UrbanFaith Editor Allen Reynolds sat down with jail chaplain and writer Ronald Olivier to speak about his story of going from a lifetime of poverty and violence to dealing with a life sentence in jail to being saved and freed by the ability of Jesus Christ in his wonderful ebook 27 Summers. The total interview is above, under are excerpts edited for readability and size.
Allen
I’m excited right now to have with me an writer, a chaplain, a person of God who has an unbelievable story and an unbelievable journey to share. And that’s Mr. Ronald Olivier sharing to inform about [his] ebook: 27 Summers. One of many issues folks don’t notice is how lengthy the justice system can take. Are you able to speak somewhat bit in regards to the bother of getting used to residing a life that’s violent or that’s bother? And actually, I’m making an attempt to get to how the concept of residing a sinful way of life can really feel so regular that we don’t notice that ultimately it’s gonna catch up [to us].
Ronnie
Yeah, I feel one of many methods is what the enemy makes use of is that perception that you’ll by no means get caught. Yeah, [they] bought caught, however not you. You too slick, you too sharp. He simply lets us see all that we are able to accumulate, all these items, the cash, the celebrity that comes with it. However by no means allow us to see the top of it. And most of my mates by no means made it out of their teenagers. Homicide was throughout me and I actually thought that was my destiny. I felt that’s how I purported to go. I believed this was a lifestyle. You do what you do, dwell so long as you possibly can dwell and die. And I at all times thought I might die earlier than I used to be 21. I by no means thought I’d make it out my teenagers.
You simply turn into accustomed to it. It’s like I heard a narrative about boiling a frog. You by no means simply put them in sizzling water. You place them in temperate water and let the temperature enhance and he’ll keep there and boil. However in case you simply drop them in sizzling water they get out.
In order that’s how sin is. , it progresses, and you’ll’t work out find out how to get out. I actually felt like that was my destiny and I couldn’t get out. Now I can look again and see all of the escape routes that God was making an attempt to get me out on. However the enemy had been blinding my thoughts a lot to make me assume that there was no approach out and that’s one of many best lies of the enemy. Man, you’re caught there. You by no means get out. That is the way in which life is meant to be. No, that’s a lie.
Allen
Yeah, and I feel that’s so seductive. I wish to take you to that second which I feel was God second the place you realized that you just weren’t going to get the dying penalty however as an alternative, had been going to get life in jail. Are you able to discuss simply what it was like actually to be positioned between dying and life and to search out out you bought life?
Ronnie
Sure, so I’m on trial for first diploma homicide dealing with the dying penalty. And up till that time, all the things was enjoyable and video games to me. It wasn’t actual. I believed I used to be getting out. I didn’t really feel the burden of it till I positioned within the holding tank about 12 AM, 1 AM within the morning whereas the jury was deliberating. I can nonetheless hear the iron door slam and the important thing flip. And I may nonetheless hear the guards footsteps fading off till I couldn’t hear him no extra. And I’m there alone in a field. And man, the burden of that was happening got here crushing down on me. I used to be like, whoa, there’s 12 people who don’t know something about me which are making the choice on whether or not I dwell or die. I used to be like, wow. And at that second I used to be like, man, I don’t wanna die. I consider God used my mom’s voice. I heard her saying this so clearly to me. It was so loud in my spirit to the place she stated, son, in case you ever in bother that I can’t get you out, it is best to name on Jesus. And at that second, I bought on my knees. I’m crying and I referred to as out to Jesus, and I had a quite simple prayer. I made a take care of God. Lots of people say you don’t make offers with God. I made a take care of Him. And I stated, Lord, in case you don’t allow them to kill me, I promise you, I’ll serve you the remainder of my life. And for the primary time in my life, I had skilled and felt the peace of God. There was a peace that got here. I didn’t know what it was then, however I simply had this inward resolve that I used to be gonna be okay. It was this calmness that came visiting me. And so the jury got here again with a responsible verdict of the lesser offense. That carried a compulsory life sentence with out advantages of parole or probation. In layman’s phrases, you die in jail. You by no means get out. However I prefer to put it like this in that holding tank, I acquired two life sentences. , the state was giving me a life sentence with no advantages. However God was giving me a life sentence with so many advantages that he inspired me in His phrase to not overlook them. So there it’s, man. I get this life sentence and I’m headed to penitentiary. Not simply jail, however penitentiary, which is a giant distinction.
Allen
Lots of instances we expect that, you understand, we give our lives to Christ after which they only get higher impulsively. I like that your story isn’t a narrative of an instantaneous change. Why is that necessary?
Ronnie
I feel that’s crucial as a result of I do know it helped me to be affected person with different younger believers since you may very well be you might be very judgmental in case you’re not cautious and say, oh, they’re not born once more. They’re not. However, when you consider it, identical to within the pure, when a child comes out of the womb, the child seems like what it got here out of. And in order that child, you understand, that child don’t come out wanting just like the little [girl or boy they will be when they’re big.] The infant seems like somewhat prune with all sort of afterbirth on. They must undergo a course of to be clear, to be fed, to be to be modified. And the child is completely depending on another person. And in order that’s what the discipleship is available in, you understand, and though I knew I used to be born once more, I seem like what I got here out. I nonetheless was doing a number of the similar issues. However I continued to go to church. Lots of people [put] stress on guys, you’re going to church, you’re nonetheless doing all that. As in case you’re purported to be excellent whenever you go to church. However and never realizing that the church is, it’s man, it’s a religious hospital. Individuals go there as a result of they’re sick. We’re all getting some sort of remedy. Should you break your arm, you don’t wait until it get nicely, then go to the hospital. That’s absurd, you understand, I’m going to get some remedy as a result of I’m damaged as a result of I’ve all these points as a result of, you understand, I’m tousled and I’m wrapped up in sin. That’s why I’m going to church. And man, we have to have folks with that understanding when guys get to church to assist them to disciple, to like on them, to get them the place they must be. And that’s what guys did for me, man. They discipled me. They didn’t decide me. They stored pushing me in the proper course, stored praying for me, you understand, and stored being there for me. And man, that’s so necessary and serving to younger believers as a result of they seem like they’re not nothing actually modified. However one thing did occur of their hearts, and it takes a course of. And that was happening the within approaching outdoors the place you possibly can see it and luxuriate in.
Allen
What recommendation would you give to younger adults now who could also be feeling hopeless or could really feel like there’s not any approach out of their conditions? As a result of I feel your story actually speaks to that.
Ronnie
One factor I might say is to have hope. Man, you bought you embrace the hope of glory, which is Jesus Christ. There’s completely no hope with out him. And so I might encourage you to develop that relationship. I’m not speaking about faith. I’m not speaking about simply going to church. I’m speaking about having an actual private relationship. Spending time with him, you develop your ear to listen to his voice, to differentiate his voice from some other voice and permit him to steer and direct you. I used to be in jail. God stated, look, don’t go that approach. Go over right here. And one thing would occur over there. , I get drugged up or killed and all this different factor. And he was he was main and defending me within the midst of chaos. He would do the identical factor for you. However he’s not a respecter of individual, however he’s a respecter of religion. He simply in search of somebody to consider Him at His phrase. And I promise you God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all you ask or assume, however it’s going to be based on the ability that’s working in you. You bought to let him work in you. And so I simply encourage you with that.
