| Q: | How did you get to this point? |
| A: | I hated criminals, but was invited to prison and saw potential in people |
| Q: | Cost of ministry? |
| A: | It cost my life savings. Then when we arrived in Texas, our moving van was broken into, so we had nothing when we came |
| Q: | How did you get the courage? |
| A: | Don’t know :) Just followed God. |
| Q: | Describe the program |
| A: | We look for people who have proven entrepreneurship, but who are sick and tired of their criminal life. I have to break down barriers: they come in as gange leaders, all tough, so I make them act with brotherly love (make them dance, hug each other, etc.) |
| Q: | What lessons have you learned from “leading up” to the Texas Department of Correctional Justice |
| A: | All our eggs are in one organizational basked, but they don’t have to be in one relational basket, so we invite all kinds of officials to visit, etc. The TDCJ is really our customer, and they are taking a risk letting us do this. So we make a point of thanking them a lot, which has helped the relationship a lot. |
| Q: | Criticism |
| A: | First, try to get over the emotions. Then ask, is this valid? If not, don’t address it. If so, then I definitely want to hear it. I have my class critique me. |
| Q: | How do you develop character in four weeks? |
| A: | We do character assessments. We have them identify their [each other’s?] weaknesses, to talk truth in love to each other. I go through the process myself. |
| Q: | Self leadership |
| A: | My assisstant schedules everything. I’ve traded privacy for accountability and that’s so important in my line of work |
| Q: | Are you a one-person organization? |
| A: | My board and I think about that. We are looking for someone that God has annointed to lead PEP in other states. |
| Q: | It’s rare to see someone look for the leader first and ministry second. |