Death on Hold: A Prisoner's Desperate Prayer and the Unlikely Family Who Became God's Answer
Written by Burton W. Folsom and Anita Folsom
Narrated by Barry Scott, Andrew Kanies and Jackie Schlicher
3/5
()
About this audiobook
In January 1983 Burt Folsom read a story in Time about Mitch Rutledge, a man on death row with an IQ of 84 who said he was sorry for what he did. "Forget him," the last line of the story read. But Burt wrote Mitch a letter and discovered a man more interesting and intelligent than the article revealed.
Burt and his wife, Anita, began a friendship with Mitch and saw him become a leader and role model for others in prison, teaching himself to read and write (starting with copying down the spelling of items he knew from TV commercials) and becoming a national spokesman on prison life.
Death on Hold is the amazing story of their friendship, and of grace, reconciliation, and redemption for a man without hope who was given a future.
Burton W. Folsom
Burton W. Folsom, Jr, PhD, is a Distinguished Fellow of Hillsdale College in Michigan as well as Professor Emeritus. He has also written for The Wall Street Journal, The American Spectator, Policy Review, and Human Events, as well as many other publications. He is the author or coauthor of eleven books and lectures widely at conferences and seminars.
Related to Death on Hold
Related audiobooks
Diary of a Blank Emoji: Emoji Academy, Book 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRed Key Revolution: Redefining Success for a Life of Significance Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Presidential Pastor: Explore the Big Questions of Christian Life with the White House's Pastor Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Patriot Acts: What Americans Must Do to Save the Republic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBecoming the Answer to our Prayers: Prayer for Ordinary Radicals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Redneck Resilience: A Country Boy’s Journey To Prosperity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFaith in the Land of Make-Believe: What God Can Do…Even In Hollywood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMan Depravity and the Quest for God: God’s Remedy and Solution to Human Depravity and Decadence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Fritz Springmeier's Bloodlines of the Illuminati Volume 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Coffee Lover's Diet: Change Your Coffee...Change Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnly if They Could Hear Me Cry: A Personal Reflection of Poverty and Homelessness in America Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Dick and Jane Learn About Money: (A Family Finance Fable) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsO Me of Little Faith: True Confessions of a Spiritual Weakling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ketogenic Diet: Easy, Lazy Guide to Fatty Fasting and Becoming Your Sexy Self Again Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYour Teacher Said What?!: Defending Our Kids from the Liberal Assault on Capitalism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fourth Way: The Conservative Playbook for the New, Unified GOP Government Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCourage to Stand: An American Story Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Living on the Edge: How to Fight and Win the Battle for Your Mind and Heart (Teen Edition) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary Bundle: Biography & History | Readtrepreneur Publishing: Includes Summary of Killing Jesus & Summary of Killing Kennedy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBitcoin: A Concise Guide for Understanding What Bitcoin Is and What you Can Do with It Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Hunt Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Crypto Matrix: Welcome to your Future Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Paper Pusher Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLive Like You Mean It: Seven Celebrations to Rejuvenate Your Soul Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeing Real: Simple Truth Simply Spoken | A Journey of Discipleship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Comey Gang: An Insider's Look at an FBI in Crisis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Memoirs For You
I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Night: New translation by Marion Wiesel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sociopath: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Counting the Cost Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Woman in Me Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Finding Me: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roxane Gay & Everand Originals: My Year of Psychedelics: Lessons on Better Living Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good Girls Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Year of Magical Thinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5See You on the Way Down: Catch You on the Way Back Up! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roxane Gay & Everand Originals: Built for This: The Quiet Strength of Powerlifting Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5While Time Remains: A North Korean Girl's Search for Freedom in America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dad on Pills: Fatherhood and Mental Illness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Glass Castle: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pageboy: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wishful Drinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Making It So: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for Death on Hold
5 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This was not a good fit for me. While I applaud the notion of rehabilitation and finding resources of faith in incarceration, I didn’t find the author’s voice authentic. Maybe this is due to ghost writer assistance.I worked as an executive for an agency that manages Job Corps Centers, including the one Rutledge attended. These government funded agencies can be a turn around for at-risk youth but the student has to commit. Rutledge’ s lack of commitment and responsibility, especially to prostitute runaways he helped prey upon, really bothered me. It’s like he dismissed his criminal activity on one, “I wasn’t so awful” and two, “it’s my upbringing”.There is certainly statistical merit to this argument. However, the author’s voice does not match the nature of his true story.This could be due to the editing and not the subject. Overall, not my favorite on the subject and a missed opportunity to provide a relatable narrative to at-risk youth and related parties like the Folsoms. See Sister Helen Prejean for seemingly truer to life death row rehab stories. Or better yet, see some at -risk youth in action by volunteering somewhere!Provided by publisher
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In January 1983 Burt Folsom read Kurt Andersen's article The Death Penalty: Eye for an Eye in Time Magazine about Mitch Rutledge, a black man on death row with an IQ of 84 who said he was sorry for what he did. "Forget him," were the last words. Burt wrote Mitch a letter and discovered a man more intelligent and interesting than the article had shown. With his wife Anita, Burt started writing, and visiting Mitch in Holman Prison, where he was detained. Mitch used the letters to teach himself to read and write.Death on Hold is part memoir, a coming of age by Mitch Rutledge himself. He recounts his youth, the gang life of human trafficking, selling and using drugs and fatal violence, including the murder for which he was sentenced in 1981. Rutledge is open about life in prison, the similarities with the violence, politics outside. Mitch also testifies about the wonderful way God revealed Himself to Mitch. Ever since Mitch learned to trust in God, resist sinful practices in prison, develop himself up to the point where he currently is a community manager and public speaker on making the right choices to an audience of teens at risk. While death row was changed into life without parole in 1989, in 2015 Mitch still lives as inmate, having survived tuberculosis and many death threats by inmates.Mitch's story is alternated with poems, short letters, and stories by Burt and Anita Folsom, a Catholic sister Lillian, Bill, his sisters Pam and Rachel. Mitch is counted as one to make a difference, propelled by his desire to make his life the call.