Let's Write Letters Urging Compassion For These Aging Persons

John Bennie Williams, 88,
is legally blind.

The late Desmond Tutu once said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." 

Charles Zellers, incarcerated since 1994, has long been working for justice for deserving men and women behind bars, and is developing a program called H.O.P.E. "Helping Offenders who are Parole Eligible in Virginia." 

He recently sent me the names of just some of the incarcerated he knows about who are over 80 years of age, many with significant disabilities, and all of them deserving of compassionate release.

"I would understand keeping these men incarcerated if they were a proven threat to others or to themselves," he writes, but he believes they have clearly "aged out of crime" and that each of them is deserving of pardon by the outgoing governor and/or by the next administration.  

Cecil Adrian Allison, 1001820 (Greensville) Born 1941

Cordell Banks, 1160003 (State Farm) Born 1941

Edward Brown, 1120322 (MCV) Born 1937

Stanley J. Callis, 1075677 (Hospital) Born 1940

Charles Manuel Campbell, 1012686 (Marion) Born 1940

George Edward Cooley, 1135561 (Deerfield) Born 1938

Antonio S. Galicia, 1141440 (Buckingham) Born 1937

Eugene Samuel Mapson, 1132140 (State Farm) Born 1942

Jackson David Shifflett, Sr., 1175707 (Sussex I) Born 1933

James Timothy Smith, 1047569 (State Farm) Born 1940

Jay Richard Timmons, 1003927 (Greensville) Born 1938

John Bennie Williams, 1091323 (Deerfield) Born 2/24/33 Fell 3/2/76 Legally Blind

Robert Lee Woody, 1106065 (Deerfield) Born 1938

John Clinton Wright, 1171177 (Pocahontas) Born 10/24/27 6th Grade Education

Zellers writes:

There are many additional parole eligible offenders who are under 80 (born after 1941). Each of these "old-law" persons (incarcerated before parole was abolished in 1995) has served at least 26 consecutive years, and some for many more. They are no longer being corrected but warehoused. 

Keeping offenders incarcerated/warehoused without proving each, one on a case by case basis, is a continued threat to society is dead wrong, and shows nothing more than mere hate for these persons who have been incarcerated 26 or more consecutive years for a violent or sexual offense.

Please share this information with as many people as possible who can get this story out to many people within the United States and the whole world, so maybe someone will intervene. Some of these parole eligible offenders are legally blind, paralyzed, or are essentially in bad health and should clearly be granted release.

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) spends over a billion dollars annually to keep men and women warehoused when many of us could be free, paying taxes and doing good in our communities.

In addition, mental health, dental, and medical services are terrible within the VADOC. We have not had a pay raise in well over 30 years. Our pay is only from 27¢ to 45¢ per hour for up to 30 hours of work per week. And Virginia has stopped providing free soap, weekly stamped envelope, free legal postage, etc. Commissary has became prioritized and their prices are outrageous and continue to escalate.

Here's a link to contact Governor Northam https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Or pardons@governor.Virginia.gov

Here's how to contact the Parole Board https://vpb.virginia.gov/contact/

COVET-22: Combating The Super-contagious Omega Variant Of Consumer-virus

"If you see a brother or sister in need and have the means to do
something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what 
happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear."
 I John 3:17 (the Message)

The Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron and other variants of the coronavirus have proven to be deadly, but according to Jesus and the prophets, there is a form of soul infection that is far worse. 

Knowing our tendency to look out for our own interests above practicing a passionate love of God and a compassionate care for our neighbor, our scriptures strongly warn us of the dangers of this virulent strain of affluenza. 

Our only protection is to become fully inoculated with the joy-filled conviction of God's shalom, so much so that the seductive power of Mammon loses its grip on us. 

For surely, as in Mary's Christmas song,  God will bring down the powerful from their thrones, lift up the humble, satisfy the hungry with good things, and forever bless the repentant with abundance. And as in Isaiah's bold pronouncement, every valley of poverty and want will be elevated and every mountain of privilege will be leveled. The crooked path will be made straight and the rough places made a well paved highway for God.

In this season of hope let us mask our souls and keep ourselves at a safe distance from the infectious influences of Wall Street, Hollywood, the Market and Madison Avenue.

