WJI Blog 2022, May 28 AM - What Courage Feels Like

I parked my car on a side street next to the address I was given. One deep breath goes in and releases. Don’t stress. Just go ring the doorbell. Be brave. Grabbing the bag with the recording equipment, I walked to the blue house, checked that I had the right address one last time, and knocked.

Throughout the week, I reached out to multiple contacts. I was rejected. The Saturday we were set to do this pocket profile project landed on Memorial Day weekend, so I was not surprised. But when I got an email from Kingdom Boundaries, I let out a sigh of relief. Tim Wendt, the Chaplin for the after-prison ministry, would be able to speak with me. I called to set a time to meet Mr. Wendt; he was friendly and open to being interviewed. Finally, a willing contact and a fascinating story filled my schedule for Saturday.

Mr. Wendt opened the door and greeted me with a warm handshake. His smile beamed underneath his handlebar mustache. He gave me a tour of the halfway home for residents transferring back to normal life after incarceration. I followed him around with my mic, acting like I was competent in using the recording equipment. We sat and he shared the impact of the ministry he had seen in his own life and the lives of many others. He told me about the reconciliation he witnessed because of the Gospel.

We have practiced interviewing strangers multiple times this week at WJI. Every time, I have to hype myself before the charge. But the reward is often so great. I have met extraordinary individuals that I never would have if I stayed comfortable. I wonder if contacting strangers will get easier with practice if I end up as a reporter. But even if it doesn’t, I have been reminded that the story is always worth it. All it takes is the courage to say, “Excuse me, can I ask you…”

- Madison Greven