"Kewanee's Call" - Creating Pathways to Restoration w/ Gigi Brown & Ronnie Carrasquillo

This is part 3 of a 5 part interview series highlighting the amazing work that is happening in Kewanee, Illinois in regards to prison ministry and re-entry initiatives. 

Join Omar Calvillo in this compelling episode of Wrong to Strong Chicago, where he speaks with Greta (Gigi) and Ronnie about the transformative power of prison ministry in Kewanee, Illinois. Discover how volunteers from Hill Church and other local ministries help reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals into society, providing spiritual, emotional, and material support. Listen to the impactful stories of redemption, hope, and perseverance as these individuals share their experiences. Learn how initiatives like Finish Well Ministries are creating opportunities for meaningful employment and stable housing, paving the way for a better future. Tune in to witness the amazing journey of going from darkness to light and from wrong to strong.

Transcript

Ronnie: 0:00

we have all these people that, uh, played roles in, uh, helping these, these brothers, invest. They invested into them to change the course of their mind, to let their criminal history go to, you know, be useful citizens as, as the Constitution says, to restore useful citizenship. So their ministries, each one of'em being ministers in their own right, they don't say they're ministers, but. Their ministers, and they call themselves counselors, but they're ministering because they're using the word to talk to these guys who are coming to hear the word. And they're getting the word. And she says, from the mother view, from the administrative view, uh, from the personal view, from the friend view, you know, and, and these guys are attentive. They've been starving. They're, a lot of people in prison are emotionally starved. Mm-hmm. Uh, families left, them, families die off. Uh, they burn bridges. And so you got people that don't know'em, reaching out. That olive branch to them. So it gives'em that, that, that glimpse of hope, you know, that man, somebody's concerned and then they have, they have that opportunity to don't blow it. Yeah. You know, and then they, they, they, they tune up and they walk a right line. So I witnessed this in a lot of times and they witness it a lot of times. So I'm just proud of what they've done. I, I moved off in my life, just coming home, so I stepped this way. They're continuously building and from the little thing we started of grabbing that minister's arm mm-hmm. They got, they got buildings. They're buying buildings, and they're buying cars and they're buying. So, hey, God bless'em. Mm-hmm.

Omar: 1:44

From the city of Chicago, a city most recently known for its crime and violence. On this podcast, we will be sharing stories of redemption from individuals raised in the tough streets of Chicago and from around the country. Some of them were gang members, drug dealers, incarcerated victims, and perpetrators of violence. Listen to my guests as they share their experiences, struggles, trauma, but also the strength, Hope, faith and perseverance. These have developed in them to keep pushing and moving forward in life. Tune in to hear how their lives have gone from darkness to light and from wrong to strong. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Wrong to Strong Chicago. I'm your host. My name's Omar Calvillo, and tonight I'm out here in Kewanee, Illinois, which is about two and a half hours about Southwest from Chicago. Uh, I came out here, uh, a big shout out to to Ronnie Carillo. You know, he invited me out here. Uh, he wanted a highlight, uh, the prison ministry, just the programming and everything that's going out here in Kewanee. Uh, so right now I got my sister, her name is Greta, also known as Gigi. Uh, and I just want to thank. You both for being on the podcast. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, okay. So, um, I guess we'll start with you. Uh, we're out here in Kewanee. We know there's a prison out here. I believe Ronnie said it got established or reopened as a, as a prison in 2014,

Ronnie: 3:09

right? Mm-hmm.

Omar: 3:09

Approximately 2014. So what has been your experience as far as like ministry? I guess what, what role do you play as far as like, as far as that goes?

