Jossell has been at the forefront of these efforts, most notably conducting virtual mid-week prayer gatherings where he leads prayers asking for divine intervention for Jones' release.Ĭurrently a minister at Fifth Street Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, he said he's known the Jones family for many years as they attended Tabernacle Baptist Church where he was Julius Jones' Sunday school and vacation Bible school leader. Kevin Stitt Pastor meets regularly with Julius Jones More: Julius Jones' mother, supporters seek meeting with Oklahoma Gov. Hundreds of people, including spiritual leaders and clergy, have been protesting Jones' continued incarceration and are asking that Stitt follow the recommendation of the parole board. Momentum for Jones' cause grew in the wake of a 2018 TV docudrama called "The Last Defense." Jossell and millions of other people across the country have signed a petition in Jones' support and his case has drawn the attention of Hollywood actors, professional athletes and reality TV stars. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has recommended 3-1 that his death sentence be reduced to life in prison. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and members of Howell's family are among those asking that the governor deny Jones clemency. He has maintained his innocence over the years. Jones, 41, is on death row for the fatal shooting of Paul Howell during a 1999 carjacking in Edmond. Jossell said the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has said he will be allowed to witness Jones' execution if it is carried out on Thursday. Jossell said he felt like he was on an "emotional roller coaster" as he waited on Tuesday to find out Jones' fate. View Gallery: See Julius Jones supporters awaiting Stitt's clemency decision Why is Julius Jones on death row? We will exhibit our faith and see what the end is going to be." This is Tuesday and Tuesday does not look very good - the way that you've been treated here, the way they've got you caged here. "Those words have deeper meaning for Julius and I now because when we think about the Bible and talk about the Bible, that when they were saying 'faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen,' they were under persecution, they were under threat of being executed, of being stoned to death because of their beliefs in following Jesus," he said. Jossell said those words of faith resonated with Jones on Tuesday. He told Jones that, despite everything happening to him, "we must trust like our ancestors did and trust in the Lord." Jossell said he gave Jones a Bible verse to reflect on: Hebrews 11:1, which says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The conversation quickly turned to Scripture. He said he and Jones typically meet for up to four hours but they were given only an hour to talk on Tuesday. "He said 'Why are they doing this to me? They delayed my hearings, they've had two pardon and parole board recommendations about my innocence,'" Jossell said. The minister said Jones asked why he was being chained particularly after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted twice to recommend clemency. "Being chained like he was, it brought tears to his eyes because no one wants to be treated like they are less than an animal," Jossell said. Jossell, 56, said Jones is typically handcuffed but neither man was expecting him to be chained so that they couldn't hug each other. Initially, they both expressed their anger and frustration that Jones had been chained so that his arms were pinned down. He said he met with Jones Tuesday morning in an area across from the cell where the inmate has been placed while on "death watch" at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
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