"From Gang Life to God's Grace" w/ Paul Bosanko

In this powerful episode of 'Wrong to Strong Chicago,' host Omar Calvillo speaks with Paul Bosanko, who shares his incredible journey from a turbulent childhood and life of crime to finding redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul's story begins with his challenging upbringing in South Chicago, marked by severe physical abuse and subsequent entanglement in gang life. After spending over three decades in prison, including 13 years in Supermax, Paul experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Now dedicated to helping former inmates reintegrate into society, Paul serves as the Programs Manager at Finn Well Ministries. Tune in to hear his remarkable transformation from darkness to light and how he's helping others find hope and a new beginning.

This is part 4 of a 5 part interview series highlighting the amazing work that is happening in Kewanee, Illinois in regards to prison ministry and re-entry initiatives. 

Transcript

Paul: 0:00

I got on the edge of my bed and I stood up and as I stood up, I was like, what is going on? What is going on? What is going on? I'm standing in the middle of this cell in Tams, in the Supermax. Grabbing my chest and my, my body, and I'm doing exactly what I'm doing with you brother, right here, standing up. What is happening? What, what's going on? What's, I knew instantly I was restored them. Hmm. How did I know I was restored without a shadow of a doubt. When I took another man's life in a very intentional and premeditated way, brother, um, something happened there, there was a transferring over of my spirit to the evil one. I felt it. I knew it and the minute I got with somebody that I was close with, I told him, Hey brother, something happened. Something happened here, right here, brother. I'm letting you know this is me. Not something happened here, and then you go about your day the next day, but it's on your mind. Well, why do I feel different? Why do I feel different beyond anything I've felt in this realm? Brother, fast forward all these years later, brother. 2011, I'm in. Supermax and I stand up brother after giving my heart to Jesus Christ, and he saves my life and changes my life instantaneously.

Omar: 1:38

From the city of Chicago, a city most recently known for its crime and violence. On this podcast, we will be sharing stories of redemption from individuals raised in the tough streets of Chicago and from around the country. Some of them were gang members, drug dealers, incarcerated victims, and perpetrators of violence. Listen to my guests as they share their experiences, struggles, trauma, but also the strength, Hope, faith and perseverance. These have developed in them to keep pushing and moving forward in life. Tune in to hear how their lives have gone from darkness to light and from wrong to strong.

2:19

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Wrong to Strong Chicago. I'm your host. My name's Omar Calvio, and today we're out here in Kewanee, Illinois. Uh, shout out to Ronnie Carrasquillo. He's the one that brought me out here. He wanted to highlight some of the. Things that are going out here in regards to prison ministry outreach, and just these programs that are giving these guys, uh, more than a, a second chance. From, from what I've been witnessing, it's, it is not just a community, but it's like family and, man, I'm is been a blessing. I've been out here, uh, Friday night. Right now we're in SA Saturday afternoon and I've been blessed. By the people that, that I've been meeting, Amen, the conversations that have been taking place and just what's going on out here. You could definitely see, uh, God's hand in, in all and all these things that are going, uh, on here. So I got, I got my guest. You wanna introduce yourself, brother, your name and maybe where you grew up?

Paul: 3:08

Absolutely. Um, my name is Paul Bosanko. I grew up on, uh, in South Chicago, which is, uh, right against the lake, um, in the eighties and, uh, and nineties and, um. You know, Jesus Christ saved my life, brother. Hmm. And I did 35 years in prison. And, um, and as you can imagine, uh, anyone who spent time in the joint, um, including 13 years in the Supermax, it was, uh, very difficult. Brother man. Very difficult to deal with.

Omar: 3:42

Gotcha. You, you know what? Let's start at the beginning. You know, we'll go a little bit. Uh, maybe you wanna talk about your growing up, maybe your childhood? Yeah. Yeah. Cookie. Um, was mom and dad in the. Like your brother, sister, how did life look in, in those early years? Well,

Paul: 3:53

and I'm sure most people that are gonna listen to this can identify with some of the things I'm gonna say, especially the brothers in the community and the sisters that are, that grew up in our community, whether it's Pilsen, south Chicago, um, over beach and Spaul, no matter where we go in the city or any inner city, some of these stories are very similar. So, um, I'll give you a snapshot. I'll tell you a quick thing that actually happened. So I'm about six years old and, uh. I don't remember what I did. And little did I realize my mother was the catalyst for a lot of the abuse that I got. I was unaware until maybe 20 years into my bit inside prison that it finally dawned on me that she was the catalyst behind it all. And so something I did, and I was at home with her and, and my brothers and sisters. I had a, I got a older brother and two younger sisters. I'm very close with my brother who's a pastor. Uh. So she's telling me, wait till he gets home. And so of course, just like any kid, if I go to sleep, I'm not gonna get the consequences of what's coming through the door. So I went to sleep and little did I realize I first, the first hit I thought I was dreaming. I literally thought it was a dream. And, uh, and the second hit let me realize that it wasn't a dream. And uh, the old cowboy belts, the real thick ones with the big. Bell buckle. He hit me in my face and head with the bell buckle. Who, who, Who is he? My father. Okay. My father, as soon as he came in and, uh, and as you can imagine through the day and that night, um, uh, I was beat from one end to the house to the next, uh, with that belt and him picking me up and slamming me in the ground. Um, and so you can imagine growing up in a house like that, including with. Out your name ever being called, but every other name in the book. Um, being tied to chairs and, um, being starved. Um, having to watch them throw away the food that you shine shoes for, to bring that food to the house and watch them throw away the food without you eating it, but paying attention to what they throw away. So I could go in the garbage can and eat later on. So these, um, these deposits on all the. Ugly things in my life. Um, as you can imagine, uh, started taking a toll when I left the house and I was, uh, I was fighting more. My self-esteem was in, in shambles, but I was fighting a lot. I was, I always felt challenged. I always felt challenged with anything or correction or anything that dealt with any type of good or stability. Um, and it pointed to me, I felt it was a challenge. Um, and then I wanted to meet that challenge, to be honest with you. Um, and so that was teachers, that was authority figures, that was other people, my peers. Um, I was functioning outta that dysfunction Yeah. That I was given to at an early age. So, um, that's how, that's how the anger built. That's how the pain, uh, became part of my life. Uh,