“Blessed are you who are needy

   God’s kingdom belongs to you.

Blessed are you who are hungry now.

   You will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are sad now.

    You will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,

    when they have nothing to do with you

    and say bad things about you,

    and when they treat your name as something evil.

They do all this because you are followers of the Son of Man...

How terrible it will be for you who are rich! 

    You have already had your easy life.

How terrible for you who are well fed now!

    You will go hungry...

How terrible for you when everyone says good things about you!

    Their people treated the false prophets the same way long ago."

Jesus, Luke 6:20-26 (NIRV)

Celebrating "John The Anabaptist" For Advent

This is John as portrayed in the Jesus of Nazareth movie.

It is written by Isaiah the prophet,

"I will send my messenger ahead of you, 

who will prepare your way, 

a voice of one calling in the desert, 

'Prepare the way for the Lord, 

make straight paths for him.'"

Mark 1:2-3

John the Baptist should be the ideal candidate for patron saint of Anabaptist minded groups everywhere, but I know of no Mennonite church or institution that is named after this forerunner of Jesus.

Consider the Baptist's story. While in his early 30's John, a member of the Jewish priestly class, left his religious establishment roots and advocated for radical reformation, calling on people to be baptized as a sign of their commitment to thorough repentance and a transformed way of life. He was imprisoned for his outspoken opposition to King Herod's immoral behavior and was executed by being beheaded while likely in his 30's. 

Note some striking similarities to an event that contributed to the launch of the Anabaptist movement. Three young men of about the Baptist's age baptized each other, then many others, as a sign of their passion for radical change. This January 21, 1525, meeting of Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz and George Blaurock marked the beginning of thousands of nominal believers being baptized as adults as a sign of their commitment to more faithfully following Jesus. Like John, Grebel was imprisoned for his outspoken witness, though he escaped and died of the plague at age 28. Young Manz was likewise apprehended, sentenced to death as a heretic and was drowned for his faith. Blaurock, a former Roman Catholic priest turned evangelist, boldly baptized hundreds and was burned at the stake at 38 years of age.

John the Baptist lived a life of voluntary poverty and urged people with more than one tunic--and with more food than they needed--to share generously with those who were in want. Similarly, early Anabaptists advocated for a radical sharing of their possessions with each other and with others in the spirit of Jesus. The Hutterite branch of the movement took the early church's example of having all possessions in common literally, and Menno Simons is well known for teaching that "True evangelical faith... cannot lie dormant. It clothes the naked, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute, it serves those that harm it, It binds up that which is wounded..."

Early Anabaptists were also bold to address people in positions of power, not unlike the Baptist, who confronted the corrupt practices of tax collectors for the empire and spoke out against occupying Roman soldiers extorting money and property to augment their pay. In a similar vein Menno Simons wrote, "Love compels us to respectfully and humbly show all high officials what the Word of God commands them, how they should rightfully execute their office to the glory and praise of God... to punish the transgressors and protect the good; to judge rightly between a man and his fellows; to do justice to the widows and orphans and to the poor, to rule cities and countries justly by a good policy and administration, not contrary to God’s Word but to the benefit of the common people."

So what if today's Anabaptists more intentionally followed the example of the first century Baptist? 

For example, John the Baptist style Mennonite schools and universities would be less inclined to provide the kinds of state of the art amenities and programs designed to compete with other evangelical schools and colleges, and become more like boot camps devoted to preparing young people for worldwide engagement. It would also have a strong focus on living compatibly with nature and on helping preserve the planet. 

Baptist-modeled congregations would forgo owning expensive real estate and focus on calling all members to give up any excess consumer wealth and would engage all baptized members in active ministries to the poor and oppressed.

John the Baptist inspired Mennonite retirement communities would place high priority on providing affordable care to everyone regardless of ability to pay. The well to do would make their assets available to help provide for those of lesser means, and there would be no differences in the kind of care or  accommodations offered based on levels of wealth. 

What do you think would Jesus be saying about paying more attention to the life and teaching of his radical cousin?

