Why did we begin us lepers?
The first opportunity my son had to apologize to me for his sin of being a felon, I needed to apologize to him for not being a good father for him in his life. By truly apologizing to him, I became an accessory to his crime, also making me guilty. Read the details below.
When we were established.
We began in 2011 on a trial basis. After having unbelievable success for 2 years, we decided to expand our horizons to help more families and felt in order to do this, we needed a web site. Through comments from the emails received, we have a greater understanding for the needs of families of sex offenders.
How we assist families.
We visit all those who feel downcast, hopeless, and those that just need good practical information. We can give you suggestions on how to approach the future. We attempt to assist in your needs, and this is for any family member or person that is attempting to help a felon. We are not pastors or professionals, but we have been where you are now. We do enlist your pastor for help in visiting your loved one, and helping your church in giving you support in all things, including physical labor, finances, being with you in court, taking you to visit your loved one, be at your side during a parole board hearing, suggesting many things you need to do when released from prison, and in many other ways which we can assist you. Please call with any questions. 616-808-6761
Where do we get our funds?
First, we do not charge you for any thing, as our funds grow we will be helping those in need financially. Our beginning funds have been started by a family, which we have been assisting. They have, in appreciation given a “fund-raising concert” in behalf of “Us Lepers”. There is an opportunity to give a cash gift through this web site. We are also a 501c (3) non profit, and are prayfully asking for corporate or private gifts, if interested, please call for a personal visit to explain our mission for the least of these. 616-808-6761
Where are we located?
We are just east of Grand Rapids MI, near Ada, and are available for families for much of West Michigan on a personal basis. Beyond that, we plan to expand but also, with the help of this web site and other modern day communications, we can assist you in many ways long distance.
Justice versus Love,
When my son was first arrested and I found out what he had done, I went into a spiral of depression. What caused it was when my son first called, he said, the investigation of detectives and CPS told him he would not get any jail time. Instead of feeling good about that, I was determined that he should be punished for this crime. Bail was set and he had money in a “rainy day account” to get himself out, but wanted my help and approval. Those first few days were a difficult time in my life, on the one hand it was in me to love him, but I also wanted justice. My excuse to him to stay in jail was that he was serving time that he deserved and would count for time served when sentenced. But, I had a huge problem; I didn’t know how much justice (time) he deserved. I wasn’t sleeping but a few hours each night and became very depressed. I would ask the minister to convince my son to accept his punishment, but he would come back and say, I believe he has had a real change in his life and has presented a plan on the things he would do if he was out and the plan is very well thought out and good. So, instead of our Pastor convincing him, it would turn out the other way around. Then he was charged with 2 – 15 year terms. In my mind that was unreasonable, and I felt it to be far too extreme, I would never be able to hug him again, being 73, I would be 103 when he got out. You see I was still determined to be in charge of justice.
In my frustration I went to the Bible and started in the New Testament to see what Jesus would do. Jesus talked a lot about hell (justice), but the examples on what we are to do, is love. Two vivid examples are; the women that was brought to Jesus by all those men that were for justice, came with their pockets full of stones. Evidently the women was caught in a sexual act (sex offender) without being married. It was a crime that demanded death by stoning, BUT, Jesus shows us that we are not to be in the justice business because we are all sinners, but regardless how bad the sin, He loves and so should we!
The other example was when Jesus presents a parable after the attorney (attorney’s always seem to working with justice) asked, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus asked him, what is written in the law? (Justice) The attorney answered, LOVE the Lord thy God. Etc. and thy neighbor as thyself. And he willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbor? He should have been asking about the main part, Love! Then Jesus told him of the parable about the man which was robbed and beaten. The first two people probably thought the guy deserved to be beaten and passed on the other side. The third one saw someone with a soul and always helped others with love and helped this man in many ways. At the end of the parable, Jesus asked, which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? The attorney said, “He that showed mercy (love) on him. Jesus said, “Go, and do thou likewise”
This was enough for me and I turned from justice, leaving it for God and the judges of this world, which He has appointed, and then turned to love and started by helping my son, get out on bail. The amazing thing was that when my son asked for forgiveness, I already had done that. It was easy to forgive him but much harder to ask him for forgiveness for the many things that I have done to him and things I didn’t do, such as, not being there for him, always too busy. But asking for forgiveness is much easier than dealing with justice, when we try to do God’s work, trying to help Him with justice, it is hard work, depressing, confusing and never coming to an end. We just flail, become angry, never satisfied with the out come, and it will eat our heart out. But, when you love it’s an easy way, a good feeling, uplifting, able to truly give thanks. It is better to give (love) than receive (justice). That is what we are called to do and our reward will be happiness.
“Justice versus love”
Could also mean “anger versus happiness” or “distress versus relief”.