Omar: 7:14

man. And how, how did that, manifest in your life as you're getting like into. Your teenage years, how does life look and in those years,

Paul: 7:21

yeah. So of this is gonna sound horrible, but that's the reality. That's what our life was. So I wasn't, I was looking for targets, brother. I was looking for targets when I was sick and in pain. I was looking for a reason to get into it on a consistent basis. Uh, physically. Physically. Let's get out. Um, and, just attacking the public at large necessarily wasn't the person I was at the same time. It was, I was just trying to hide it behind joining a gang and, and us feeding off each other's dysfunction and using catchphrases, to incite all the wrong things in each other, um, and then wrap it or act like it's wrapped in love. And the reality is, is that we're using one another. We, we are playing on each other's dysfunction. Yeah. Um, we're harming one another and killing our communities. And, um, and then we're trying to wrap it in a bowl that looks like, uh, something righteous. And the reality is, is that we're killing our people.

Omar: 8:36

You know, when you bring up the, that trauma, everything that was going on and, and it's not like back then, like even with my friends, like I would see the, like you mentioned, the anger. Yeah. The just, they want to go hurt people. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And back then, no. Nobody shared what was going on at home. Nobody shared that they were being molested. They were being abused. That they were beaten. Amen. It's not till I started doing this and I would talk to guys that shared their testimony. I'm like, man, like. I was around you like for years. I, I didn't know this was, this was going on like part of your life, man. Yes. Like, and right now, like you mentioned, you, you band together and each one is already bringing their own trauma and they're just wanna like, hurt people. Hurt people in a sense. Right.

Paul: 9:14

And, and man, um, I was just talking to my lady, Nancy, just a little while ago, and we were having a discussion of what's the root problem or what's the root behind this issue? Why, why am I easily offended by X, Y, and Z? And so I know what triggers it. It, but I have to also know what the root is. And what the root is, is this unbelievable physical abuse and dismantling of the person, the little child at such a young age that has profound effects. And then you're trying to gain some type of stability as you're being raised in the streets. And at the same time, you're gravitating to the exact men or young boys that are dealing with trauma in their lives. And so we start branching out and feeling that it's appropriate, uh, to take our pain out on society. Um, and so as I started to do that, more everything becomes more when you're involved in that type of lifestyle. And so I'm gonna one up, um, my comrades and arms, for lack of a better word, I'm gonna, I'm gonna show them that I'm this down, uh, reli. Viable member, um, that people are gonna, um, respect me that they're,'cause we are showed and rightfully so, but we associate, uh, respect with love, you know, even from our, our wives or our significant other. You know, if they don't respect you, how can they love you? Yeah. Um, men have that deeply ingrained in them. Um, but we pervert it. we pervert it, we use it. It, we abuse it. We have no idea what love looks like, uh, from when it comes from Jesus Christ. We don't know how to love. So, um, I ended up killing two men, uh, killing two boys at different times, um, and was on the run. And, uh, and the FBI caught me outta state and brought me back and, uh, and before they can send me away for natural life, I copped out. Um, and. I turned, uh, 30 years into almost 40, uh, catching cases. Okay, so they they sentenced you to 30 and then you're Yes. Well, they actually sensed me to 60. 60, and you had to do 30, but I had to do 30. But then I, I wanted to turn that into more. I thought going in, I had the mentality is I'm gonna make my mark on the world right here. I'm gonna be hee, I'm gonna be this, I'm gonna mean something. I'm gonna value this. I'm gonna value that. Cats are gonna see where I'm. Cut from a different, all them weird, sick, um, hurtful thoughts that you're trying to ize into. Like, you mean something or you value you're valuable and the reality you're broken. Hmm. I was a broken boy in the cells. Um, and I, I use this as a joke and it's funny, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm tearing up at, at um, um, too soft, not too soft. The little puppy show on Animal Planet, you know, I'm seeing. A little puppy show and I'm like, oh, this is so cute. This is so great. And then when the doors roll, I'm on the gallery and I gotta be a killer. I gotta be a gorilla. Something doesn't jive with this man. So that was going on in the bta that was going on in the joint, brother. I'm like, what am I doing, man? Why? And this is one of the turning points, and I'm not even exaggerating, brother, what God has delivered me from. And, uh, you know, I'm, I'm picking up the phone and I'm trying to pick up the pieces. Of the lives that I destroyed and resemble some type of normalcy, brother. So I'm on the phone with my kids and I'm trying to be dad. You know, listen to mom, eat your vegetables, do your schoolwork. Don't do this, don't do that. And I'm hanging up the phone and I'm plotting murder. And I remember that this is really how the Pinta is brother. And then I'm being, I'm being critical towards staff. As well as police and politicians, when we myself, have done horrific things in the community, while ignoring all them things that I've done, something had to change. Something had to change. Something's going on with me. I hung that phone up and I'm walking the prison. I'm like, the heck is wrong with me, man, the heck is wrong. What is going on? Make a long story short. Praise God. Uh. You know, we look at stool pigeons in the community as rotten, horrible, whatever, and we forget at times in the joint, um, you know, we think we can rape, murder and pillage the community and there'd be no consequences. I mean, that's how I lived. Yeah. I didn't think the police should do their job. I mean, brother, I'm out here literally trying to hurt people on a daily basis, and the police come around and they're the ones who I, I, I point to a, they're, they're the bad guys Kidding. These are the ones doing the wrong things in the community. Me, I, I, I'm a revolutionary fighter. I, I'm, I'm, I, I, I'm a mob. I'm, I'm an organization. I'm trying to do something and the reality is I'm trying to kill myself and others.

