A young boy ached with hurt as he watched his father walk out of his life. That hurt eventually turned to rage and extreme hatred. The hatred grew stronger when the boy was sexually abused by a family friend while other adults in the house drank and partied. This hatred and violence would eventually earn him a long rap sheet landing him in a Colorado Penitentiary for an armed robbery where one cop and a gang-friend were hit with bullets. The anger and hatred only grew.
Years later he walked out of prison, and because someone reached out and cared, miraculously, the same sheriff that arrested him in 1960, was now asking him to work as a jail chaplain. For over 30 years the Chaplain, tenderly labeled “Chappy” and “Pastor Dave”, has worked in two jails, ministered in others, and trained scores to work in prison ministry. He was granted a full pardon by a governor in Colorado.
As he worked as chaplain at one of the jails, Chappy had to spiritually serve and interact with two of the three men who murdered his own brother who had been working as a security guard. Love won out when Chappy looked beyond the murder and saw their need.
Now, Chappy’s heart is to travel and teach others how to help men and women all over the country who have been locked away, and often forgotten--many for the rest of their life. His wife of 46 years went home to be with the Lord the night after Christmas, stemming from complications after undergoing two back surgeries. The two lovebirds desired to begin touring the country together sharing their compassion and experience at the beginning of the summer of 2011.
The goal is to supply “Christ for Prisoners” with a newer-model motor home, or the funds necessary to purchase one. Christ for Prisoners, Inc. was founded January 1980 in Denver, Colorado. The organization is recognized as a non-profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
You can contact us directly if you would like to be a part of this project and we will direct your giving so that you are receipted properly. We will notify you of our progress.
These are the words from a chorus of a song that I wrote: “Don’t let life pass you by and never lend a hand. You could be the very one we need...”
Thank you. XOXO
