A Letter from a HeartBound Volunteer

You’ve probably never heard of Bill Lane. I never had. One day, I get an email out of the blue from “Bill Lane.” He wanted to volunteer with HeartBound.

I get these emails frequently. I’d estimate that only 1 in 10 emails results in someone actually volunteering. People are busy and volunteering in prison isn’t easy, nor is it for everyone. I’ve made peace with that.

Bill was part of that 10% that followed through by volunteering. He shadowed a couple of our classes at the Atlanta Transitional Center (ATC), then asked if he could lead his own. I asked what he wanted to teach. Fatherhood, an eight-week class. All he needed was a projector screen. One catch - he wanted to teach on Sundays. Sundays are my day off; I couldn’t co-teach with him. He told me that was okay, he was ready to lead on his own.

I checked-in with Bill throughout the program. As it neared the end, he asked if he could keep teaching. He wanted to lead a class on “The Five Love Languages.” Sure thing, I told him. No projector screen needed this time.

The classes continued. One Sunday, I was walking by the Transitional Center and decided to pop in. There, in the visitation room, stood Bill, leading his class. What I saw blew me away.

The room was packed, not even enough chairs to hold everyone. Men standing, others squatting, some leaning on the walls. All there to learn about love.

There was no incentive for them to attend the class, no big meal, no certificate, no time-off their sentence for participation. Bill would sometimes bring a pie his wife baked, but by and large, they were all there by their own volition. Afterwards, I pulled Bill aside, telling him just how amazed I was at the number of men in attendance. I thought at best he would muster 5-8 guys; how he had pulled in 30+ was beyond me.

Bill’s response was simple: “God is at work.”

This past December, Bill wrote a Christmas letter to his students. I’m sharing it in its entirety below with his permission.

Outside this newsletter’s audience, most folks will probably never hear of Bill Lane. He’s a regular guy, like me and you. There are countless men and women like Bill Lane in our world, serving those in need, not for glory or riches or Tik-Tok views, but simply because they feel called to do so. God bless them all, and God bless you, Bill.

Have a wonderful week.

Bill’s letter:

My Brothers,

A group of eleven men, twelve including myself (a great number if you know what I mean), came together on 05.05.2024 to start a gathering of men……. Malachi Dads. The class grew to 30 men over the course of three months.  At the end of Malachi Dads, we turned next to how to show and receive love effectively with a study of The Five Love Languages.  Through these series of classes, most received spiritual food, others, just calories.  Seekers became finders, believers became mentors, older wise men…..Sages.  Some shared, others listened, some went out the door with a piece of chicken pie.  They just weren’t ready to receive…..yet!  It was a blessing for all who had ears to hear and hearts that were prepared.

Starting in January, we will venture out to find our Hearts.  The one our Father put in us, but many of us have lost somewhere along the way.  William Wallace was a leader in the Scottish resistance, who fought for Scotland’s independence from English rule in the 1290’s.  It was Wallace who famously said, “All men die, few men ever really live”.  Now is the time to reclaim our hearts, find our purpose, and be the men God called us to be.  We will take this journey together, as a Band of Brothers, listening, learning, and sharing as we take a six-week class created by John Eldrege called Wild at Heart.  I am so encouraged to have this opportunity for all of us to take this journey together.

Christmas.  A time for families to gather, gifts to be exchanged, large quantities of food to be consumed, football games on the TV, and most importantly a Celebration.  Unless it’s not.  I would not call the ATC a home for family gatherings or great food, but it is still a place for Celebration.  The Celebration belongs in your heart, in your soul, and in your mind.  It is a worshipful Thank You to God for giving us His warrior Son Jesus who jealously fights for your soul every day.  Demons, strongholds, and all kinds of evil fall at His feet when you ask Him to fight off these instruments of the enemy.  And He never loses.   I hope that you can all find that Celebration of Jesus’ birth, His victory over death, and His calling for your life.  I’m expecting to see your mansion in the New Jerusalem right next to mine when the time comes.  Until then my Brothers, we journey together.  Merry Christmas my Brothers, and let’s make next year the best one yet.  A year we find freedom in Christ Jesus.