GG: 3:19

So, I attend, uh, hill Church and there were a couple of gentlemen from Hill Church that were going. Out on a Monday night service for their, the life skills. Um, church service was Monday nights and they had opened it up then to the whole congregation. Hey, if anyone's interested in going, you know, just let the chaplain out there know. Well, the chaplain, he happened to be. Attending Hill Church also. So that's how I got involved. And um, first I was just a volunteer. Only went out maybe every other Monday. Um, because honestly my husband wasn't too happy about it, which I understand. Uh, but I'm not from Kewanee. So Kewanee is a very small town, very tight knit, family oriented fa town. I am from Peoria. And, um. I went to, uh, probably the toughest school in Peoria, um, down in the hood. And so, but it was okay and it was okay. I mean, obviously I thrived and I survived and everything, and I have tons and tons of friends. And so whoever's listening to this, shout out to Manuel Rams.'cause we just won state championship again, uh, for basketball. Nice. Um, but so when I went in there the first few times, I honestly felt like I was home because here are all these guys and I'm like. Wow, this is just amazing because you're all, you know, I don't see your color, you know, I just see your heart. And it was just like, Hey, hi. How are you? My name is Greta. And I was just like, in their face. And a couple of them were a little scared'cause they're like, here comes this girl, like in my face, literally. And so then, uh, I just, I was hungry and then Jesus was just like, okay sister, that's where you're gonna go. That's where you're gonna stay. And then I started going every Monday. I really had to talk to my husband about it and. Reassure him that I am safe in there, that no, they are not gonna harm me. Ronnie especially. And then a couple of the other gentlemen that I met through there, they are very, very protective of the women that are in there. And if any of the gentlemen that came to church just because there was a woman there, they were kindly escorted out or kindly. Told not to come back because that's the only reason they're there. And that's not why we women are there. We are there to praise God. We are there to worship with you, to support you, to listen to you, to pray, for you to be your sister in Christ. That's why I'm there. Um, so then it just kind of snowballed and then what Hill Church did is that we then. Started getting, um, things for donations because then we found out that some of the guys were gonna stay here in Kewanee and that was awesome. Or even go to the reentry center down in Peoria, I'm sorry, I forget what it's called. Um, a CT or something like that. I don't know. And me being from Peoria, I'm able to help them get a job down there because I can tell them, Hey, here's all the locations that you can go to, um, that are willing to hire felons. So, um, this Adult Transition center? Yeah. Okay. So some of the guys go to the Peoria ATC Center, adult Transition Center. So I'm able to help them get a job down there because I'm from Peoria, so I know the, um, manufacturers. Down there and things like that. So then they're able to contact me when they're there. As soon as they get a phone, Hey Gigi, you know, what about this place? What about that place? And then I can tell them all the, they can do. And then here, if they stay in Kewanee, um, hill Church and then a couple other churches were donating like household items. So then we would talk with, um, a lady that works at Life Skills Reentry Center that helps the gentleman find apartments. So we were like in one-on-one with her. And, um. Just, it was a really good collaboration. And then with Matthew 5 42 Ministry, that is with, um, first Christian, they do a lot of the furniture, so we would help with their furniture or our furniture here at Hill Church. And then also anything that you needed for your house. So that's how I really got started in it. And then obviously I met Paul Bucenco and Mike Lee, and then Ronnie and a whole bunch of other guys that I'm still super, super close with. And then when Paul gets out, or before Paul gets out, he. Wants to do a nonprofit. Hmm. Okay. And then I meet a gentleman named Ben Andres, who you will meet later. And he has always wanted to do a nonprofit for the guys that are coming outta prison to help rehabilitate them. And so I met Ben through Paul and he's like, Hey, well what is your skillset? What skills do you have to help run this ministry, which is called Finish Well Ministry? And I said, well, I've been in, you know, business administration for over 25 years. I used. To run at a construction company. Um, you know, I'm Jesus Warrior, Jesus freak. And so we just started very, very slowly coming together and figuring out what we can really do for these men. And so we're still then conglomerated with Hill Church and Matthew 5 42 to make sure that all the needs are met for any gentlemen that are coming out. And so now I am the business manager of Finish Well Ministries. So I still help facilitate all the gentlemen that are coming out that are staying in Kewanee, help them with an apartment, um, if they have a need, a car to get a car if they don't have a job when they're inside. So then when they get outside to help them get a job or to help them get their GED or to go to classes, just to constantly stay in contact with them so that they know that they still have support. Because if they don't want to. Go back to where they used to go, you know, some guys just don't wanna go home, which is totally fine, and I understand. And so yeah, we will support you down here, and that's what we do. A lot of them come to our church, or some of them just church hop, which is fine too. And just to stay in the community. Um, I've had several guys over at my house for dinner, and they are, they're my brothers, you know, and my husband just absolutely loves them. And so we're all like a big, a big happy family. And it is just, it's absolutely great. So that's still what I do with the, um, prison. Um, I still go to the Bible studies and I still go Monday nights with them and everything to worship with them. But, um, that's where Jesus wants me to be. Hmm. And this is my focus and I'm just so driven, you know, to be there to help them, you know?'cause everybody has hard times. I've had hard times too. So it's just helping

Omar: 9:49

you, you know what, uh, I know you mentioned a few things there. Uh, there's like a lot of ministries. Seems like there's co, co. Aberration, we gotta move now. These lights are gonna go off on us. It seems like a lot of, you know, um, ministries partnering up to accomplish the same mission. Mm-hmm. But I know you mentioned growing up in Peoria, you're like, man, going in there for like, going back home. So what, what was your, your life like, I guess younger, and I know you're, you're on fire for the Lord. When, when did that relationship with God, like, uh. Become real for you. And,

