March 25, 2002
Of 61 prisoners aided by couple's ministry,
only has returned to prison
___By John Hall
___Staff Writer
___SEGUIN--The truth may not have freed them from their cells, but it did liberate a group of Texas inmates from their bondage to sin.
___A ministry that began with one woman four years ago has grown to more than 30 people serving 60 prisoners across the state with unparalleled success. Of the 61 people the ministers have worked with, only one has gone back to prison. Several former inmates have become involved in local churches, even serving as leaders and ministers.
___Roy Villanueva, who now leads the ministry, reluctantly began following his mother, Elizabeth, to the prisons three years ago. Now he finds it tough to pull himself away from his ministry of sharing the gospel with inmates.
___After initially visiting them, Villanueva sent one of the prisoners newsletters from him and his wife, Sally. The inmate passed the letter to other prisoners who soon asked for letters of their own. Through such transference, Villanueva has seen the mailing list grow daily to encompass prisons around the state.
___Sally Villanueva said she tries to keep her letters light-hearted to lift the convicts' spirits. Prisoners have told her many times they feel like everyone forgets about them while they are in prison, she said. The prisoners are allowed only a limited number of visitors and often receive little attention from those outside the jail.
___Roy Villanueva did not believe the newsletter and the visitation was doing enough, however. So he determined to help the inmates after they had served their time, a need he found other prison ministries were not meeting. He and his wife, members of Westside Baptist Mission in Seguin, have helped released prisoners find jobs and places to stay and have loaned them cars to use on a temporary basis.
___"We care for them," Villanueva said. "We kept writing them, and when they got out they were reassured we would help them. They have had others lie to them, but we are there for them."
___The former inmates need to given a second chance in life, Mrs. Villanueva said: "If no one ever gives them a chance, what's the use of them coming out?"
___This sacrificial outreach mentality has managed to touch those the couple has worked with, including Lupe Garcia, who served 75 months of a five-year sentence for delivering cocaine. Garcia said the Villanuevas' work helped him reconnect with God and discover a new direction for his life. Because of this giving spirit, Garcia stayed in contact with them and remained in good spirits throughout his prison sentence.
___"Under the circumstances, I was a pretty happy prisoner," Garcia said. "Not because I was glad, not because I was proud, but because God had given me a new direction."
___Since Garcia was released, he has continued his dedication to Christ and has been in a leadership role with First Mexican Church in Mathis. He also has helped the Villanuevas take groups to churches across Texas for praise and worship services. Many of the people who participate in the services are former inmates who play instruments or testify of the turnaround that has occurred in their lives.
___The Villanuevas said they are extremely excited because they never have a lack of volunteers to help them. The people they help want to help others in similar positions.
___"The best part is when they come out and they have a family," Mrs. Villanueva said. "Then they call us and say, 'Can we come with you?' It is like my soul is next to heaven."
___Although security has become more strict since the escape of the "Conally Seven," the Villanuevas have continued ministering to the inmates and hope the ministry continues to grow. However, they and their coworkers understand the inmate has to make the decision to answer the call of God.
___"The help is there. It is up to the person to make the decision of what to do," Garcia said. "This is the bottom line: We need a new life. We need a new view. We need new eyes. We generally need a complete turnaround. Not 50 percent, not 75 percent, but a complete turnaround."
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