Omar: 14:45

Yup

Paul: 14:46

And, and slowly it was happening, and it was doing, and some of it a little more quickly than others, because as a kid you're trying to do adult things and them adult things mean, um, that you're gonna do. Things that only governments tell you to go do. God doesn't tell you go kill people. People are not telling other people go kill each other. But you get involved in that lifestyle, man, and that's what they're asking. We're asking you to be this. And so it picks up in the joint and I pick the mandle up and as I'm going through and hanging the phone up with my kids and I'm being this sick, evil man, um, as I'm. Plotting, uh, and we dislike stool pigeons. Um, to be honest, they were part of, they were part of the solution brother.

Omar: 15:37

And

Paul: 15:37

in what sense? They, they went to the administration and told on me, brother what I was plotting. And before anything can happen, look how great God is. God protects the innocent and the guilty, the innocent who I was going to get and the guilty of me. And so they grabbed me and put me away in a supermax for 13 years. But, and the. The court system had to get us out. We'd have still been there. We'd have still been there. So as I'm there and I'm, I'm trying to figure it out, brother. I'm angry at everything. Isolation, brother is the flat out. It's the dismantling of the human. So systems and people, um, uh, governments and people who are in authority, they use these, uh, methods to try to control a. Person and, and some of that we understand if I'm out trying to harm staff and other people, we understand that. I understand that. But when you're heavily invested in all the wrong things in the, in that lifestyle, um, again, you think you, you're a freedom fighter. You think you're fighting for some type of cause. Correct. And so I'm trying to reconcile that. What's interesting is. Our kids never see us that way, brother. I started to see that dynamic with my kids. I was, I was the best thing that happened to my kids since life spread. My baby girls the way they looked at me and, and my two girls, I, I was in a, the relationship and she had the two girls already, but they know me as dad point blank period. But they know their other father and I was trying to never let them be angry at him and, no, no, no. He's got issues. Try to, my, my daughters weren't having none of that. No. No, no, no. Your dad, period. So what I mean is they never seen me like the rest of the world see me. So I'm trying to reconcile how can they love, can you imagine how they must have felt? How do they reconcile that Dad is this warm, loving person all while he's killing people? Imagine all the conversations I had to have with the kids because their moral compass is being structured as they're growing up. So. Dad is telling them these are the right things, why dad has done horrific things. Imagine how they're trying to reconcile that brother. Well, I'm trying to reconcile that in a supermax joint where all I'm all in on the mob at the same time, all this being all in is wrong. Yeah. It's the devil's playground. I, I'm, I'm, I'm promoting it like it's something good when it's destroying and killing lives, so. Make a long story short, how did Jesus Christ say my life? Yeah. How did that happen, brother? So I'm trying to get the right Bible brother, um, to read. I know Jesus is the answer. Go ahead.

Omar: 18:41

Okay. Uh, uh, prior to that, uh, the right Bible, you already had a Bible.

Paul: 18:45

Yeah. But, but it's just the Bible, the study Bible, I believe, especially for people who are just getting to know the Lord, is, is, is an essential tool to have. Yeah. Because if you don't understand what the scripture says. As the, the, um, the people that obviously have invested time in studying the word of God have what it says right there. Yeah. So, um, I needed a study Bible brother, so I can understand what I'm reading. And before this,

Omar: 19:13

uh, at that moment, what, what does, um, what role does faith play in your life growing up? Was your church? Almost none. None? Okay.

