Changing the world

David, a church leader, believes friendship is a key way to help former prisoners get back into normal life (and not just return to the lifestyle and choices that landed them in prison in the first place). He says, “No significant change in life comes without a significant relationship.” David’s church offers those kinds of relationships, coming alongside people trying to start a new life after being released. David and others from his church hope to be the bridges— friends and mentors—these former prisoners need to rebuild their lives and head in a better direction with God. We find a similar idea in the book of Proverbs where the writer noticed that those who “walk with the wise . . . become wise” (PROVERBS 13:20). On the other side of things, people who only have selfish and godless friends are more likely to keep messing up and making bad choices. We’ll never have all the answers to the problems our friends, family and classmates have. But as we keep reading the Bible and getting to know God’s ways better, we can let others know about the life, security and hope He offers them. God’s wisdom helps us as we see others facing challenges of all kinds. We can, like the people in that church, be bridges. We can give our time and attention to the people around us who are struggling, not to just try and solve their problems, but to keep introducing them to Jesus, who will walk with them through every trial and lead them in a better way of life.