Page 21 - News Magazine - AutumnWinter 2026_Web
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Had you heard about Jesus or the Bible because I would get angry, but every now and
before that moment in prison? again she would throw out a Bible quote or
My mother was a strong Christian. Throughout verse in relation to my behaviour. My mother
my years in prison, I would randomly receive prayed for me for 50 years.
letters, books and cards from people that Were there any Scriptures that stood out to
would say something like: you and became foundational when you first
‘Hi Paul, you don’t know me, but I am in your read the Bible?
mother’s prayer group, and we are praying When I returned to my cell after I found the
for you’. Testament on the radiator outside, I said, “God,
There was a teacher at my school who if you are real then give me a sign when I open
taught Religious Education (R E) - Miss Gray, this book”. My eyes went straight to Matthew
a Christian lady with a very beautiful spirit. 9:13, “for I did not come to call the righteous,
She saw something in me, I behaved myself but sinners to repentance”. This was a total
in her class and made sure every other child revelation for me, and I gave my life to Jesus
in the class did the same. My classmates told Christ there and then. I prayed the ‘sinners’
me when I was put into care, Miss Gray would prayer’ at the back of the Testament along
encourage them to pray for me in their R E with other relevant prayers including for those
lesson. My mother would never preach to me caught up in addiction.
Life After Christ
How was life in prison after this encounter? What led you to starting EXIT Foundation?
It was as if the scales had fallen from my I developed a passion to help young people
eyes and I saw who and what I really was, avoid making the same mistakes I made in
and it was not nice. I saw the pain and life. The Exit Foundation Organisation was
destruction I had caused and wanted to try birthed in 2012, originally set up as E-gangs
and do something to rectify the damage. Project.
I started attending church in prison. Exit Foundation works alongside the
What was different about leaving prison Criminal Justice System and other relevant
after encountering Christ? organisations, it is a mentoring service
I sought help for my drug addiction that majors on relationship, prevention
and I wanted Christian help. I applied and intervention, with the focus being
to Teen Challenge London, a Christian on leading and supporting clients into
Drugs and Alcohol residential programme. Employment, Training or Education.
I joined Teen Challenge four weeks after What does ministry look like for you today?
leaving prison and one week before my Ministry is about serving the community
50th Birthday. and helping the lost and needy. We live in a
Did you have any guidance/support to turn broken society with crime and poverty at an
your life around? all-time high. Crime tends to follow poverty.
I was mentored by the Director of Teen Addiction doesn’t care about who it kills.
Challenge, a gentleman named Javier Jesus tells us to ‘Love thy Neighbour’, hence
Lesta-Candall. He saw something in me, our mission statement ‘Love Never Fails’.
and he always showed me love. exitfoundation.org.uk
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