Conversation with Dwain Lynch

Dwain Lynch is a man who has gone through some hard and trying times. He had a life of being in and out of jail since the age of 12, and struggled with being addicted to heroin and cocaine. Overall, he spent 25 years of his life incarcerated. Today, he is a successful Man of God, who has written about his journey and overcoming his trials in his autobiography.

Trailer to his book

Finally my brother, we get to have this conversation.

It is an honor Sir. Thank you for having me.

What is the title of the book you wrote, and why did you write this book?

The title of my book is “Transformed” God Changed My Suit. I wrote this book for two reasons. One was because the mother of my church at the time pulled me to the side one Sunday and told me that she had a dream the previous night and that I needed to write a book about my life.

The second reason was that as I looked at the events in my life, I realized that I am only here because God placed his Grace on me and I believe that my story can help others. Sometimes people look at their lives and they think that their lives are out of control. I felt that my life is a testament that life can change regardless of who we are or what we have done.

Let’s go back to the beginning. So how would you describe your upbringing?

Well I was raised by a single mother. I was a good student starting out but I was abused by my mom a lot as a child. I didn’t meet my father until I was 11 years old. That encounter damaged me more than the abuse and by the time I was 12, I was sent to a Juvenile Detention Center. By that time I was a withdrawn introvert with anger issues from the abuse and the abandonment of my father.

What do you mean by being abused by your mom? Verbal, physical, worse?

I was physically abused by my mom. I got beatings with extension cords, I was locked in closets or red pepper was put on my tongue if I told a lie. I endured this until I was 11 years old when I first went to jail.

These days, there seems to be some reputation in claiming to be hardcore and having street credibility. What do you say to that?

Well what I say to that is, Street cred is an illusion. It’s a lie. I never wanted street cred. I literally never wanted to be seen as a gangster or a thug. I just wanted to get some money in my pocket to do the things that I wanted to do. What I can tell you is that claiming street cred has claimed a ton of lives for nothing. Some get a ton of time for nothing. And the rest are playing a role for nothing.

Give us a snapshot of what a day in your life was like back then?

Running the streets hustling and selling drugs was fun for me. We sold drugs and most times I also had a job. We hustled and stacked money. We went to Go-Go’s, movies, shopped and dated girls and avoided the police. Hustling was fun from my point of view.

How did you end up being incarcerated?

I had been getting incarcerated since I was eleven years old. After I met my father for the first time in my life, the way it played out angered me and I turned to crime because my mother was struggling to raise me by herself. So the summer after I met my father I  became a burglar to make money. By my 12^th birthday I was locked up in a juvenile facility.

What was the first day in jail like?

My first day incarcerated was a game changer for me. It actually set the tone for the rest of my stay. The next morning at breakfast a guy walked up next to me and took my milk off the table and just walked away. At that moment I had to make a decision. Either let him take that milk and make the rest of my stay a living hell or fight for that milk. I decided to fight for that milk. I won that fight!

How long was your sentence, and how did you survive in there?

My first sentence was a 2 year commitment to Cedar Knolls. My last sentence was 8 ½ years to Life in Lorton Reformatory. At the end of the day I ended up doing over 25 years in and out of prison and I survived those years by minding my own business, giving the same respect that I received and making it clear that I was not going for anything. I was respected because I gave respect. That’s how I survived.

As a child I’m sure you had secret hopes and dreams. When you ended up in jail, what did you think about your life and your future?

As a child I could draw real well. I wanted to be an architect and drive a TR7 sports car but I never got a chance to finish school or go to college.

People have faced hopelessness and felt like there was nothing worth living for. I have, and I attempted suicide 3 times. I’m curious…….did you ever come to a place of hopelessness? And what kept your head up from going down the route of depression and worse?

I reached that point myself when I was addicted to heroin and cocaine. I was losing my family and headed back to jail. I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder and I made numerous attempts at ending my life. At some point I was sitting in my car and I wanted to end my life and at that instance my pastor at the time called me and asked me what I was doing. I took that as God telling me that killing myself was not the answer. That was my last attempt at taking my life.

Wow. You were addicted to heroin and cocaine. That’s tough man. I was a meth addict, so I know how much work I have to put into keeping my mind on the straight and narrow. How has it been staying clean and sober?

Believe me it was tough in the beginning. Things were going on in my life that threatened my sobriety but I stayed in the word and I had good people in my corner. My wife, my daughter, my Pastor. I kept God in front no matter what came and I am happy to say that it has been 16 years of clean time. Praise God.

That's awesome man. Congratulations!
You had a moment of being suicidal too. Most times people think it is weak minded people that get suicidal. What would you say about that?

People say that it takes a weak person to commit suicide. Actually, it takes a tired person. I wanted to die because the heroin and coke addiction had total control of me. I felt that I could not live without it but I didn’t want to continue using. I was sick and tired of my addiction but for some reason I just couldn’t stop. I felt that if I couldn't stop I would rather die. So, the reality is. People don't want to commit suicide because they are weak; they want to commit suicide because they are frustrated and tired. That’s how I see it…..

So how did things lead to you getting released?

I was released for the last time after things had gotten so bad that my wife chained and padlocked the door and told me that I couldn’t come home. I was arrested that weekend and spent a year back in prison. In that year I made a pact with God that that would be my last stay in anyone’s jail. In that year I rededicated my life to God and I haven’t looked back. God has been blessing me ever since.

Your first day out of prison…….what was that like?

My first day out of prison was fulfilling. I was headed home with a new mindset and God in my corner. I saw my wife on the bus that day and we rode home together and have been together ever since.

I’ve known a few people who got out of jail, and the journey to being settled in society was a nightmare. How did you navigate your way to getting settled and established?

I admit that life for me was rough starting out but I immediately grabbed hold of seeking God and prayer and before I knew it God was making a way and opening doors. I had to humble myself and I took the first job I was offered. Today I am so grateful for where God has brought me from.

That's awesome man. What do you do now, and what would you say your purpose and passion is? What mark do you hope to make in life.

I pray and I study the word. I seek the Holy Spirit's guidance for everything that I do. I believe that my purpose in life is to show others that it really doesn’t matter where you have been and what you have done, God has set in place a way out of every situation. It is called His Grace.

Yes sir! And to that young kat running the streets and all, what would you say him without sounding like you are preaching.

To that kat running the streets, I would let him know that what he is learning out there is nonsense. The streets lead to one of two places. Jail or death. It’s that simple. It took me close to 30 years to understand and receive that. And the only way out of that life is God and his grace.

What about the person who thinks committing his life to God is denying him some fun in life, or pleasure at living?

To that person I would say that perspective is everything. It all depends on how we see things. When I was getting high, partying, hustling or whatever. It was fun for the most part. But I was killing myself. I was hurting my family, and I was able to eventually see that it wasn’t fun. Giving my life to God was the smartest decision I ever made and I am still enjoying my life. I have been given a new life and that new life is available to everyone. Just believe and receive it.

Hallelujah! That is the gospel message of a new life in Christ.
You’re happily married. Can you tell us about your beautiful family?

My wife and daughter are the reasons I am here today. God graced me with them to help me when I couldn’t help myself. They have stood by me through this transition and I praise God for them. I have found strength in the love they have for me and it has helped me to stay strong through all that I have been through. They have been a blessing.

Thank you Sir for the opportunity to share this. God bless you!

(Okay folks. Please go to Amazon and get a copy of his book. The holidays is around the corner. Please get it as a gift, especially to someone that needs to be inspired and encouraged by Dwain’s story)

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