Wally & me: How writing to a stranger in prison changed my life
By 
Jill Richardson2023-02-23T12:18:00
Rev Jill Richardson shares a heartwarming tale of her decades long friendship with Wally
A blonde woman signalled through the window, gesturing me to come closer. She opened the door a crack.
“Are you Jill?”
“Yes,” I replied.
She opened the door further. “Hurry, get inside – if all those people find out who you are, you’ll be mobbed.”
“All those people” were the 25 or so guests waiting for the soup kitchen to open at the St Vincent de Paul centre in Watertown, Connecticut. I raised my eyebrows and gave her a curious glance. Why would I be mobbed by a crowd of homeless people, like they were the paparazzi and I a celebrity at an award ceremony?
“Walter spoke of you all the time. You’ve become a kind of legend around here.”
Related articles
-
OpinionSteven Nelson didn’t deserve to die, even if he did kill a pastor
Rev Dr Jeff Hood met Steven Nelson, convicted for the murder of a church pastor, on death row in Texas. Steven protested his innocence until the end, but whatever the truth of his case, he should not have been executed, says Hood. We are not righteous enough to judge someone else in that way
-
Real LifeI help drug addicts get clean…but they often relapse. Here’s what it’s teaching me about God’s grace
Working at a drug detox centre certainly has it’s challenges, says DB Ryen. But it’s taught him more about forgiveness and second chances than he ever thought possible
-
Real LifeI don’t judge the prisoners I work with. There but for the grace of God go I
Working as a prison chaplain is sometimes funny, sometimes sad and often challenging. But it has taught Rev Hilary Edgerton more about grace than she ever thought possible
More from Features
-
Magazine FeaturesAre revival fires spreading again? We asked 18 Christian leaders
With reports of renewal gathering pace, Christian leaders from a variety of churches and locations across the UK report on what they’re witnessing
-
Magazine FeaturesStop asking God to join your plan. Wait for the Spirit instead
Jesus’ call is clear: Go into all the world. But first – wait. It’s a strange command that echoes through scripture, where fire and wind signal God’s presence but never arrive according to our schedule. As Pentecost approaches, Tyler Staton invites us to rediscover the surprising rhythm of Spirit-led mission
-
Magazine FeaturesIs revival coming to Scotland? These leaders think so
Is holy rain beginning to fall in Scotland? This is no dreich day in the Highlands, reports Sharmila Meadows, rather, it’s the sound of renewal. Churches are seeing congregations grow as more and more people turn to Christ
- Issues
- Topics A-Z
- Writers A-Z
- © 2025 Premier Christianity
Site powered by Webvision Cloud