Rob came to prison with a long list of offences that included various types of violence with weapons, including two rape charges and some drug charges.
His family had disowned him.
After a couple of years in prison he met up with a church group who visit the prison regularly. Rob started to attend church services and mid-week Scripture groups. He completed a drug treatmentprogramme and earned a minimum security status. He was allowed to work outside the prison, and it was there that he met a woman called Beth.
The case manager referred Rob to PFNZ, and a coach and support people were found within the
area where Rob was to be paroled. They met with him several times while he was still in prison and built up a strong bond.
Rob was released and settled into the new parish, enjoying the company of his new friends. He enrolled at university, something that he had not thought of doing during his life before prison. Rob has passed all exams so far. He has spent the first few months with his coach and support team and gained the self confidence and ability to become more independent.
Rob has continued to develop the relationship with Beth and now the Community Probation Service has given him permission to move to the same town, where they plan to marry and settle down.
He has gained the confidence to be able to approach his own family and to mend the bridges there. They have now agreed to meet with him again, and he is taking Beth to meet them shortly.
Having a support group to coach him, introduce him and include him has helped Rob to adjust to a life that is very different from the one he led before going into prison.
He had become a Christian while in prison, but it would have been difficult to just walk alone into one of our churches and introduce himself to people and hope to be accepted. It takes a community filled with God’s grace to enable the transition to happen.
— Supplied by PFNZ
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