Chaplain Ralph Hughley has worked at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center for the past 16 years and has been the face of Christ for thousands of youth who are at a crossroads with nowhere else to turn. The following story, in Chaplain Hughley’s own words, is an example of the connections made by chaplains with those in crisis.
“A 15-year-old boy named Jason (name changed) came to the Detention Center after being charged with assault. From the beginning he was fighting with the other kids and was always being put into the box, an isolation room that is used as a punishment for kids. I counseled Jason and we read Psalm 23 together so he could have a visual image of Christ as his Shepherd to watch over him. As we talked, Jason shared with me that he had not seen his mother since he was a small child.
“He knew that she was incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. Jason asked me if he could talk with his mother. I called the chaplain at Marysville and asked him to make arrangements for Jason’s mother to call him at a designated time. Jason and his mother were able to connect over the telephone and the conversation was a turning point that allowed Jason to get his anger under control so he was no longer a behavior problem at the Center.
“I find that as a chaplain, I need to reach the kids where they are spiritually, emotionally and socially. I strive to address the whole person. They don’t need me to preach to them, they need me to give them spiritual guidance so they can start to love themselves as Christ loves them. With this love they can have hope and a vision for the future if they turn their lives around. We can never give up on them, never give up hope. They are children and they are our future.”
Rev. Hughley is one of the greatest treasures LCS has. His unyielding commitment and love for the children at the Detention Center is remarkable. Bless Rev. Hughley.