The Start of Our Drama Program

“My name’s Kevin and I’m an alcoholic.”

It was a rainy Tuesday evening in the visitation room at the Atlanta Transitional Center. Fifteen of us were arranged in a circle. We’d gathered together for HeartBound’s new drama program at the Center. Twelve residents and three volunteers sat anxiously, feeling each other out, trying to figure out how this thing would go.

Winn, our volunteer instructor, had told us all to introduce ourselves and explain why we had joined the program. “Hi everyone, I’m Freddy, I’ve always wanted to be an actor and I’m getting pretty old, so this is all I can do now. Might as well try!” “Hey y’all, I’m Tim, I’ve always been shy and want to try and get out of my comfort zone, maybe break down some social barriers along the way.” Then Kevin spoke, immediately breaking the ice. I knew then that this was going to be good.

I wish you could have seen the cast of characters assembled in that shabby room. One student, Dru, is covered in tattoos from his forehead down. Another student, Ellis, wore construction glasses. Jeff had feathers in his hair. I gazed around in wonder, knowing in my heart that God had brought us together. After our introductions, Winn had us all stand up, push the chairs back, and form a circle. “I have a ball in my hands,” she mimed. “I’m going to describe this ball to you, then we’re going to pass it around the circle. Occasionally, I’ll call out a word and change the ball’s properties. Please pay attention.”

The first ball was a beach ball. Some batted it in the air, others mimed bouncing it around. “Now the ball’s made of steel,” exclaimed Winn. On cue, Carlos sunk to the ground with the ball in his hands, struggling to lift it up. “Now it’s filled with Helium!” Kevin jumped up and tried to hold the ball down. “Now it’s made of glass!” Jeff pulled his shirt out, cradling the ball carefully. Carlos spat, making sure to polish the ball before passing it along. We looked so goofy; the guard stared in bewilderment through the visitation room’s glass. Carlos hollered, “I wonder what they’re thinking watching us on the cameras!” We were having so much fun and I was reminded of Young Life founder Jim Rayburn’s mantra: “It is a crime to bore anyone with the gospel.” And like Rayburn, HeartBound believes in earning the right to be heard. This program is just another way of doing it.  

We went through a couple exercises and read a script. Afterwards, Carlos came up to me. I told him how proud I was of him for showing up, for stepping out of his comfort zone. He thanked me and asked for some resources related to repairing his credit score. I asked for his email and immediately recognized the numbers in his address as his birthday. “Wait,” I moaned, “please tell me you weren’t born in 2002.” He laughed, “I know, I’m mature for my age.”

We kept talking. Carlos a reckless teenager. One day he was caught and was sent to prison. I asked what he’d learned from his prison experience, “It’s not worth it. I was young and stupid and caught up with social media. I know I can get the attention I need elsewhere, in healthy ways. No more breaking the law.” The other volunteers commended him for his growth and honestly. I told him I would be praying for him and thanked him again for joining us. He shook my hand, not as a twenty-something-year-old inmate, but as kind man.

Octavia E. Butler writes that “There’s nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.” That rainy Tuesday evening, Winn and our drama program brought a new sun to the Atlanta Transitional Center. A new day dawned, and sunlight broke through the rain-soaked clouds. None of it would have been possible without your prayers and donations. Thank you.

I hope you see the sun shining too.

Spencer