Paul: 19:22

Almost none. I mean, I went past the church and would cross myself. Yeah. Like good Catholics do. Okay. Even though I rarely seen a Catholic church. Um, I didn't even know what being Catholic men, I just knew we needed to do this because, you know, I grew up in the community of, of mostly obviously, uh, LAA brother. Yeah. Yeah. That's where I grew up with. And so that's the staple. And so as I'm growing up, I'm like, oh, alright. This is what a Catholic does. Okay. We go to church on. No faith. No, no. Yeah. Nothing to do with it. So I'm in the Supermax Penitentiary. I've been there for some years. I'm having night sweats. I'm having terror, night sweats, and I'm in Terror Brother because, um, you know, regulating your temperature when you're sleeping is vital to me because I started to realize I sleep hot. But if I don't have something cool or the room be a cooler, that it starts to trigger bad dreams and then I start to sweat, like. Like a madman. And I was in it during that period, meaning I was really in it, brother. I was really, my spirit was really in turmoil, brother of what I'd done, uh, and, and the lives I took brother. And that really, really hurt me. Like, it's hard to put into words what that does, brother. When you think about the person, uh, that you took his life and their kids and what they don't have anymore. Um, brother, I. I was in pain. Uh, and then you're in pain about all that's been done to you and you're in pain about all that you've done. So you need a savior who gets us out of this mess, brother. And I knew Jesus was the answer, but I was searching for other things. Um, philosophy and all these different things that you go through Buddhism, and I knew none of them. Feel me, brother? Uh, is there wisdom there? Absolutely. Yeah. But none of them feel me, brother.'cause none of'em, none of'em. Have Jesus Christ. Amen. And Jesus Christ, uh, redeemed us brother redemption is only through Christ. Amen. And so as I started to search and read the Word of God, brother, and, and I've told this story so many times, I love telling it. And as I'm, I'm reading the word of God. I'm putting the word of God away for the day, and I'm going back to sit in the bed and man, brother, the word is still here. The book's there, but I'm, I'm hungering for him. I'm hungering for him. A way that I find it abnormal and how do I, how do I put it? Have you ever like done schoolwork or any type of work and you're really enthusiastic about what you're doing? You are enthusiastic because you're seeing the fruits of your labor and you're understanding what you're reading. There could be a component there about, uh, the word of God, but this was different. This was more brother. This was almost like a calling on my spirit brother. And so. As I'm putting the Bible away for the day, it's still with me and when I'm reading, so I, I'll pick it up from time to time throughout the day. Again, man, that man, this man, and I'm in the Old Testament. I started at Genesis brother, so I'm reading more and more and more, brother. I'm reading chapters, the More and More Brother, um, that yeah, something's happening, brother. I don't know where I was in the Bible. It was still the Old Testament, one of the five books of the beginning. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Five books and, uh, and as I am hungry and putting it to the side, um, I could tell you this is my 15th year serving Jesus Christ this month right here. So it's March, April. I, I, I've been reading the word of God for a while, brother. Um, and I actually started in 10, 11. I came to the Lord, I started in 10 and, uh. Hey, brother. I walked. I don't even realize I was doing it, Omar. I know This's gonna sound crazy, brother. I'm doing it, but it's not me doing it. I, I, there wasn't a conscious choice. I got up that morning. I said, I'm going to do this today. I'm gonna do this today. I'm gonna give my life to Jesus Christ. It wasn't like that, brother. This was overwhelming compulsion by someone other than me. Amen. Jesus was at the helm, right. This moment, and I mean, brother, it was a overwhelming compulsion, but in a calm sense, it wasn't like, oh man, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do that. I got on my knees at the end of my, um, at my bed. Uh, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and uh, and I repented from my sins. Seriously, brother. That's the difference. When you repent, if you repent seriously and wholeheartedly, God honors that. That's the repentance he's looking for. The dropping of pride, the dropping of ego, putting your face to the ground and telling God, I am filthy. Help me. Jesus, please help me. Once I really did that, brother, I'm not lying, Omar. I got on the edge of my bed and I stood up and as I stood up, I was like, what is going on? What is going on? What is going on? I'm standing in the middle of this cell in Tams, in the Supermax. Grabbing my chest and my, my body, and I'm doing exactly what I'm doing with you brother, right here, standing up. What is happening? What, what's going on? What's, I knew instantly I was restored them. Hmm. How did I know I was restored without a shadow of a doubt. When I took another man's life in a very intentional and premeditated way, brother, um, something happened there, there was a transferring over of my spirit to the evil one. I felt it. I knew it and the minute I got with somebody that I was close with, I told him, Hey brother, something happened. Something happened here, right here, brother. I'm letting you know this is me. Not something happened here, and then you go about your day the next day, but it's on your mind. Well, why do I feel different? Why do I feel different beyond anything I've felt in this realm? Brother, fast forward all these years later, brother. 2011, I'm in. Supermax and I stand up brother after giving my heart to Jesus Christ, and he saves my life and changes my life instantaneously. The sanctifying process, as you know, brother, it's a walkout process. It's a lifelong process. It just doesn't happen. In some cases it does. Yeah. You come to the Lord and other brothers can talk about cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, swearing, womanizing. They can name off everything that they stopped and God removed from them for. The most part, most people that are devout has given their lives to Jesus Christ. It's a walkout process. Yeah. Yeah. And it, and it's a long process, you know, we're, what can I tell you? From day one to the eighth year I was in Yeah, brother, a lot of mold against shape going on, just like today.

