Chris Young Foundation

How did we get here? I was preparing a “Youth Conference” at a church I was member of at the time. It consisted of 4 generations of men; one was 8 years old, one was 18, one was in his 20's and a visiting pastor in his 30's. The theme was called “Sons of Thunder.”  When Chris was sent to Death Row, I felt compelled to visit him. Chris was 8 yrs old when I last saw him. His dad was murdered and I attended his funeral. 

He was very open to me about his life, his pain, and growing up without his father. I asked Chris if he would write something about his life that I could present to these young people. He did. When the 18 year old finished his speech, he read Chris's letter to the youth. Within the letter, he pleaded with these kids to not follow his path, to put down the guns, pick up a book, and give themselves a future. The young speaker concluded with an invitation to come to the altar and give their lives to Christ. Every single one of them came forth. 

Not only did this cause change in these young boys and girls, Christopher found his cause. My daughter and I brought a few youth into the Unit and Chris would listen and talk with them. He became passionate about reaching the young from the inside out that they may have a chance at life. He knew the pain of growing up without a dad. He knew what poverty was and wanting the best of life. He wanted these young people to have opportunities to succeed in life and to not grow up in violence. 

Christopher was executed by the State of Texas before he saw his vision realized. I saw him cry for the first time. He wasn't crying because of him dying. He was weeping because he wasn't through fighting for these young people. He told me to go back to the prison and tell his brothers on Death Row, to pick up the torch and run with it – to finish what he started.