–Article written by Tom Reddick, #347492, an inmate at Morgan County Correctional Complex and published in “Mountain Review,” the prison newspaper.
On Saturday, December 1, 2012, the Knoxville Christian Arts Ministries blessed the men at Morgan County Correctional Complex with a production of The Crossroads. This was the third year in a row that the Ministries had performed here.
It is no mistake that the word “Arts” appears in their name as they utilize nearly every facet of the performing arts. There are actors, musicians, men and women’s choir, dancers, and orchestra and handbell artists. I am not sure what you call people who “play” handbells, but artists is the first word that enters my mind.
The Knoxville Christian Arts Ministries is a faith-based prison ministry headquartered at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville that is open to any interested person no matter their religious denomination.
The Crossroads tells the story of Nick, an ex-con torn between the life he knows he should lead now and his criminal past. Nick was saved in prison but can’t quite take the first step in putting his faith in God. After incarceration, he was faced with the dilemma of being truthful about his past and risk not being hired or keeping it a secret. After one too many turn-downs and money becoming a problem, he keeps his past hidden and gets hired.
Nick is a hard worker who quickly wins over the the storekeeper and his daughter, who are impressed with his work ethic and commitment to God. He even starts a relationship with the daughter after hours.
Nick is haunted by his criminal past in the form of his old partner and mentor, Jupe. He keeps pressuring Nick to return to the lifestyle of “easy” money and that the free-world has nothing to offer nor does it care about him.
The subject matter presented is important but there are lighter moments. At one point Nick’s boss says to him: “I was impressed that you kept a job at a dairy for three years until I found out it was at a TDOC dairy in Bledsoe County,” which was met with laughter.
As it turns out Nick is fired when the truth does come to light. He even loses the relationship with the daughter, as she can no longer trust him. The storekeeper tells Nick that he still would have hired him had he been truthful from the start. Although the trust is irrecoverably broken, the storekeeper forgives Nick and assists him with finding another job. Nick joins their church and becomes a member of the choir. Everyone knows of his past but Nick is welcomed with open arms.
The production ended with both the ministry and audience singing Amazing Grace. I found this part of the program very powerful and inspiring. The free-world visitors and prisoners stood together and sang as one. This program was a classic tale of trusting God. Most of us reading this article will face the same dilemma Nick did. Which road will you travel down? What will you do at your crossroads?
I would like to thank the Knoxville Christian Arts Ministries for sharing their love and forgiveness with us. I look forward to their visit each time. I would also like to thank Chaplain Steve Cantrell, Steve Humphries, Warden Howerton, Deptury Warden Parris, AA W/O Doug Cook, A W/PR Jennie Jobe and the chapel and gym staff for helping make this event possible.