MY ANSWER

Last month I finally got out of jail, after becoming a Christian while there. I'm afraid no church will accept me because of my background. What would you do?
Billy Graham writes, "It's very important for you to link up with other Christians who can encourage and help you. Satan will do everything he can to discourage you or drag you back into your old ways—and one of our strongest defenses against him is other believers."

MY ANSWER

I know you get lots of letters from prisoners, but being a prisoner's wife is just as hard. I don't have a question, but I hope you'll pray for us.
Billy Graham writes, "Thank you for your letter, and I hope many who are reading this will stop and pray for you and for others who have a family member in prison."

MY ANSWER

How should a Christian deal with embarrassment?
Billy Graham writes, "You should deal with this the way you should deal with any other situation in life: openly and honestly."

MY ANSWER

If the United States is a Christian nation, why is there so much crime?
Billy Graham writes, "Since its founding, this nation has been deeply influenced by the Bible and the Christian faith, ... but only a minority of our citizens are active Christians, and America is not a fully 'Christian' nation."

MY ANSWER

I know I've hurt a lot of people, but what good would it do to ask them to forgive me? I know they won't do it, and to be honest, I can't blame them.
Billy Graham writes, "When we have hurt someone, we need to admit it to them and ask for their forgiveness. Whether they actually forgive us is up to them, but we must take the first step."

MY ANSWER

I'm involved in a business deal that wasn't exactly legal, and now I'm afraid we're going to get caught. Will God get me out of this if I sincerely promise to do what's right in the future?
Billy Graham writes, "I've often said that one of life's hardest lessons is that we cannot change the past, nor can we escape the consequences of what we've done."

MY ANSWER

I'm in prison for the things I've done. How did I get so bad? Did the devil blind me?
Billy Graham writes, "The Bible talks about 'sin's deceitfulness'—because sin always deceives us into thinking we can get by with it."

MY ANSWER

We really felt that God led us to open our home to a needy young woman. But she stole from us and then vanished. Did we misunderstand God?
Billy Graham writes, "What she did was wrong—but she will always remember your kindness, and someday God may use it to turn her to Christ."

MY ANSWER

I am a policeman and a Christian, and I have to admit I get discouraged sometimes because it doesn't seem like I'm doing much good.
Billy Graham writes, "What you are doing is not worthless—not at all. After all, how much worse would our society be if we didn't have people like you who are on the front lines combating crime?"

MY ANSWER

I know I need to stay away from drugs and alcohol, but beyond that, how can I reform myself?
Billy Graham writes, "The most important step you can take is to turn to Christ and seek His help as you face the future."

MY ANSWER

I've messed up my life so badly that I don't think even God could straighten it out (even if He wanted to).
Billy Graham writes, "The Bible warns that 'the way of the unfaithful is hard' (Proverbs 13:15)—and I'm afraid your life is a tragic illustration of this truth. Why, then, leave God out of your life any longer?"

MY ANSWER

I'm in jail right now, and I've seen several guys supposedly get religion here, but they admit privately that the only reason they're doing it is to impress the parole board.
Billy Graham writes, "It might interest you to know that God doesn't like hypocrites either. In fact, some of Jesus' strongest words were reserved for people who were hypocrites."

MY ANSWER

I feel so guilty because my son is in prison. What should I have done differently?
Billy Graham writes, "Single parenting is difficult even under the best of circumstances, and my heart goes out to anyone who must bear the burden of parenthood alone, regardless of the reasons."

MY ANSWER

I think you said once in your column that the Apostle Paul wrote his letters from prison. What was his crime? I'm in prison, and I know I deserve to be here, but why did a great Christian like Paul get put away?
Paul's only "crime" was preaching the Gospel - which some people violently rejected.

MY ANSWER

The day after Mother died, one of my brothers went into her house and took her silver and fine china, leaving the rest of us with almost nothing. Later, he claimed Mother had said she wanted him to have them, although he had no proof. This was five years ago, and we've hardly spoken since. Why are people so greedy?
What your brother did was thoughtless and insensitive - and also wrong.

DECISION MAGAZINE

An 86-Year-Old Goes to Prison Twice a Week
Charlie Riggs has helped many prisoners find new life in Christ.

DECISION MAGAZINE

At the House of Hope ... Preparing for the "Outside World"
In addition to helping former prisoners strengthen their walk with Christ, the House of Hope helps them to connect with a church, find employment and grow in Christ with sound, biblically based counsel.

DECISION MAGAZINE

'A Father Who Loves Me'
The Senior Chaplain at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles recalls the best News he ever heard.

DECISION MAGAZINE

Real Power
Ron Jacobs thought that nothing on earth was more powerful than organized crime. Then he met the One who holds power over death itself.

DECISION MAGAZINE

You Can Be Truly Free
Do you feel like a prisoner in your own life? You can be free!