GG: 10:19

um, so ironically, I just did my testimony with our church. So, um, I went to a church camp when I was a kid, so I was like 13, 14 years old when I went there. And, um. I had my counselor, her name was Marilyn Monroe. Not the Marilyn Monroe, but her name was Marilyn Monroe. Very cool lady. And the way that she could explain Jesus to us as teenagers, then you got it, then you're like, oh, that's what it means. And so then when I got home, um, then I got baptized. So my dad, uh, military, uh, he was in the Vietnam War and he was a Marine, and then he went into the um, reservist. As an army. So he was in the army, so I can consider myself an army brat even though we didn't move around. So my lifestyle was very stringent, very strict and everything, um, moved around a lot because my parents were divorced. So then in high school I moved in with my dad, but then he being in Peoria, so then I went to Manuel, and Manuel is down in the south end of Peoria. So yeah, you have to go through, you know, security and everything else. Every time you go to school and Yep, there's fights. Yep. There's stabbings or whatever. And it was, yeah, it was not a good school. I mean, I graduated, but it wasn't safe. Yeah. For the safest that was in the Peoria area, but still, I'm very proud of where I went because then it helps build my character. And in that. So then that's why I have so much di diverse friends, um, ethnicities. And so then when I went into life skills, that's why I was like, Hey, here I am. You know, I'm so home because I just felt so comfortable going there. And I do every single time I go in there and when there's new guys that are coming in, Hey, hi, how are ya? You know, there was one gentleman, um. He just got to life skills. And so we had to give side hugs, you know? And he's like, I haven't been hugged by someone in like 20 years. And that just struck me. I'm like, oh my goodness. You know, just the little things. And even I think it was two weeks ago, I just randomly went up to this guy, I say hi, try to say hi to most of them.'cause some of them kind of keep your attention. And I'm like, Hey, what's going on with you? How can I pray for you? And his dad had just passed away and I was like, oh my gosh. This is a. Lord telling me,'cause he even asked me before when we ended, he goes, what made you come up to me and say that? I said, that was just the Holy Spirit guiding me to you to ask you how you are. You know? And his dad passed away'cause of cancer. My dad passed away'cause of cancer. So then that's a connection that we have. And so now every time we see each other, it's. It just helps because then he's like, okay, I'm not alone. Yeah. You know, there are other people out there that have the same problems that I have had, even though I'm inside, you know,

Omar: 13:09

and maybe even like to help him. How know, how, how did you get over it? How, how did you go through it? Because that's one thing I'm learning. Uh, um, I took this, I took a, a course, it's a Christian chaplains and coaching, and one of the courses was, uh, Christian grief counseling. Mm-hmm. And I've, I've been learning a lot about grief and how everybody goes through it differently. Mm-hmm. But, but one of the things that we're saying, uh, there's difference between sympathy and, empathy, empathy.

Ronnie: 13:35

Mm-hmm.

Omar: 13:35

And empathy, like sympathy is like, you feel sorry for somebody. Like Yeah, I'm sorry. You know, that happened. But empathy, uh, one of the descriptions they said is almost like, uh, they're carrying a weight and you come alongside there, and now both of you are like carrying the same burden. And it's, and it's, uh, empathy is something that, that I'm trying to learn, Like my wife, she, she. Tells me like that's, there's a difference, sympathy and empathy. Mm-hmm. And it's very important. And especially like to somebody that just lost a loved one, you know? Mm-hmm. To have somebody there. Not, not, not to say I know exactly how you're feeling, but I'm somewhat familiar to what you're going through. Right. Like,

GG: 14:06

and to put yourself really in their shoes of how was it, you know? And yeah. He wasn't able to be there with his dad. And that part, I feel sorry for him, but I can empathize with him because my father, the same thing happened to him, you know? So that's how it is. And with me how I got over my father passing away, and it's been 21 years now. Um, I knew he was gonna be with Jesus, you know, I wasn't mad at God for my father passing away. I was a little mad at my dad because he wouldn't stop smoking. I mean, he know it's my dad's fault. It's not, it wasn't God's fault. You know, God wants you to protect your body because this is what he made. You know, it's your, it's his temple. And I constantly, dad, you know, you need to stop. You need to stop. But of course he didn't and he's his own. Person just like everybody else is. But I wasn't mad at God because of that. There's, that's not fair to God, I feel, you know?

Omar: 15:02

Yeah.

GG: 15:03

So,

Omar: 15:04

you know, I want to ask you, uh, how, how long ago did you meet Ronnie and what was your initial impression or when you met him? You know, let's go back. I don't know how, how long that was.

GG: 15:13

Oh, that's, uh, let's see. I've been going to life skills for almost two years now. Um, so it was May of 2020. Three, I think is when I first started. So, and for Ronnie, oh no, just a gentleman. Just, hi sister, how are you? Thank you for coming. Um, I'm so glad to see you, you know, praise God. Amen. Uh, very, he's like, yeah, just someone super kind that I can talk to. And, uh, like I said, I never had any, you know, you get those spidey senses that something's wrong. Never had any of that with him at all, you know, um, just very easygoing, very well mannered. Uh. And someone that I could look up to.

Omar: 15:55

Hmm.

GG: 15:55

You know, and appreciate. Yeah.

Omar: 15:57

Now what, what about you, Ronnie? I know we were talking yesterday, even with the family that we interviewed last night about, uh, when you were in Kewanee, there was no, no, no church, church service, I believe you mentioned, was on TV or popping A DVD if you wanted to, you know, get a message. So you, you, I don't think we shared it here, but you wanna talk about the, the, the starting up of a church service there and then how when they came in, maybe your, your perspective. When, when the church started coming in.

