she wanted that same freedom that I experienced as well.
23:00.41
Jonathan Guerrero
That's amazing. So the Holy Spirit literally was unit uniting your family, actually bringing your family together closer. Even during that time when you're physically separated by prison, the Holy Spirit was actively uniting your family.
23:19.32
Jonathan Guerrero
That is awesome. Absolutely amazing.
23:27.45
Jonathan Guerrero
So this next question is is very, very difficult, but it's important because there are many dads out there that are stuck in cycles of shame. who They've made decisions in their past or maybe currently are making decisions that are are really tough. ah Let's just say that they are not proud of.
23:51.67
Jonathan Guerrero
and And they're struggling with that and and they either have broken free or they're trying to break free.
23:58.66
Jermaine Wilson
Mm-hmm.
23:58.71
Jonathan Guerrero
And at some point, if you have kids, there are some conversations that are going to come up.
23:58.80
Jermaine Wilson
Great.
24:04.98
Jonathan Guerrero
How did you handle the conversation with your children about why you were gone? And how do you balance being honest about your mistakes without losing your authority as their fathers?
24:16.98
Jermaine Wilson
Well, to the fathers that's listening today, truthfully, you can only conquer those things that you're willing to confront. It took me confronting my past, owning my past, learning from my past, but most of all, surrendering my past to Jesus.
24:33.66
Jermaine Wilson
And once Christ forgiven me, once he forgave me, i had to learn to forgive myself as well. And so the moment that I began to forgive myself, I was able to not live a life of fear, shame or guilt.
24:50.17
Jermaine Wilson
So whenever I encountered my son, I was very truthful with my son once I was released from prison and shared with him the mistakes that I made. And I also share with him the teaching moment from those mistakes, because everything that we experience throughout our life, it's a lesson to be learned. And once you've learned that lesson, you're able to share with other individuals. And teaching my son from my mistakes, it helps me to not live in my past. It helps me to not be afraid or shameful of anything that I've done, because I know Christ has given me a second chance and he's forgiven me.
25:28.79
Jermaine Wilson
So I'm very open with sharing my story to my other children as well, because I want them to learn from my mistakes. I think the biggest mistake that parents make when they're not being transparent about their past, because there's nothing new under the sun. That's what the Bible tells us. So which means what you struggle with, your children are going to struggle with as well. So it's an opportunity for us to be able to teach them so they can learn from my experience so they don't have to make those same mistakes.
26:02.17
Jonathan Guerrero
When you ran for the mayor of Leavenworth, you were essentially asking the entire city for a second chance. Did your experience of reconciling with your family give you the confidence to reconcile with your community?
26:15.67
Jermaine Wilson
Yes. And the beautiful part about that reconciliation and restoration process, God allowed me to be able to get my criminal record expunged. And once I was released from prison, I just didn't wait on the sidelines to start serving my community.
26:31.10
Jermaine Wilson
I got actively involved. I reached out to the chief of police.
26:34.84
Jonathan Guerrero
Give me, hold on one second. Sorry to interrupt you. My system just powered off. Give me a second here.
26:55.35
Jonathan Guerrero
Okay. I apologize. Would you answer that question one last time I got it back up and running?
27:01.91
Jermaine Wilson
Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes. And so once I was released from prison, I started to serve my community immediately. i got involved with working with the police department to establish trust between citizens and law enforcement, started doing different outreach events, started feeding a homeless in the community.
27:22.94
Jermaine Wilson
The community that I grew up in, that I once took so much away from, I started to invest and give back to. And so the more that I was serving the community, I was getting forgiveness from the community along my journey.
27:36.73
Jermaine Wilson
And so when the time came for me to run for public office and become the mayor, the community knew exactly who I was.
27:42.76
Jonathan Guerrero
Thank
27:44.64
Jermaine Wilson
They were familiar with my past. And the thing that they loved the most about my journey I was always open and transparent about everything that I had done and what I had accomplished. And not only was I just sitting on my story, I was sharing my story with different kids. I became a mentor and a role model. But that just really touched the hearts of the voters and supporters in our community because they said we need someone who understands every side of life Because at this particular time, there was no one that represented everyone in our community. When individuals heard my story, they could relate to it because they were either impacted by the justice system or they had someone who's been impacted by the justice system. And they wanted someone that could have a voice and speak for all people and not just a small portion of our community.
28:43.54
Jonathan Guerrero
In your role with Prison Fellowship, you saw men at their absolute lowest. What is the one fatal lie you see incarcerated fathers believing most often, and how did you help them break it?
28:57.37
Jermaine Wilson
There are so many individuals that are currently in prison that feels like prison is the ending place. When I go inside a prison and communicate to the men and women, I let them know prison is not an ending place. This is a place of new beginning.
29:16.15
Jermaine Wilson
We all will experience rock bottom at a certain part of our life. And sometimes it takes a person being broken down and stripped away from everything they have in order for God to get their attention.
29:27.64
Jermaine Wilson
Now that you've experienced rock bottom, there's only one other place to go, and that is up. And so once you realize that Christ is your rock bottom, he's there with you every season of life. Now you have the strength to be able to stand there.
29:44.09
Jermaine Wilson
But you're not going to be standing by yourself because you have an advocate. You have someone that's standing with you. And that's our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so the message that I share with every individual that I encounter, Christ is real.
30:00.12
Jermaine Wilson
I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And then also, you never know who you are until you've encountered who you are not.
30:13.30
Jonathan Guerrero
As we close, what is your challenge to dads listening now?
30:20.58
Jermaine Wilson
Don't give up hope. Where you are is not who you are. God has created each and every last one of us on purpose for purpose.
30:34.42
Jermaine Wilson
We've all fallen short. We've all made mistakes, but your mistakes does not define who you are. God has called you to be a father and God will be with you and equip you with everything that you need to be able to serve your family.
30:52.12
Jermaine Wilson
During this time that you're in prison, don't waste the time. Use this as preparation time because time invested with God, God redeems that time. And one day you will soon be with your children and use Prison Fellowship Angel Tree as a bridge to connect you with your children.
31:10.36
Jermaine Wilson
God bless.
31:12.79
Jonathan Guerrero
A huge, huge thank you to the mayor, to Mayor Jermaine Wilson for his vulnerability and his service as Justice Ambassador. If you want to support the mission of keeping incarcerated fathers connected to their kids, check out Prison Fellowship and the Angel Tree Program.
31:30.14
Jonathan Guerrero
If you go to thefatherhoodchallenge.com, that's thefatherhoodchallenge.com, and you go to this episode and you're looking for the episode that's called From Cell to City Hall.
31:43.16
Jonathan Guerrero
from cell to city hall, go to that episode, look right below the episode description. I'm going to have the link posted to prison fellowship and the angel tree program posted right there for your convenience until next time, stay durable, stay humble.
31:58.55
Jonathan Guerrero
And remember that the greatest comeback of your life starts with the vit within the very next decision that you make. We will see you in the next episode.