Welcome to Tough Talk

Real Testimonies from Real People


We have received many letters from prisoners who have read the Tough Talk books or have seen the guys in Tough Talk prison meetings. Here are a few examples FELTHAM I’m James…I’ve read your book and was overwhelmed by the changes in all three men… I’m on remand in Feltham for taking a man’s life by hitting him….although I was provoked my actions are inexcusable. Can God still forgive me for my actions? Perhaps you could tell me how I go about bringing him into my life as a permanent feature. HIGHPOINT You have opened up a new light in my life after reading your book…tears of joy and thankfulness that Jesus has touched your lives were streaming down my face. I had a truly unforgettable experience with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in prison many years ago……but life got the better of me and I am now serving another 3 years…. Seeing you in Highpoint has rekindled the light and love of Jesus in me again…….I feel a massive turn-around in my inner self again… NOTTINGHAM Thanks a million for coming all the way up from London to see us all (in Nottingham)……I must admit I was very moved by your talk and I can assure you that most of the lads were too. One bright spark was heard to say you were only promoting your book to which I replied, if you can see the price on the front, inside or back cover, I will buy him lunch at the Savoy when we get out! BEDFORD I did enjoy reading the book…..it has made me look at my life, and I know that I cannot be like I am for the rest of my life, I can be a decent helpful person I want to be like that, full stop. The book has made me think of a better future. NOTTINGHAM Before you came here I had started going to Chapel…..and when you came it was like assign, it might sound mad but I felt something come over me when you was speaking….. and that day when I went back to my pad I said to myself would God help me like he has helped that man. So I started talking to him and no, I am not mad but its like he is talking to me. I have been doing so many things different. I know that me not doing wrong wont happen overnight but I know something will change when I get out… ONLEY I’ve messed up…because I have a drug problem. I’ve tried everything to get over this evil but the temptation is too great. I’ve lost all my friends because of this…I’m writing to ask you to help me try and find Jesus Christ because may be he will help me conquer this bad part of my life like he has for Arthur, Ian and Steve…… ***** I have been in and out of jail since I was 15 …because I have a drug problem. I’ve tried everything to get over this evil but the temptation is so great….I have lost any real friends I had and most of all I have lost my family. This is why I’m writing this letter to get you to help me try and find Jesus Christ because may be he will help me conquer this bad part of my life…like he has done for Arthur, Steve and Ian… **** The book has made me look at my life and I know that I cannot be like I am for the rest of my life. I can be a decent, helpful person, but I want it to be like that, full stop. The book has made me think of a better future. **** I thoroughly enjoyed the book. But I can’t do it that easily. I have prayed the prayer over and over but I still get drawn into the drugs and other things whilst in here. I hope you can answer some of my questions and give me a little guidance. ***** On reading your book I now know what I want in my life…..since I have read about you and your friends I have felt that I can do anything that I put my mind to. When you came to my prison it was like a sign…..I felt something come over me when you were speaking. I went back to my pad and said would God help me like he has helped that man. I started talking to him, and no I’m not mad, but its like he is talking to me. I have been doing so many things different. I know that me not doing wrong won’t happen overnight but I know that something will change… ****** We received this very encouraging “testimony within a testimony” from an officer in the Metropolitan Police. He told us he became friendly with an intimidating 20 stone, 6 foot 3 tattooed and shaven headed prisoner who gave him a battered and torn book that he said had “changed his life and could change yours”. In the book, the man had written “Thanks for being a friend. Jesus loves you!” The book was Tough Talk. The officer said “ I read the book in one day…… it sent me through mixed emotions….. it sent a tingle down my spine….. I have never been a religious man….but I have asked my girlfriend for a Bible for Christmas….because I feel I cannot get enough” This was received from a prisoner who has not yet sorted his life out....but it is very encouraging:>>>>"Many thanks for writing a great book. So many thoughts have been going through my mind of late. I was confused until I finished the end of your book. Now I see things in a much calmer way and that there could be something out there for me too. ........I'm going to pass the book around my friends who are having troubles in their lives maybe they will take notice or maybe not at least I can show them there is something more.....I have always been very stand-offish about God and Jesus but I am learning slowly that there can be more. I keep getting messages that there are other things like God and Jesus......Well I am starting to believe, just a little apprehensive a bit, but I am sure I will have another sign to help me find my way...Many many thanks for a great book...."


The following two letters were received from prisoners in a prison that the Tough Talk team regularly visit. Letters such as this really highlight the value of our ministry to prisons: Letter 1: " I would like to give you a bit of feed back from your last visit here. First though, Ian I asked you if you was for real. What I thought at the time that you bwas talking rubbish, which I am sorry for. At the time you was giving us the talk about God, I laughed at you, again I am sorry for that. I experienced something very peculiar at the end of the session, which I now know was the Holy Spirit. Upon leaving the gym that Thursday, I felt the urge to go to the Chapel on Sunday. I had another strange feeling and then and there I said enough, I have given my life to God. I go every Sunday now and pray every day. You see I wanted what you guys had, not the muscles but the peace you talked about. I now have that peace inside me, I feel so alive......You also saved my dearest friend who experienced almost the same things as me......" Letter 2......"Firstly I would like to thank you for your visit to our prison. I don't know what made me come that day but I do now. I have never been a believer in religion but after your visit I got such an urge to start going to the chapel, praying and reading the Bible which I do every night now. My look on life has drastically changed. I'm leaving my old life behind and starting a new one with God. I'm so happy about it its unreal. I already feel like I've been born again. I'm getting baptised this Sunday. Me and my friend experienced the same thing and its brought us so close as friends and brothers. Its baffled me how its happened so fast. I've gone from being an angry person to an understanding peaceful person. I just felt as if I would write to yopu and thank you all for how you helped me to start my new journey with God. I'm so thankful...."

SECURE TRAINING CENTRE, RAINSBROOK.
As well as receiving letters from prisoners, we also receive very encouraging messages from members of chaplaincy teams and from prison gym staff. We have received this letter from the Chaplain at Rainsbrook: “I just want to say a HUGE thank you to Arthur and Ian following on from their visits to Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. Their message focused on “the consequences of our actions” and “our ability to make choices” was a powerful one linked to a very real hope for the future. More importantly, though, was that the good news of Jesus Christ was put across in a “powerful” way, as Ian and Arthur used the power lifting alongside their amazing testimonies of God at work in their lives. The afternoon session has stuck in the minds of several of our young people and paved the way for many more in-depth conversations, both with staff and young people. We are really looking forward to October when Ian and Arthur are planning a return visit” Revd. Diane Bussey. Chaplain. Rainsbrook STC, Willoughby, Rugby. Warks.