Ronnie: 16:22

That's the exact story we spoke last night that, um, when I entered that place, they said, I said, where's the chapel? We went there, it was this classroom. And they said, well, where's the minister? Nobody ministers. He watch a of, of a film. And then, uh, sometimes the next day, the church who sent the film will come in and talk, sometimes not. So it's basically a, a TV ministry. So they had a baptism come into the prison and it's before, uh. Greta and they brought, uh, the guy named Pendergrass, uh, David Pendergrass, I believe he's the minister here in this church, right here. And he came in to, to do the baptism. And I found out that he was the chaplain's minister. So I had went up to him and said, uh, you know, when are you gonna come in and do services? And he says, you don't like the programs going on? I had grabbed his arm, I don't even know the guy. He's a big guy. And I grabbed his arm and said, uh, I want flesh talking to me to, to worship and fellowship with me. So he put a guy named Jeff. Hoeppner as a liaison. The chaplain did, chaplain New York, put a guy named Jeff Hepner to come be a liaison between us and the township. So they went and found four different ministries to come in on Monday nights and share the responsibility to give live services. So that's how I met Michelle. That's how I met Greta coming in. So we had picked up a, a banner of hospitality, you know, of respecting these people coming in and, uh, so they had water. And then when Greta. Uh, came, she basically, she has a side business you could say of, uh, baking and all that. So she would bring, bring baked goods in, you know, for us, for officers, stuff like that. So, uh, it set that family atmosphere tone and gave us favor with the, the different guards, uh, the administration. So we constantly did that and at the same time we had, uh, bible studies training, uh, the gentleman in there, how to get up. And speak and do a, a service, you know, not only the minister from outside, but when the, when the minister would finish doing his service, you know, a, a guy that was in there would come up to mc and finish off the, the service. So we had to train them how to use that microphone because some would say some things that would make some guys not wanna come back no more. And they, they, uh, told funny stories and different stuff, so we had to train them that if you're gonna speak after a, a minister comes from the society in here. And his theme is about maybe baptism or maybe Holy Spirit. Then if you have something to say about the Holy Spirit to co compliment his ministry. Yeah, go ahead and say it. Don't go and get the microphone and tell a funny story on a joke because then the people, you erased his s his sermon and you, you annihilate what he just worked for and what he just spoke for. So a lot of people got angered in that. There used to be, uh, backbiting and you know, like, these guys think you run these churches. No, it's not that. It's respecting these people that come in here. It was the hospitality thing. Back to that, you know. And, um, it gave us leadway with the administration to even open a juvenile program called, uh, credible Messengers Mentorship Program. So we were online with juveniles. Actually we spoke last night. They brought like a 9-year-old boy and 11-year-old boy in there, remember? And we sat in there and mentored these young boys, which is unheard of in that system. You're not allowed to bring kids in there. And we're in there with these kids changing and their lives change. And, um, it just gave us that favor to the chaplain. They had a, a day with dad's, uh, day daughters with dad's day, so the daughters could come down and be with their father in the yard and we'd cook for'em and service'em, and all these different programs, uh, that allowed us. But it was through them seeing us, the respect that was birthed in that Monday night service. So it elevated to the point where we did a food drive, remember? Mm-hmm. That's when we packed 20 th they wanted 10,000 meals packed. We packed 20,000 meals. And so we spent all. Day, uh, uh, packaging this stuff up. We built, uh, golf carts. Our golf, uh, uh, the where you do miniature golf. Okay. Uh, the golf course, whatever you call'em. Yeah. For the kids and the fathers to come in and play golf in there and do these different things like that. We did, um, on Christmas they brought in, you're not allowed to have fire in institution anymore. That's been outlawed for 25 years. So we're allowed to bring candles in and we had, uh, candle vigil Christmas. Times. Mm-hmm. Uh, passing out Christmas cards so people could send it to their family. So all this started, it was not there. And through these people that, you know, they're in this church right here, so they're amongst their chaplain and they can, I won't say the word, but like arm twist on, on a, on another day, you know, where they have a different relationship that we had. We were inmates, what they call inmates, and they were civilians with civilians. So when they said, well, we want this, then they opened them doors for us. Us and then for us to watch, uh, guys be released and Ben Andres and them, uh, buying houses and facilitate for a person to come home. They don't wanna go back to his environment. They, they house'em, and then you find out, oh, they just got'em a car. Or they just went and got'em some beds and they just went and got'em. Plates and spoons and furniture and stuff like that. You just, uh, sit there and think that this came from a baptism, that we confronted them, we need services, and then it developed into that. And into a brotherhood, sisterhood thing. And to mention what she said about side hugs, we actually, almost, the church maybe almost closed down, you know, that, um, they were coming in and actually giving, uh, you know, face to face hugs, open hugs. So that's not allowed in the prison system. So they would come in and here you are hugging. So I was accused of, you know, uh, uh, open hugging or kissing the women or, you know, so it went to that. To that level that we had to come to the conclusions, okay, well, you know, these people love us, as simple as that. And once you reach that plateau of that kind of love, that, uh, it's a concerned love. It's a godly love that you can't, and it's in the Bible, it's called, it's called a holy kiss. And it's not where you're kissing our mouth. It's you put your face and you're putting your face and you're just hugging and, uh, like the French dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like that. So, so once you reach that, that plateau that they have these concerns, it's hard to come in. And be superficial and just touch from the side. So

