Christian Impact News

Over 2,500 People were there!

03/04/10 – Houston, Texas – Christian Impact News was on the scene as the city of Houston,  businesses, organizations, local pastor Rob Parker and Quanell X drew together to meet a need gone long overlooked: Providing jobs and services to people with an “ex” on their back. As a whole the Road to Re-Entry was a tremendous success! On the other hand: We need companies to give ex convicts the opportunity to work. We need more pastors/churches/ministers/mentors getting involved in the lives of those who are trying to turn their lives around. We need to start asking the right people the right questions.

Companies must not continue discriminating against ex convicts. A person who has been convicted of bank robbery should not be employed at a bank but there is no reason to exclude him from working in other fields. It is pointless and discriminatory to continue to deny employment to someone who has been free, clean and in complete legal compliance for ten or more years. The fact is, denying employment to ex convicts is downright bad for our society. Do we really want a bunch of people, who have deviated from the law in the past-for whatever reason, in what they feel is an impossible situation? As I was talking to a group of applicants, I overhead two young men talking to each other. "Man they must want us on them streets. Don't nobody care." I had to stop and tell them, "I care!" They looked at me in disbelief but gave me their names anyway, on the chance that I might just be for real. I could tell as they walked away that they figured the odds of that were about as likely as winning the lottery.  They walked  away, with swagger, as if the shame and disgust did not touch them. They didn't have a purple paper and word had come from the front that you had to have a purple paper to get in. They took this in stride and resigned to their fate. By the time I made it through the crowd (I did not wait in the line but it still took me an hour to get to the front door) I found out that they were letting everyone in and handing out papers that already had a new date and new venue for another Road to Re-Entry. Sad, sad for all of us. We have to come up with something that does not, by default, doom citizens to a lifetime sub-existence on the fringes of society. You want some dedicated employees? These applicants waited in line looking at the entrance liike starving children looking through the window of a donut shop, Keep in mind, we, not they, are the ones who are supposed to have the answers. Executives, scholars and “degreed” people, we can use your help on this one.
 

Pastors, ministers and you shepherds of GOD, don't we have a responsibility to guide the lost back into the fold? Two thousand and five hundred people were at this event, over half of the people we spoke to did not go to church regularly or have a truly committed relationship with Christ. A job is critical to success as a viable member of society. Knowing GOD, being a member of the body of Christ, will help men and women through when the way seems the darkest. Living in forced poverty can be the darkest times of all. The lost will always need a guide, someone to find them and lead them home. The harvest is plenty, you workers, is there so much work across the seas and oceans that we cannot take care of those at home? Join me in making an impact in the lives of these men and women.

As I interviewed an endless stream of people, it was quickly apparent that the ex convicts had a very good ideas of what was needed, what would work and how programs like the Road to Re-Entry can actually turn the tide and make society better for everyone. “First of all, they had to expect that thousands would show up, everyone in Houston needs jobs, not just us.” said a lady, who wanted to remain anonymous. “The place should have been larger and there should be more job opportunities but nobody wants to hire someone with a criminal background. And where does that leave us, I mean, we messed up but a lot of us don't have anything to do with any kind of crime anymore. Going to jail was enough for some of us but, even after we have paid our debt to society, they still won't let us back in. It's like we are trapped with no way to provide for ourselves.” The large group of applicants all nodded as one in agreement. Even now the hurt I saw mirrored in all of their eyes echoes in my heart, leaving me typing through tears. This left me with another question: Why aren't we asking criminals what their needs are so we can get a better idea of what can be done?
 

At what point are they forgiven and seen as a valuable part of society rather than a source of shame? Children of GOD, surely we understand the necessity of forgiveness and the folly of a hardened heart. Citizens of the society, we must reach past our fears and find love. Companies of America, you who help sustain the fabric of our society, you must learn to integrate all citizens when considering all aspects of your business. I can not and will not believe that together we cannot make significant gains toward reintegrating rehabilitated felons back into our society. It is what they want... what do you want? What does GOD want?