New Beginnings in El Dorado County
Oct 27, 2016 11:44AM ● By David Norby
Randy Haskins, Timothy Fredrickson and Ralph Thomure
Randy Haskins was headed to jail for the 13th time when he finally had an epiphany. “It was December 10, 2002, and I decided I didn’t want to live the life I was living anymore,” Haskins says. “It came to me that people who went to church on Sundays weren’t going to jail on Mondays, so I decided to give the religion thing a try.”
It didn’t take right away, but ultimately Haskins discovered there’s a big difference between “religion” and a deep, abiding faith based on a personal relationship with God. When he found that faith, he was never the same again.
“I remember these guys told me about this Jesus Christ, who died for me, and I couldn’t understand that. Why would anybody do that for someone else, much less a criminal?” Haskins says. “But I came to understand that was the point. It was because of the kind of person I was that I needed a savior, and it shows just how much God loves us all.”
Haskins, who grew up in El Dorado County, became a Christian, knowing that doing so wouldn’t suddenly turn everything peachy. He still had 33 months to serve and a life to carve out afterwards. One thing he knew for certain was he wouldn’t go back to jail, and soon discovered a mission to help others stay out too.
Every year, more than 4,600 men and women are released into El Dorado County from the local jail. With a recidivism rate of 82 percent that’s 4,000 people who might commit some crime in the community before being sent back. With that in mind, Haskins founded New Beginnings—a home where Christian men and women can live after prison and are given clothing, food, counseling and a job while they get back on their feet and go out on their own.
But it’s not for everyone—only for people who have committed to changing their lives. “I have two requirements for anyone who wants to be here,” Haskins says. “I need to see they’re ready to turn from their old lifestyle, and I need to see they’re ready to follow Jesus. If they decide that’s not for them, it breaks my heart, but it’s their choice.”
Since 2011, 36 people have come through New Beginnings, and four have “gradated,” meaning they’ve moved into their own homes, found jobs and stayed out of jail. Six are still at the home, and others either left prematurely or returned to their old lives; five have gone back to jail.
“Is New Beginnings a success? That’s not up to me,” Haskins says. “I’m doing what I’ve been called to do. When I look at my past, I know I’m partly to blame for the problems of this community. Repentance doesn’t just mean you stop doing what you’re doing. It means you turn around and go the opposite direction. That’s what I’ll keep doing with New Beginnings, and I’ll let God focus on the results.”