GG: 22:52

yeah, that was very, very hard to get used to. Yeah. You know, and like now though, me, and I don't know who's gonna see this, I still do hugs. I don't care. They,

Ronnie: 23:01

yeah, they, and that was the thing, it was so funny that even though we were ordered by the wardens and ordered by the chaplain list, that's gotta stop. You know, internal affairs, everybody threatened, you know, you'll stop. Okay. Okay. And as soon as we go to church, the first thing you see each other is just, you're not even thinking that. And there you are hugging and there's guards just looking like, you know.

GG: 23:18

Yeah. Yeah.'cause even in your normal church, you just walk up to your friends, hi, how are you? And you know, I don't care who they're, yeah. And I remember like after we got in trouble for the, for the frontal hugs, and then I actually didn't know it yet and so I was still doing it and somebody went to Chap and like, do you see what Gigi's doing? And he's like, are you gonna tell her to stop? I'm not. And so I was still, yeah. Yeah.

Ronnie: 23:41

So it developed to that, to that level, you know, that that civilians not knowing these people, not really knowing their characters, just meeting them for a month at a time or maybe three months, and then take'em into their homes in, in society. Mm-hmm. And put money up to buy'em things and use their private time as civilians to go reintegrate these guys back into society. So that's why I, uh, asked you to come to Kewanee to capture the. These testimonies and there's gonna be more testimonies of, uh, these people need to me, uh, need to be announced that we could show these in Chicago different places, uh, these one-on-one reintegration practices. You know what I'm saying?

Omar: 24:24

No, man. No. Yeah, that's, that's very big. That's very, and I, I see God in all of it. Like, you know, even in the, the starting with one thing, grabbing the hold of the guy's arm. Man, man, look at what the, like the, the, what do you call it? The, the ripple effect that it had. Yeah. You know, I just want, I wanna tell you guys. Man, there's like a, so, so much you guys share. Is there anything that we haven't talked about that you guys wanna highlight? I guess that, what else is going out here and then Kewanee,

Ronnie: 24:49

well, she can speak more on that, but one thing that when I. When I was released, I came back here to get my property to Kwani. So I went and got my property and then I came to this church to meet more people and I seen they had these t-shirts they have for sale. So since I've been home, I go to so many different reentry centers and I've actually bought, uh, t-shirts for You guys don't have t-shirts in this place? No, we don't have that. I bought'em sweatshirts with logos and decals that I'm a firm believer. I'm representing her. She's representing me. I'm representing you. So when somebody sees me with their shirt on. Hey, what is that? It gives me a chance to, Hey, there's this guy named Omar that does wrong or strong, and his wife does this or that, and they tell these stories, you know, so when I came here, I took their shirts, their shirts have one shirt that says, uh, you should have seen me before. Hmm mm-hmm. So, and it's a statement that, wow, you should have seen me before. And

GG: 25:42

that's the one that I have, I have, you should have seen. Yeah, you should have seen me before. Yeah.

Ronnie: 25:46

So those t-shirts, uh, of all these places, I'm, I'm asking people to make their shirts and that. You know, we pass'em out to each other and wear'em so that, uh, we are a network of people that are car so impacted. We, we have a whole society. Uh, I was thinking it was, I've been talking to people saying, Hey, there's like 4 million people that are impacted. And I went to this, uh, program where we had a meeting and one of the guys with me that's more professional in the statistics that he does stats and he's like, let me interrupt real quick. And he's like, no, it's not 4 million, it's 14 million. So there's four. 14 million, you know, uh, uh, uh, impacted people in Illinois and, uh, in the last so many decades. And that means 14 million plus family, plus cousins, plus aunts and uncle plus. So we are a, a big entity, you know. So now how do we network this to, uh, get better help? Because they, when we come home, uh, they put you on A-A-M-S-R, they put you on registrations. Mm-hmm. And you ne you can give, you can't get free, you can't get. Jobs, you can't get, uh, uh, leases for a house. People do background checks and, oh, you're a fella. I don't, I don't want you in my house. Or you gotta gimme 2000 extra for that. So there are so many, uh, burdens that come on it, but you know, you, you did your time, you know, so you hear these people say, the second chance we're giving you a second chance. And I say to those people that when I go home, I did my time. So why are you telling me you're giving me a second chance? What are you lording yourself over me for? Why are you bigger? Than me that you're giving me a second chance. So you're not hiring me for my character or for my skills. You're, you're making yourself bigger than me. I don't wanna work for you. I don't wanna be part of whatever you're doing. So if you're hiring me for my quality, then I'm equal polarity to you that, that I finished my time and now, and I pay my debt to society as it's a spoken of, then that's a blessing that way. So I'm not in favor of when I hear the second chance, we're giving you a second chance because scripture. Says, Jesus said, how many times do I forgive the brother? He says Seven times. Seven times seven. It said four 90 times. But you're telling me society culture has this slick saying, we're giving you a second chance. I'm not in agreement with that. It's not, it's not scripture bound.

