Chapter Four

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Father Koerber

Chapter Four - I Get to Travel and Testify!

In the early 1970s, (before an inmate spoiled it by committing a crime while out), Ohio inmates were allowed to go on escorted speaking engagements outside of the prison. My boss, Father George Koerber, who was the Head Chaplain at the time (Rev. Sorg, who I mentioned earlier, had transferred to another institution), would take me on speaking engagements to various Catholic schools, Catholic and non-denominational prayer meetings, and even public schools when invited. I enjoyed it, as I was able to give my testimony. In public schools we would have to explain, prior to my speaking, that I was going to speak about my religious faith, and those who might object were allowed to leave the room. I remember one instance when one of the girls raised her hand and said, "I probably should leave the room. I'm Jewish!" Although she was permitted to sit in the hall during my testimony, she was sitting by the open door listening!

Father Koerber, Nick P., and me in the 1970s

My testimony generally went like this:

My name is Randy Wood. Before I went to prison, I was an armed robber and heroin addict. My heroin habit cost me about $100 a day, just to stay well — not to get high. Because I couldn't find a job paying that kind of money, I joined some friends and we robbed stores and gas stations for the money we needed to pay for our drugs.

After about three months, we were trying to rob a store on the other side of town, and someone was able to identify our car and we got caught. By the time we were arrested, we were quite sick, withdrawing from the heroin. We were taken to jail, and eventually sent to prison. I was sentenced to 10-25 years in prison, where I live now.

While I was in a holding cell in Mansfield, I had a chance to sit back and take inventory of my life. I was 29 years old, my earthly possessions consisted of five pairs of sox, six pairs of underware, three paperback science fiction books, and a Bible that my mom sent me against my wishes. I had spent thousands of dollars on drugs, but didn't have a penny to my name. What a lousy legacy!

Since I had read the paperbacks at least three times, and since I was bored, I opened the Bible to the book of Romans to see if I could still remember some verses I had memorized as a child. The first one was Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”, and Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. I knew that I was a sinner according to God's Word. Even the state of Ohio found me guilty, certainly God's standards are higher than Ohio's! I had no problem accepting that fact.

Then I read Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I certainly knew what wages were — wages are what you get for what you do, and God's Word said that my wages are death — not just die and be buried, but die and go to hell! But the second half of the verse was much better! God was willing to give me the gift of eternal life, life through Jesus!

I quickly went to Romans 5:8, “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What great news! I should die and go to hell — that I deserved, but Jesus took my place when He died on the cross to pay for my sins! I hurried to the next passage, Romans 10:9-10, “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” All the things I had learned in church came back to me. I could be set free! Jesus paid for my sins and I didn't have to!

I dropped to my knees in the cell and prayed: “Jesus. I've really blown it! I messed my life up royal. In fact, I don't care if I live or die. I'm through with my life. If You want it, You can have it! Forgive me and give me Your gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

And He did!

I didn't hear bells or whistles. I didn't hear voices or singing. I just felt like I was forgiven and was clean inside! I couldn't wait to write my mom and tell her that her prayers were answered!

After my testimony, I was allowed to ask the audience if they wanted the Lord to come into their lives and set them free, also. I was even allowed to do this in some of the public schools we went to! A number of children and adults prayed and asked Jesus into their lives during these speaking engagements! How I praise God for the opportunity I was given!