Greetings, in the name of the Most High. I enjoy reading your weekly columns in THE STAR. Keep up the good work. This is my second letter to you. I wrote you in 2008, but you never published my letter and never wrote me back. I could understand you not writing me back, as I did not send you a stamped, self-addressed envelope as I was low on cash at the time.

I get THE STAR once a week and the first thing I turn to is the Dear Pastor column. I am an inmate at a Massachusetts' correction institution. I have been incarcerated for almost 11 years for a crime I did not commit. I have been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The first time I wrote you I was in solitary confinement for gambling. Now I am back for fighting and gambling. I have not learned.

Pastor, I have always wanted to know the reason for life, even in sin. I haven't learnt anything since I have been incarcerated. I can't focus or think. I have a lot of distractions because I often think about my 10 children. I have eight in Jamaica and two in the USA.

I want to get closer to God each day. I know without him I am lost and scared. Time has gone by quickly and I have not utilised it to better myself with God so I could share with others. What a waste. He is an awesome, wonderful, loving father. With him, I will never be alone. I owe everything to him.

When I first came to prison, I was very concerned about my family's protection and well-being. I had no rich friends or family I could appeal to for help in regards to my children. The mother of my second eldest daughter died when she was 16. My daughter has to be fending for herself without a mother or father. I'm sad I was unable to attend the funeral but God has shown me that everything would be all right. I am asking for your prayers. God promised never to leave us or forsake us. I thank him for the wonderful way he has kept and sustained me over the long, hard years of incarceration.

I also want to say, from the bottom of my heart, I am innocent of the crime I have been convicted of. The victim was a friend who was from Manchester, Jamaica, and I want his family to know I was not the one who took their son from them. If I am guilty of anything else in the world, I am not guilty of murder. The system failed me. They did not have one piece of physical evidence that linked me to my friend's death. Here I am, an innocent man in prison for more than 10 years, fighting for my life and to come back home to my children. I ask this question every day, "Why me? Why me, Pastor?"

Please, pray for me and thank you for your time. I look forward to your fatherly advice. It is always a pleasure reading your columns. I cannot wait for the next issue.

D.M., Massachusetts, USA

Dear D.M.,

You say you are not guilty of the crime for which you were arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced. You claim the system failed. However, I have observed you have faith in God and believe the day will come when you will see your family again in Jamaica, the land of your birth. I hope you are right and I wish you well.

May I encourage you to become a lover of the Psalms? Read one or two every day and pray. If you have not yet experienced the new birth, read the Gospel of John and, as you read, ask God to open your understanding so you may embrace Christ as your Saviour and Lord. You may never get out of prison but your sins can be forgiven and you can experience true freedom in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. So, even though you are in prison you can experience spiritual freedom and have the assurance of eternal life.

May I ask all readers of this column to remember you and all your children in prayer. May I say, dear sir, I thank you for reading my column.

Pastor