Omar: 28:07

Amen. Amen. You know what, that's one, one topic that came up when I interviewed. I know you, you had me connect with, uh, a Pena, Harry Pena. Mm-hmm. And I didn't understand, uh, when he was talking about, uh, end permanent punishment. When he started describing it, like even in my own life, you know,'cause I got a record from before. Mm-hmm. But that was back in, I, I got convicted in 97, got out in 2000, so that's 25 years ago. I never thought about it, but it's right. It still affects you when you go look for a job, they look at it and a lot of places won't hire you. You know, like even where I work, I've seen people where I work in the shop and they come in even though they got the record and then they got out, they went to school, they got a certificate. Let's say to, to run the machines. And I see it and I, I, I want to give'em a chance, but unfortunately they, they won't, you know, like things like that. So there is like this stigma. Stigma. It's not, it's not that you paid your debt. Yeah. I like the way he explained it. You're continually like paying right. Even though you get out, you know? Yeah. Mm-hmm. But, uh, yeah,

GG: 29:05

and like with, um, the finished well ministry, so what we're trying to do, and I think Ben hopefully will talk on this too, is that his vision is. So broad, which is absolutely a blessing because he wants to help the guys that are in life skills. And even so we don't just help the life skill guys. Okay? We help anybody that comes to Keani that has been in prior incarceration, that doesn't have anything that needs help, we help. Them. It doesn't matter where you're at, you know, or where you came from. Um, so with Ben's vision too, for the finished home ministries, is that he wants to even get, um, startup companies mm-hmm. To help. So then these companies then will hire, or we, because it's his company, so he's gonna hire the guys coming from life skills because you can have day work, you know, you can do your day job, day labor. And we do have a couple of, um, companies around here in Kewanee that allow them to do that. They can only work like four hours. The day. And so that's what we would start out as. But then once they're released, if they still want to work for our company, then they can still work for our company, you know? So he's just wanting to make sure that they have someplace to go, you know, because it is such a struggle to go someplace else. You know, I mean, yeah, I'm in administration. Sure, I can probably get a job anywhere, but I have years of experience, but I didn't go to college. And so they'd rather take some 20-year-old right outta college because, well, one, she's gonna be cheaper'cause she doesn't have the experience, but then she's got her certificate. I'm like, okay, good luck. You know? So, but he's just giving these guys, you know, the opportunity to get the skillset, you know, so that they can move on, you know, and everything, which is I think is. Such a, such a blessing, you know, for him to be able to do that and to help with the community.

Omar: 30:55

Oh, amen. You, you know, one thing I also like to do when I, when I do these interviews is highlight the ministries. Mm-hmm. Do you, you wanna talk about this church in particular? Um,'cause it's obviously, you know, you guys are doing prison ministry there, there's a lot of churches that, that don't, you know, admire. Like, at my church, I'm trying to start one. Yeah. So hopefully in August we'll be able to raise up a team that'll go into Cook County, a prison out in Chicago, and then mm-hmm. And impact. So maybe ta talk a lot, uh, a little. Bit about your church, how it is, and uh, where does that heart come from? Like for the, or how, you know, like for prison ministry, you know? Yeah.

GG: 31:25

So, um, how Ronnie had said Jeff Hepner was the one who started it because the chaplain out there, um, he attends Hill Church or he did attend Hill Church. So the story that I got from the chaplain is that he did like a 500 mile radius from the life skills. Facility of what churches would help him, and only one connected. And that was the one out in the quad cities somewhere. And so then they started, well then Jeff Hepner started because Jeff Hepner actually went to the um, maximum security prisons. And he would preach to guys in a maximum security prison, like through your little lunch hole and. He was like, Greta. It was just incredible. And so then once he found out that he was able to go out here to life skills because it transitioned from a juvenile facility to an adult facility, then that's when he started getting involved and then he had another gentleman get involved, and then those two brought it to the whole church and said, okay, hey, who wants to get involved? This is what you do. You tell the chaplain. Here's your information you give him and then he's able to get you in. And then I was hooked. You know, it was just, okay, this is what God wants me to do. And that's what I did. And so the church, our church as a whole, um, we even have like small groups. For Bible studies. So even sometimes a small, a whole small group will go out there. So you'll have like 20 people from a small group to go out there on a Monday night. There are, I think, only two other churches in town that people go there on either a Sunday or a Tuesday, because that's bible studies for them.'cause we can't, we're not allowed to go every night. You know, I would go every night if I could, but we're not allowed to. So usually it's Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Um, and uh, that's just how we are still staying involved. And it's great because someone can go on a Sunday night, tell me, Hey, so-and-so is having a little bit of an issue or they need prayer for, and then when I see them on Monday, they'll come up to me, Hey, Gigi, can you pray? Blah, blah, blah. And I do. And then, so we all are, we all stay connected as volunteers stay connected on who have we. Talk to who are our guys that we talk to. Um, because like Michelle will tell me who she's talked to, you know, and others tell me who they talk to. So then we all know what's going on with everybody, just to keep them safe and just to keep them in our prayers. And if they do need anything, then we're able to give them what they need, you