Omar: 26:36

Could I ask you, I know you were, you were in Tams at that when you gave your life, now when you left Thas, obviously you're in Tams by yourself. Yeah. Now. How was that transition? Like, did you walk away from the mob? Did you, were you a believer? How

Paul: 26:51

does that look? Yeah, absolutely brother. Um, great question is, uh, the reality is when you, when I'm, when I'm in there, mind you, I didn't tell you that the year before I came to the Lord. The year that, that's, I'm talking about and I'm traveling, uh, through that, I get a letter from my father the next two weeks. Telling me that he's dying from pancreatic cancer. The only man who's ever loved me, brother, I was adopted based on the state finally taking me out of the, uh, excuse me, out of the house of the, my abused parents. Um, and so they had this kangaroo court, um, or system in place that you go to every year. They're not, they're not letting you leave, but then the court system ruled due process violation of federal courts. And so they had to align with. With the decisions of the judge, of the federal judge. So they put the court back in or the hearing, and now they're actually giving you an opportunity to leave. And so I went there, um, after the director, deputy director told me, you're doing all these programs, meaning while you're in tams you can do paperwork, anger management and other things. So I started to do that, brother, and that was, that was the beginning of my journey on allowing God to improve my life, to really get me to where he created me to be. Be not Paul, all the dysfunction. I didn't know my timetables into my thirties. Um, I was uneducated, brother. I didn't know brother. Once I started to truly, truly give my life to Christ, everything changed. So I get out and you can imagine I've been isolated. All of us are together now. The ones who've gotten out on this trip, there's like 13, 15 of us and we're all, we're all on Old Death Road in Pontiac. And as we're there, we're interacting with each other and we're sharing stories and things and the effects of what's happening right now. And one of the effects, we all immediately got sick.'cause we ain't been around society to bound drugs for anything. Yeah. We all got sick and we all craved to go back for the most part because you're so ingrained with the isolation as part of you that your mind starts to play tricks on you, brother. I. Equated a little bit like when I see the brothers headed into, um, headed back into prison, brother. I ran across the prison, uh, a brother who came outta prison, um, and we're having a discussion and brother, he, I'm ready to go back. I'm, and I had to talk him off the ledge. I equated with that a little bit, brother, and even though I know I didn't want to go back, my body, my system was craving to go back. So we had to. A nine month program in six months in Pontiac and three months in Menard preparing us to be released back into population.'cause we've been separated so long. And it's a step down program, that's what it's called. And uh, and we're, we're first on the yard together and then once we get to men Menards, six months later we are on the yard together. And so that was a heck of a experience because all of us together were finally able to shoot ball. We almost broke each other bones and we're all wild and crazy with the energy Yeah. Of being cooped up. All them years and we got out, and I'll be honest, brother. Yeah. I left the mob. Absolutely, brother. I gave my life to Jesus Christ that, that, that was a wrap. You can't play both sides of the fence. You're either all in on the light or not. Yeah. And so I understand that can be difficult and there's a process, but the reality is, is that if I'm preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and then I'm sharpening the shank in the cell to get at another guy that I feel. Separate than the the mob or the gang. I'm, come on man. That ain't Christlike. Yeah, that ain't Christlike.

Omar: 30:50

Definitely gotta be a shift there. Amen. so you're in there, you know, you, you, you get out of Tam's back in population. Uh, can you tell us how you ended up out here? Kewanee