Our Christmas Letter From Hawthorne Circle

Greetings from our new home! After 33 years at 1135 Hamlet Drive in Rockingham County, we officially moved on August 5 to the other side of the city/county line, to Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community’s Park Village. Our little apartment is sandwiched between two good neighbors who are a part of our wonderful and hospitable community.

Downsizing and simplifying our life by reducing our possessions proved to be anything but a simple task. In addition to making many trips to our local Gift and Thrift store and numerous treks to the landfill, we had a benefit backyard auction on August 21, along with numerous tables of free items available on a donation basis, all to to help raise money for Mennonite Central Committee’s refugee relief efforts.

Living in a smaller space, with no wood stove to keep after, and no garden or lawn work to do (though we do plan to use a small garden plot behind our new place), we’re adjusting to having more time for reading, visiting and for other community and church projects. This is a great opportunity to slow down a bit, though Harvey is still doing some counseling two days a week. We also remain active members of the house church we’ve been a part of since our years at the Zion Mennonite Church near Broadway from 1965-1988.

Our son Brad enjoys life as a musician, part time private tutor and an active member of the Pittsburgh Mennonite Church. Son Brent is an independent contractor in Harrisonburg and is the chief installer for his wife’s Heidi’s interior decorating business. They are members of the Park View Mennonite Church two blocks from our new home. Their oldest, Madelyne, a high school junior, works part time at Chipotles restaurant and is looking forward to being a part of a CNA training program for future health care workers next semester. Ian is a busy high school freshman and Keaton is an active 7th grader at Skyline Middle School. Daughter Joanna teaches English as a Second Language at an elementary school in Pittsford, NY, and grandson John Mark is taking advanced classes as a high school junior, is on the school’s soccer team and is a cellist in the school orchestra. Twins David and Maria are eager fifth grade learners.

But the highlight of our life remains the news of a long anticipated child!  Yes, even in our ripe old age we join millions in heaven and on earth in celebrating this birth announcement:

                                                 Tidings of Great Joy!

For unto us  _______________________,

a child is born, a Son is given.

He is our just and wise Governor, 

and his name shall be 

Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, 

   Prince of Peace!     

(Isaiah 9)

If Ancient Civilizations Had Built Huge Prisons

What if massive structures like this had been
 built to cage people for years on end?

Had the pyramids, instead of being resting places for dead kings, been built to confine massive numbers of human beings in crowded cages, I'm sure history would judge Egyptian civilization less favorably. 

Meanwhile, I can't see history judging the extensive use of jails and penitentiaries as evidence of our being an enlightened and just society. While temporary and even prolonged confinement may be necessary in rare cases, our having 2.3 million human beings behind bars in the US--by far the highest rate of incarceration of any country in the world--will not make us look good. 

Surely we can come up with better ways than this of responding to problems like addiction, mental illness and criminal behavior.

                                                              **********************

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound..." Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)

"Near the Cross Was Mary Weeping"

 

The text of the hymn, "Near the Cross Was Mary Weeping" was written by Jacopone de Benedictis, a 13th century Franciscan lay brother in Italy, and was translated by Henry Mills (1786-1867), a Presbyterian minister.

I have been unable to find the source of the accompanying portrayals of Mary at Jesus's birth and after his death. Let me know where I should give credit.

Near the cross was Mary weeping,

There her mournful station keeping,

Gazing on her dying Son,

There with speechless grief oppressed,

Anguish-stricken, and distressed;

Through her soul the sword had gone.

Who upon that Suff'rer gazing,

Bowed in sorrow so amazing,

Would not with His mother mourn?

'Twas our sins brought Him from heaven;

These the cruel nails had driven;

All His griefs for us were borne.

When no eye its pity gave us,

When there was no arm to save us,

He His love and pow'r displayed;

By His stripes He wrought our healing;

By His death, our life revealing,

He for us the ransom paid.

Jesus, by Thy love constrain us

That from sin we may refrain us,

In Thy griefs may deeply grieve.

Thee our best affections giving,

To Thy glory ever living,

May we in Thy glory live.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #294 (copyright, Public Domain)

HARD TIME VIRGINIA Vol.6, No. 3, Dec. 2021 Holiday Edition!