Omar: 33:45

know? So. So sounds like that's building like a relationship, not only with the guys in there, but even amongst your, your, your small group in the church. Is that, that you feel like that brings you guys closer? Amen.

GG: 33:54

Absolutely. Absolutely. Because I honestly probably wouldn't have talked to some of the other people. People from the other churches if I weren't going to life skills because I didn't know them beforehand, you know? And now we are very close and we talk several times a week. So it's just a great, um, aspect in, in addition to what is going on in life skills and how much Jesus is moving in that building. Because we even have guards that come in and will now sit through the whole service. When before they would just come in and check on you or walk by the windows and check on you. But some of. Of them stay, they'll stay and listen to the whole service sometimes, especially if there's treats. I'm just saying. But, you know, you know, but I mean, it's good and it's, and we get a good, uh, rapport with the guards too, you know? Um, because we see them out in the community as well and everything. And they'll even, I even had one lady call me, oh, I saw so-and-so at Walmart, you know, I just wanted to call you because, you know, can you pray for them and how are they doing? And can you gimme a little bit more insight? And even like with. The parole officers, I talked to them too. And because they want to, the parole officers also, we want you to succeed. We all want, everybody wants you to succeed. And that's just in our nature too. And so we, as a church, and then we also as Finish Well Ministries, we want them to succeed. We want them to. Finish well in society, you know, and everybody to finish well in society.'cause even those who aren't incarcerated sometimes are still in a prison. And even to talk to Ronnie or talk to you about what's gone on in your life can help us break our own chains of why we are in prison too. You know, just to get your insight on things too.

Omar: 35:35

Right. No, man, that, that's awesome. I know we're getting close to the time, time you said Well, but you know what, I know you mentioned, uh, you mentioned the, the ministry. What'd you say? Um,

GG: 35:43

finish. Well,

Omar: 35:44

ministries. Ministries. Mm-hmm. Is, is there any way, uh, people, let's say they hear their story, is there any way they could contribute? Is there, you know, like, um, we

GG: 35:51

do have a website, um, finishwellministries.com. So you can look at, um, our website and everything and you can volunteer, you can donate, um, everything obviously goes through me. I'm the business manager and then I do blog on it also. So like the community events that our guys do, um, they have like a Saturday morning breakfast. Sometimes that not just the guys from the ministry are going, but even gentlemen from church will go and it's just a men's, it's a men's group kind of thing. Okay. You know, um, and they also do, uh, we have counseling on service too. So we have a counselor on hand. Pastor David is on hand. All the pastors here actually are on hand, um, just to help because we want to help. And they have all that anxiety of they're alone. They don't know what to do, they don't know how to function. So we. To succeed, you know, so we're still, you know, doing that with them as well. Yeah.

Omar: 36:43

And counseling, it's funny you bring it up, like in the last man so many interviews, counseling has been coming up a lot. And that's an area I believe what God's doing right now. Mm-hmm. He's like bringing healing, inner healing, you

GG: 36:55

know? Amen. Absolutely. And I think me one being a mother, um, and being a grandma, so then sometimes these guys, they need that mom talk. They, it doesn't matter how old you are, you still need that mom talk. And it's like, listen son, or listen, you know, and I give them the mom talk, you know, and they're like, okay, I get it. Because sometimes they're not gonna relate to what one of the other gentlemen are saying because that's not what they need. They need the mom talk at that time, you know? So that's, uh, and it's not just me that does it. It's, and it's funny'cause some Sunday nights it's all of us women at a Bible study, no men. And they're, we walk in, we're like, okay guys, you get the moms tonight. And, and it's just great because that's just, they're like, okay.

Omar: 37:40

Yeah, no, I think that's all very important. Um, any final words before we close out? Any final words? And then usually I ask our guests if they could close out on a prayer, so Absolutely. I'll let you guys have a moment of final words and then we'll close out in prayer.