Paul: 30:58

Absolutely, brother. So I went to a few penitentiaries, one the immediate Menard, and I'm still, um, I'm serving God left, all that behind, um, uh, active in the church as much as you possibly can during that time, um, and getting to Wan's heart. So I actually. Uh, we had to write an essay. We had to ask some questions through the, through the grace of God, man, I, I landed in Kewanee and it is, praise God that I got there. But little did I know God had a plan in place. So obviously I'm doing my thing in the joint, but I'm, I'm, I'm taking all these programs. I'm, I'm a mentor for Lewis University. The students there for 10 years in Romeoville before Keane. Uh, we get to Keane. We have a program that we're doing over Zoom with the juveniles in St. Charles. Um, we're doing. In all these programs, and me and Ronnie obviously are, are, are hand in hand, um, including church. Um, we had to kinda shape the church and the image of Jesus Christ rather than self-promotion. Um, so that took a lot of difficult, hard work with, uh, telling people that they have to kind of sit down or step aside. And so, but we got it to where, um, it, it reflected Jesus Christ and the word of God was at the center of what we were doing. And at the same time. Um, heritage Church was the first one outta Rock Island to come in and Chris and Mike Wexel that would come in on a separate day, even when the juveniles were there.'cause this used to be a juvenile facility. And, um, and they left. And Hill Church, which we are currently at right now, doing this interview, um, they came in because the chaplain there is from Hill Church. So they started to come in and, and obviously, um, your audience will get to know some of them and. Including Bennett, who is the youth pastor right now, and they came into the facility and and loved on us. Brother worshiped, the Lord, loved on us. We developed unbelievable relationships and so I'm about less than a month out brother. It's December 22nd, it's 2023, and my director Ben Andres is there delivering pizzas with Heritage Church and some other people from the community that. Um, are from Hill Church and first Christian and stuff. And, uh, he hears me ministering to the warden. I'm having a long conversation with James Caruthers and, and we're doing our thing, brother, and, and we're talking about Jesus Christ and what he can do and, and he solves all the social problems we have and so on and so forth. And Ben asked me, do you have afterwards, he asked me, do you have a job? And I says, not currently, but I'm looking for a job, you know? And, uh, he then says, uh, gimme a call. So. Absolutely. A week and a half later, I'm sitting at a coffee shop in town and I'm sitting across from Ben and we're having a conversation. He tells me about heavy machinery and that he can train me on his farm and so on and so forth. And then he's like, or, um, you know, I have this nonprofit, and I'm like, tell me about the nonprofit. He starts telling me, he says, well, um, years ago I hired a, um, ex-con, um, and I was intrigued by the lack of support that he had or, or opportunity, um. And so he provided an opportunity through his company. Uh, he started to work'em and everything was working smooth, but it got him to thinking, where do men go when they get out of prison? How do we keep them from the recidivism rate going in and out? How do we keep them from making them sane, poor choices or bad choices? Um, and so that started him on a journey of of of, of being a prayer warrior to God act. Asking God is this his hand? And so finally he got obviously the message from the Lord and through his obedience, that meeting at the coffee shop and him preparing financially for that, um, was materializing right before his eyes. And so after he hired me, um, two months later I became the programs manager, which I am right now of Finn Well Ministries and our primary, uh, reason for existing. Is helping the men that come out of prison, what does that look like, brother? Um, if they need housing, we have a house that we put them in, brother. Um, we want to take care of all the material things that any man needs when he first comes out. Absolutely, brother. Uh, we want to get them a job. We want to provide for transportation. We want to provide housing for them. But to be honest, brother, all them things are easily done. Um, we, we want these brothers. Us to be healed. Amen. We want to love on these brothers. It's personal for us. Uh, a man who's never known prison was obedient to God and God gave him the mission. He in turn gave us the keys for us to help us. Amen. So you can make this up. I'm gonna tell you this part that I kept out a month prior to me getting out the program that we bring to the, um, to the institution, which is called uh uh. Foundational rhythms, and it's through Cliff and Sue Parish. Um, we, me and Ronnie brought them down there, and as we bring them down there in this curriculum, it's a 16 week course. Um, four week, uh, four courses. I finally, at the end, I finish it, I, um, I do the Shark Tank nine business people. It was either seven, it was seven business people and nine of us. Well, I took first place get, guess what I took first place in? What was that nonprofit? You can't make this stuff up. And Mike, who is our construction manager, who doesn't, it doesn't entail his title, doesn't entail how valuable he is to our ministry brother. He disciples the men on a daily basis, brother, because we bring some men in to work in our construction part because we have buildings that we're trying to get ready for the men and Mike deals with the day to day. I'm in tune with everything that goes on. On, but obviously my job encompasses so many different things within the ministry that my wheelhouse is not carpentry. Yeah. Even though I've been there to help the majority of the brothers do all that. And then I come and I have conversations with the man, including once a week and sit down and we go through life skill program that we have, which I just talked about. Yeah. Which is foundations for life. Again, brother, we're finding men are more in. Need of, of not just that tender, loving ear and shoulder, um, but they also need to be walked through some basic things in life, but in the right way, brother, where they don't feel marginalized, so they don't feel like this is a chore to you, or this is a duty to you. That you're doing it out of brotherhood, that you're doing it out of the love of Christ. Remember, most of the brothers and sisters. Who come out of the joint. We don't know this type of love, brother. Right. You know that we don't get this type of love. So, so when I hear people angry at me about what other brothers are doing that are in the program that are not lining up perfectly with the standard, it doesn't mean this is the no shuck in the jive of ministry. If you're serious about your success, we're serious about the help. But if you're playing games, yeah, no, we don't have time for that. Right? We got a host of brothers. We need to make sure that they. Land, not just successfully, but thrive in what we talked about. So when people start telling me, you know, they're doing this and they're not right and they're doing this, I says, so if we don't show the love and grace and mercy of God, who does, if people who love Jesus Christ does not show grace. And a matter of fact, when you start to talk to Pastor Bennett, we had these conversations as well about a specific individual. That's not to mean we're not gonna help'em get what they need. Need to get and reach these standards. But I find it amazing whether it's a single mother with three kids where, and she's made poor choices and been with, uh, poor men, um, that are broken. Um, I hear these comments, these these real grand statements by people. Yeah. Well, if they don't and they better do the, and I agree with that, but where's the grace? Yeah. Where's the love? So our minute. Street brother. Um, and as long as I'm here, it's gonna be very big on the grace of God.

Omar: 39:49

Hmm.