HARD TIME VIRGINIA is an occasional newsletter by and for incarcerated persons on my address list, originating at

1540 Hawthorne Circle

Harrisonburg, VA 22802

Pathetically Few Parole Releases Celebrated This Year

There are over 2,574 parole eligible incarcerated persons in Virginia's Department of Corrections, yet there have been only 143 combined release grants through October, as follows:

Regular Grants: 89                                  Board Review Grants: 7                          

Geriatric Grants: 23                 Violators continued on parole: 39

Dual Grants: 24                                    Discharged sentences: 15

Most of the releases appear to have been granted for juvenile and Fishback cases, and very few for the approximately 1200 original old law men and women who were eligible prior to adding juvenile, Fishback and Three Strike cases to the parole eligible pool. 

As a stark example, since January a total of 157 interviews were conducted with parole eligible men at the Augusta Correctional Center. Many of them felt their interviews went well, and large numbers of them had created impressive records of achievements in the years they had spent behind bars since parole was abolished in 1995, and have demonstrated years of infraction-free behavior in prison. 

After decades behind bars, a large percentage of these men were also eligible for geriatric release. Not only have many "aged out of crime," but scores have worked hard at becoming truly changed men who deserve a second chance. And many of their counselors and members of the prison staff agree.

Yet as of this date none of these men at ACC have been granted release. Not one. For all who have truly turned their lives around, this is heartbreaking, and reflects a failure of the board to carry out its mission. I know the political pressure they feel is enormous, and that their jobs are dependent on the will of the governor who in turn is under pressure by tough-on-crime legislators who resist having anyone found guilty of a violent crime return to society. 

But as the name implies, the mission of our Department of Corrections is to correct, and not merely to punish. If we fail to acknowledge and release truly deserving men and women in our prisons, we are admitting our expensive "corrections" system is a failure. 

- Harvey Yoder, with thanks to Jonathan White for some of the above information

Lunenberg Correctional Center Thanksgiving Menus

Noon Meal (Great!)                   Brown Bag Dinner (Interesting!)   

Honey Ham                                        Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Chicken Leg Quarter                        Beverage package mix

Mac & Cheese

Candy Yams

Bread Dressing

Greens

Gravy

Cranberry Sauce

Cake w/icing

Sweet Potato Pie

Beverage package mix with water

Some Holiday Reflections From Inside Virginia Prisons

"Thanksgiving in prison is a day that we all can be thankful for family and friends who truly care and help us to remain strong and unbroken in our hope for freedom." Jonathan White, ACC  

"I miss being with my family and seeing their faces light up and enjoying the spirit of Christmas time and just being with my loved ones, visiting friends and enjoying the good food. I thank Jesus for all He's done for us."    Robert Lee Ayers, BKCC

"I am grateful for family, my health and those that work tirelessly to ensure that he parole process is based on accomplishments, programming and behavior while in prison and not solely on the "serious nature of one's offense." This is what I am thankful for"  Dennis Berry, ACC

"Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks to those who helped me find a home plan for my pardon request. I haven’t had this much love and support in a long time."  Richard "Rick" Webb, ACC                

 

"I am truly thankful for my family and friends who have supported me over the years of my incarceration. I appreciate each and everyone. Happy Holidays!”   Lloyd Whetzel ACC

"My mother is not able to care for herself. She needs me home to care for her and her affairs. I miss all of my loved ones, my two sons, my sisters and my niece and nephews. I love them all very much and only desire the best for them."  Charles Zellers BKCC                                                                                                                                       

"Holidays can be the most difficult time of year, and especially Christmas. After 27 years, I still become melancholy when watching "It's A Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" because in actually, it's not a wonderful life, only an existence! The only thing that keeps me going and doing right is remembering that Christmas means the birth of my Savior and the promise of eternal life."   Mike Missett, BKCC 

                                                                                                

“Taking in the bulbs of light

The smell from evergreens pine 

Hot chocolate by a fire this night

With family and friends such delight

All this is to me yet real

Surely God's grace is what we feel

So don't feel lonely, don't feel sad

This just might be the best we've had.

Merry Christmas from our Prison Land"

                                John Hanner, BKCC

Tidings of Great Joy (Isaiah 9:6)

“For unto ____________________ a child is born, a son is given

He will be your governor, and his name shall be

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”