Some of you knew me several years ago when I posted here under another nick. Then an offence against a boy some twenty years ago came to the attention of the police and I had the pleasure of the state's hospitality for several years. I've now been released and am in the process of rebuilding my life. I am truly blessed in that very few friends have rejected me as a result of discovering there was a side to me that they didn't know, my finances are very healthy and I have my own accommodation.

Prison for me was not especially nasty. The segregation of sex offenders from the rest of the criminal population results in our side of the prison being generally reasonably civilised. I made some good friends inside - including a couple of GLs but no BLs I am aware of. I saw several people become Christians and am seeing them continue in the faith. One guy wandered into chapel on Christmas day mainly in the expectation of chocolate after the service; said something like "Here I am God" and was very shocked - but changed - when he found God replying! It took him quite some time to sort himself out but by the time he was released he had a firm grasp on God which appears to be continuing.

Not that I'm recommending it as a holiday camp; I was blessed with a steady flow of letters during my time inside which helped me remember that there are people outside who care about me. For those whose offences have destroyed their relationships, there can be no doubt that it is a lonely miserable place of bare survival for the most part. But that makes it a place of opportunity for the gospel, so if you are considering getting involved in prison ministry, I'd encourage you to go for it; God IS at work in those dark places and you may well reap an eternal reward in seeing someone going on in the faith as a result of your presence. If you are interested and your church doesn't have any links to a prison, I suggest you contact the chaplaincy at it and see what volunteer involvement is open to you. And as a BL, you MAY find yourself better able to relate to the outwardly tough but often inwardly immature guys that you'll meet.

And for anyone considering offending with their YF: DON'T. It's messed up my life and the life of my family to a vast extent.....