“When God gives you a gift, accept it.” That’s how John concluded our conversation about the work he’s been called to do among those who are jailed in Lancaster County. That statement has multiple meanings which will unfold as we explore the ripples that John Ways is causing in our pool of life. To John, the meaning is attached to something he said to a fellow he met while visiting Russia. And, now you’re wondering how we made the leap from Lancaster County to Eastern Europe. Let me explain.

The story actually begins in Camden, New Jersey where John was born, then zips across the country to California where he served in the Air Force, and ultimately to Lincoln, Nebraska where he and his wife Melanie settled after his time in the service. They met in elementary school back in Camden, John and Melanie that is. Married in 1964, they have five children, and 12 grandchildren and a long list of ripples they’ve caused as they’ve gone through life.

After the Air Force and seeking to establish a home in Lincoln, John became an officer in the Lincoln Police Department, and that’s where he began to accept the gift God had given him. You see, God’s gift to John is one of caring. As a police officer for 22 years, one of John’s main activities was to work with the youth in Lincoln. He spoke at schools, he worked with the anti gang unit, he cared for young men and women in Lincoln. He’s received awards from a number of the schools where he’s helped young men and women. One of those caught in one of John’s ripples is Aaron Davis, now a man who’s making ripples of his own. John’s quick to point out that Aaron’s father was a pastor and he helped set Aaron’s course, but still, Aaron was impacted by the work of his youth group leader. John also carries a letter from a mother, a letter that details how John’s work in her daughter’s life helped put her on a positive path. But, that’s only the beginning. John’s been retired from the Police Department for 20 years.

A casual visit to talk with some folks in the Lancaster County Jail in search for a way to help kids in Lincoln resulted in a weekly (and sometimes more often) visit to host a worship service. It’s hard to imagine just how many ripples John has caused in the pond of life of prisoners in jail. He’s been going to the Lancaster County jail facilities for about 20 years now, and he’s used his gift of caring to impact hundreds, no . . . make that thousands of lives.

“The crowd changes completely about every two months or so,” says John, “so I have an outline of teaching from Scripture that I repeat over and over. I start with some discussion about the background of the Bible, then touch on creation, talk about how much God cares for us that He gave the gift of Christ to us, and I discuss important events in the Christian calendar depending on the time of year.” For example, around Christmas, John will talk about the birth of Christ and around Easter he’ll share the story of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.

“I remember one guy who would join us every Sunday. I rush over to the Jail every Sunday and begin the service at 1 PM,” John said as he reflected on the past. “He’d be there as I started to teach, then he’d get up, stomp out of the room and slam the door. And, the metal doors in Jail can make a very loud noise when you slam them.” Then John went on to say, his eyes getting a bit misty, “I thought I was wasting my time with that guy. But, after several weeks of walking out, one week that guy got up and he fell on his knees and confessed his sins and accepted Christ.”

Another man accepted God’s gift and ended 13 years on drugs, went back to his family and is now active with the City Mission. “I’ve got a box of cards and letters from folks who have been changed in one way or another by the gift from God. He moved me to do this, I really don’t know why,” noted John as he reflected on more than 40 years of service. “I don’t know why, but I know I don’t get tired of doing it.” Ripples, John’s been sending out ripples as he’s used his gift of caring to reach people in the Lancaster County Jail.

But, Russia, how did John share God’s gift in Russia? “One of the last things I did with the Lincoln Police Department,” shared John, “was to travel to Russia and visit Lincoln’s sister city in Tajikistan. I met a fellow there and got to know him. I read some from the Bible and shared God’s gift of Christ with that man. Later, he wrote me a letter saying that after years of hoping to have a child, he and his wife were blessed with a son, and named his son after me. I was touched. I wrote back to thank him and reminded him of God’s gift of Christ. And, I concluded that letter saying When God gives you a gift, you accept it.”

We all gather regularly in our boathouse that we call Faith Bible Church. Our pond is Lincoln, and Nebraska, and beyond. When we go out into our pond, we make ripples as we interact with others in the pond. John Ways is making ripples. How about you?