Paul: 39:49

Amen. It's gonna be very big on the grace of God. And I push the men that I'm around, I push them, I call them out. I hold them accountable to what they do and don't do. Um, at the same time, um, I sit there and talk to'em when they're crying or they're dealing with issues or that we need to take'em to a counselor that deals with unresolved issues that I'm. Ill-equipped to deal with, I could give you all the love in the world, brother, but I didn't go to school for that. Yeah. And, and we have a woman of God on Staff Brother. Um, she has her own business, but she's a counselor that helps with the men that are dealing with whatever issue they're dealing with, including detox centers, including drug treatment centers, including, uh, um, teen and adult challenge, including pathway. These are all researchers, a Bridgeway here in town. Um, these are all resources that, that I've tried to cultivate over the year that we've been in existence that is strictly for one reason and one reason only to help these men. Everything we do is about help the men. Now, don't get me wrong, based on, and this is why I love my director, this man is stomped down for Jesus Christ, brother. Um, we we're, we are unbelievably close, uh, because. Um, the criteria is you love Jesus Christ, so I'm gonna be close to you. You're on mission. Yeah. You're on mission for the kingdom of God. We're down. We're gonna be rocking, we're gonna be together, we're gonna move, we're gonna do all that we can because what the interesting part of me coming home and I used to tell brothers on the inside, especially older brothers, that've been gone a long time. Brother, I'm, I really don't grab the concept of you coming home and not having that same fire for the. Kingdom of God for Jesus Christ, brother. And that doing something about it, um, because when I was all in for the wrong things, I was all in. Now I'm not all in for Jesus. You have to be all in. That's right. And that doesn't mean you don't come with the flaws and you make mistakes. Absolutely. But step up and step into the light.

Omar: 42:02

Amen.

Paul: 42:03

So we want men to reflect all the good things that God is doing for their lives and them recognizing that, how do you break them chains. I'm gonna tell you a quick story. Tied in and we can, we can end brother and, and I'll show you how this applies to all of us. So I cheated on a test before I came home. The department gave the test. I cheated on the test. It would've got me six months, brother. I'm a devout man of God. I'm, I'm, I'm moving in the joint brother. And everybody sees me that way, brother, because I don't come outside them lines. I don't hang into groups. I don't do all them things, brother. I'm a righteous man of God that did all the wrong things. So I can go home and I cheated on that test brother and I got caught and the minute Eternal Affairs brought it to me, brother, the minute they brought it to me, I said, absolutely. That's my writing. Absolutely. I did that. Absolutely. And then I got up and I went to all the other department, some of them in tears. I did this, I'm out of pocket and there's no excuse. And brother, the way it scorched the landscape and the penitentiary. Street brother, because Paul was the devout man of God. Paul was helping lead the church. Paul is one of the men that don't come off his love for Christ, and he did what? Hey brother. I had Christians not wanting to talk to me. Now that's stemmed the work out with Jesus Christ. Yeah. My job was to truly repent, which I did accept ownership of what I did. Step up and step into the light and then learn. In everything I possibly can from it, and me and Mike still feed off that. How do we still feed off that brother? Brother Omar, I'm not lying to you, brother. I thank God for them extra six months in the joint. I thank God for being caught. I thank God for being sent to the supermax and two men telling on me. I thank God for them things because we don't see the hand of God in them moments. But the reality is that Romans 8 28 says, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the. The good of those who love God and called according to his purpose. I was still called by God in my cheating. I was still loved by God in my cheating, but I don't get to pick the consequences. Just like David didn't get to pick the consequences. And when God and the prophet Nathan came to him and confronted him on his sin, and what did he do? He stepped up and stepped in. Not initially. You bring me in and I swear by son now he'll die. It's you that. Had one lesson, brother coming home prevented me from cutting corners. Yeah. Preventing me from cheating the system. There's always a system. Look at, look at, um, public aid as a perfect example. You know, we get the card when we first come home, brother. We were done our six months. Now you could rock that boy as long as you want. As long as you lie, as long as you cheat. And we'll promote that. We'll promote it like we're doing something, you know, honorable. Man, man, I'm gonna get this card. And I did that. And all the, I'm gonna get SSI, I'm gonna do, I've seen all the paperwork. I know what's up. I know what the government gives or don't give, and the things you have to work for to get them. And then you have to lie there's been so many times that me, Mike, and the rest of the brothers have seen, um, we didn't take advantage of the system. Hmm. We didn't take the easy route. Um, trust God, um, work hard, be patient, God, honor that. Amen. And he has. And he has. So that one choice I made that was ungodly how God used that brother to not only mold and shaped me, but the effects of that and the deposits that I would make on that, long after that lesson or the lesson providing for me all the way. Through my walk with him, um, has benefited us tenfold. Brother has benefited us tenfold. So my point being is, is that I know it's difficult. I walk this walk every day, brother. I'm in it every single day. I know it's hard, brother. It's more hard a year that I'm out than it was the first six months. We have a meeting every two weeks. Our ministry, we're in constant conversation every day. Um, and the people that are around me in this. Church that you'll find out and the more people you interview for this community has been outstanding, brother, open arms like you wouldn't believe. We don't get the same backlash like other people get in the city. Not this town, not these people. Not Hill Church, not first Christian. These men and women in this community as opened their arms like I've never seen, I sit in the kitchen and eat dinner somewhat frequently to a ex state cop. And his wife and know his family and love them and their grandkids, and they treat me like their son, brother. They treat me like their family brother like you wouldn't believe brother. Not just me, but the brothers. The brothers, everyone we bring in, they bring open arms, warmth and love of Christ like I've never seen in my life. Omar, our ministry. I'm gonna put this in a nutshell. Our ministry brother, a man gets out and he has a hard time of getting an id and he has all these things. So we offer him the house to stay at'cause he's homeless. And we also let him know that the DMV accepts our place as a home body spot. So you could get your id. Make a long story short, he got his id, we're driving in the car after a year, not being able to get it, being homeless and all these other things. He's driving. He's working now. He's doing all these great things. He called me the other day too, and as we're driving, you know what he told me, brother? And, and Mike, he said, man, brother, you, you bring hope. Our ministry is a ministry of hope, brother. Amen. The hope of Jesus Christ. Point blank period. And if we're not giving that to men, we're not giving that to the community.'cause we help, I'm a youth sponsor at church every Sunday. Um, I go into. This field school right here in the grade school, in the high school and mentor the students and, and counsel them once a week. Um, yeah, brother. We're trying to prevent this revolving door. Amen. But why we're trying to prevent it. We're not vilifying the people that are in prison. We're trying to get society to understand is that you can't ignore sex offenders just because you dislike their crime. We've bought a building just so we can house them there because we. Have a difficult time. These brothers who are coming out who make horrific choices and bad choices. Okay, now what? Now what? People forget that, well, we'll take that responsibility on Jesus Christ has called us Brother. Amen. And hopefully we're answering every day, brother. Um,