Ronnie: 37:54

Well, my final words are I appreciate, uh, Omar coming down here to, uh, exercise this podcast. You know, it took me the last seven, eight months. To, uh, finally go on a podcast with him. But I've been helping people come to his podcast. So I kept thinking I had to do this and I was gonna do my own, but I'm in so many different things. And I said, let me just keep feeding him so that he's well, well equipped and well skilled and to tell your story. So, storytelling is so important. There's women and people that we didn't mention. A lady was, uh, Carrie. We had a lady named Jennifer, uh, coming in there and we had the, Wexell's. Was another family from another township she mentioned on Tuesday nights. So that's a whole nother story. Shelly and Joyce, we have all these people that, uh, played roles in, uh, helping these, these brothers, uh, invest. They invested into them to change the course of their mind, to let their criminal history go to, you know, be useful citizens as, as the Constitution says, to restore useful citizenship. So their ministries, each one of'em being ministers in their own right, they don't say they're ministers, but. Their ministers, and they call themselves counselors, but they're ministering because they're using the word to talk to these guys who are coming to hear the word. And they're getting the word. And she says, from the mother view, from the administrative view, uh, from the personal view, from the friend view, you know, and, and these guys are attentive. They've been starving. They're, a lot of people in prison are emotionally starved. Mm-hmm. Uh, families left, them, families die off. Uh, they burn bridges. And so you got people that don't know'em, reaching out. That olive branch to them. So it gives'em that, that, that glimpse of hope, you know, that man, somebody's concerned and then they have, they have that opportunity to don't blow it. Yeah. You know, and then they, they, they, they tune up and they walk a right line. So I witnessed this in a lot of times and they witness it a lot of times. So I'm just proud of what they've done. I, I moved off in my life, just coming home, so I stepped this way. They're continuously building and from the little thing we started of grabbing that minister's arm mm-hmm. They got, they got buildings. They're buying buildings, and they're buying cars and they're buying. So, hey, God bless'em. Mm-hmm.

Omar: 40:11

Amen And I know we just, uh, drove around the town and, and look at the building buildings. I think we stopped at four different places and we, we did a video walking through a whole house. Okay. So we'll be able to show it exactly what's going on, because I was telling'em it is one thing for them to hear about what they're doing, but to actually get a walkthrough of one of the houses and to be able to show, it's gonna be amazing. So, yeah. Any final words? And then it closes out and, yeah.

GG: 40:33

So, um, the ministry, the finish. Ministers, we have actually three houses, uh, two buildings and one of those buildings we're gonna have apartments in. So hopefully it'll be like four or five apartments to be able to house guys and it's transitional housing and it's to help them get on their feet again so that they don't have to worry about their first couple months bills and things like that, you know? So, um, but yeah, I'm just very honored to be with you guys today'cause it is just great and God is moving. Amen.

Omar: 41:01

Woohoo. Hallelujah. No praise. He's good. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Been blessed. I've been here just for half a day yesterday and right now, and it's been a blessing. I definitely see God in the midst of everything out here

GG: 41:12

and all those, um, people that Ronnie was talking about, I still, we all still talk, we all still get together. We had a Friendsgiving, uh mm-hmm. That was down here and that was absolutely amazing. Um, so all the guys that had been released within the last couple of years all came together and it was just so incredible. So absolutely incredible. I

Ronnie: 41:30

drove down to, yeah, participate and that was about a hundred of us in a

Omar: 41:35

wow. Yeah. And so, yeah. You guys gotta invite me, man. We'll bring the camera. You know what?

Ronnie: 41:38

Amen. Yes.

Omar: 41:39

People need to see the success stories, you know? Yes. I know the brother we interviewed last night, he was talking about, they always talk about the re recidivism rate recidivism and on the bad side, but there's a good side, you know? Mm-hmm. There's people that, that, you know, that Yeah. They change and, you know, they, they walk though, you know, the straight and arrow moving forward. Yeah. But, uh, yeah. If you don't mind closing down the prayer Sure. And then we'll get ready to wrap up. Sure.

GG: 41:59

Okay. Um, heavenly Father, I just wanna thank you, first of all, for the day for allowing us to be here. To be together. Um, thank you for Omar and Ronnie and what they are doing and how they are moving, um, in this world. And it's just amazing what you can do with just a little bitty mustard seed. Um, Just thank you for the opportunities that you give us every single day. Lord, I just pray that you will open more people's hearts and eyes and give them the spiritual glasses that they need to see what you are doing and what your will is and where you are. Want us to move. So where do you want us to go next in this ministry and helping with all of these gentlemen, life skills and all the other, um, prison reentry programs that there are, especially in Illinois? Lord. Um, we just thank you for providing the things that we need, providing the finances, providing the counselors, um, giving us the, um, the spiritual guidance and the wisdom every single day to be out here, to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to be with those who need us the most. Lord. And, uh, thank you for allowing us to go into life skills, to pray with them, to be with them, to be their sisters and brothers in Christ, in there, um, to get that relationship building with them so that they can still have hope. Uh, thank you Lord for all that you do and everything in especially your son. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Omar: 43:25

Amen. Amen. Amen. Th they thank you guys for, for, for joining me. And with that, we're gonna get ready to wrap up. Uh, Matthew four 16 reads,"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great. Light and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." Alongside my guest, Ronnie and Gigi. My name's Omar Calvillo, and we are wrong too strong.