"I am a desperate mother from Chile whose son Gerardo was arrested at airport and taken to Clayton Co. jail. He was on way to spend Xmas with us. All I have is an inmate # XX-0000000. I read Ron Driver's story on his visit to offer religious support and I though of Gerardo’s needs. We are catholic but God is only one.

Pls, can you help me or direct me to some other group that can ?

Thank you and God bless you.”

This was an unusual message. (We changed the name to protect his identity.)We often receive emails from overseas. They are often scams asking for money to be sent to support a non-existent ministry. But this was different, there was no plea for money, only a plea for “religious support”. Forwarding the message to Ron who heads up our Jailhouse HUG Team, we responded to the email letting the mother know Ron would be in touch with her.

Ron contacted the mother and the Clayton County Jail, scheduling a visit for the following Friday morning, December 24th.

At the jail Ron asked Gerardo about his situation and his needs. It turned out that Gerardo is wanted on a Felony drug charge in Florida. He was arrested at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in route to Chile to visit his mother for Christmas.

Then Ron asked him about his relationship with Christ. Gerardo was not a Christian. So, Ron shared the Gospel message with him, sharing a little bit of his own life experiences. Sitting there in the visitation area and surrounded by other inmates, Gerardo, with tears streaming down his face but with no hesitation or embarrassment, accepted Christ as his savior.

Florida has ten days to pick Gerardo up from the jail. Should they fail to do so, Gerardo will be released. If that should happen, he now plans on returning to Florida to take care of the charges. Regardless of the outcome, Ron left him with this contact information so they could follow up with each other and additional support can be provided.

One interesting note: Gerardo was visited by another minister this week. Amazingly, while asking Gerardo how he was doing and what needs he has, the minister never once broached the subject of Gerardo’s relationship with Christ or offered to pray for him. The opportunity lost by this minister is astounding... it was nothing less than the opportunity to change someone's eternal future and maybe that of some of his friends and family. While that minister will report to Gerardo’s mother that her son is doing as well as can be expected Ron will be reporting that her son may have some hard times to come in this life, but he will be spending eternity in the arms of Christ.

Gerardo’s parting comment to Ron sort of sums of this chain of events:

“I believe God allowed this to happen so that we could meet.”

Today, the day before Christmas, gifts were delivered early. Gerardo received the gift of eternal salvation and Ron received the gift of having the Holy Spirit lead yet another to Christ through him.