Omar: 49:27

man. No, it sounds like you guys are doing tremendous work out here, man. And I've seen that firsthand. You mentioned the families, the love. Amen. Man, that's, that's awesome to hear, man. Amen. So. And any, any final words and, uh, just one. Go ahead. No, I was gonna ask you, do you guys, uh, is there a way people could I, uh, I know you the ministry Yeah. That where they could, uh, so, or you know what I'm saying?

Paul: 49:47

Yeah. Listen, uh, if you need to contact the ministry and see if, uh, if you're a good foot, we have paperwork. Just like any, uh, uh, um, St. Leonard's. St. Leonard's has paperwork. We have paperwork too. We expect you to meet the expectations you agreed to. We're not gonna tell you what our stand. Uh, we're looking for you to honor the things that bear the right fruit. And the only way you do that, if you do it, that's their choice to do. Yeah. That's their job to do. But we'll support you every way we can. So if you need to get a license and that's one of your responsibilities, Hey Paul, I need to get a license. Alright, let's run. Hey, I need a job. Okay, come on. I'll take you to all the, we expect you to put. Skin in the game because this is your life. But where you can contact us at and see if this is something you would like to land at and build from here. Um, my number's(309) 502-2223. Call me anytime. Gotcha. Leave a message. Lemme say this, Omar. Praise God for what you're doing, brother. Praise God. You're bringing a light brother to where most people want to ignore.

Omar: 50:59

Hmm.

Paul: 51:00

Um, you're bringing hope, um, not just to the brothers that you interviewed. Who, but to the greater good of humanity, brother. Um, this is a service to the kingdom as well. I appreciate brother, the invite and you traveling down here and giving me your time as well as the other people that you'll interview. Brother. Uh, thank you brother.

Omar: 51:21

No, no. Yeah, for sure. You know, you know about one of my saints is if it's of God, it's of me.

Paul: 51:27

Amen.

Omar: 51:28

Amen. Like, if it's to bring glory to God. Amen. If it's to man, uh, highlight, you know Jesus, man, what he's doing in people's lives, man, I'm all for it, man. At me just driving two and a half hours to Kiwan in my head, I'm here. Yeah. You know, Ronnie's been telling me about this. I'm like, man, I told Ronnie, Hey, whenever you're ready, you just let me know and I'm there, man. Pack up my little bags and we're out here. But you know what, brother? Thank you for your time. Amen. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I always ask our guests if they could close us out on the prayer.

Paul: 51:52

Amen brother. I appreciate that brother. Um, Thank you Father. Thank you for this moment, Lord, for everybody that's in this room and everybody who sees this and hears this, hear them as well. Lord, hear their petitions at night, Lord, as they send them up to you in the still of the night when nobody's around, Lord, that's when faith is the purists, isn't it? Father, when we reach out. Out to you in need when we know you're the answer, father, that we run to you, that we throw our face to the ground, that we tell you Lord, that we need you. We do each and every day. Father, every second. Thank you for brother Omar and Ronnie and for coming down here Lord and giving us the ability to glorify you, Lord, and continue your work and to highlight the ministry, brother and and to the things that we're doing. Thank you, father. Thank you for all you do. Father, thank you for the next breath that we'll all take, Lord. Lord, it continues to mold and shape us in your image, Lord, in your son's image, in Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Omar: 52:57

Amen. Amen. The thank you for joining me, brother. And with that, we're gonna get ready to wrap up. Uh, Matthew four 16 reads, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned alongside my guest, Paul. My name's Omar Calvillo, and we are wrong too strong. Amen.