One letter can make all the difference in a life.

That's what Rasheen Glover discovered when he replied to a letter from a prisoner in jail.

"I told him I was praying for him," he said.

Glover, of Lancaster, knew the young man from when they were "out there" together — on the streets, selling drugs and getting into fights.

Realizing the street life offered only two options, prison or death, Glover found the faith and courage to turn his life around several years ago.

Last year, to help others "come to Christ," he held the first "Rock Da Reservoir" community event in Reservoir Park, King and Franklin streets.

Glover, 24, will speak at the second annual event, featuring face painting, a moon bounce and other family fun, live music and free food, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20.

The event is co-sponsored by Family Life Community Church and Mary Byrd. Glover and Byrd are members of the church, at 1204 Wabank Road.

Confess, 4 Trinity, Vice Versa, the FLCC Praise Team and vocalist Ray Taylor of Lancaster, a member of New Life Christian Fellowship, will perform.

For more information about "Rock Da Reservoir," call Glover at 475-8726.

Glover's prison friend was free last year but despite saying he would attend "Rock Da Reservoir," he did not show up.

While incarcerated, he remembered when Glover told him he was praying for him and decided to write to Glover, even though, as he told him later, he never expected a response.

He said when the other prisoners received letters, he put his head down and slept because he knew nobody was going to write to him.

Glover has kept in touch with him and said he recently committed his life to Christ.

"And that's not just some jailhouse talk," he said. "I can tell fake from real. His whole state of mind has done a 360 turnaround.

"The way he talks, the things he says. When he cries out to God, he's not doing it to get out of jail. He's doing it to get closer to God.

"He said, 'When I come home, I'm going to sit beside you and lead other young dudes to Christ. I've never felt this way in my life, but I am so done with the streets. I will never go back.'"

Glover, who works for R.R. Donnelley, said he wants to retire to full-time ministry.

He said his dream is "that God will give me a team of guys who have been out there, so we can be out there effectively reaching people with the gospel through the power of our testimony."

He said his best asset is that he can relate to troubled youth because he's lived that lifestyle.

He understands its appeal.

"But once you understand the lifestyle, it's like, 'Is this really what I want to keep doing? Is that really me?'"

And that's how Glover relates to people.

"That's the advantage I have. That's my testimony. I get to tell people that that road is horrible. You don't want to have to live looking over your shoulder all the time."

About 300 people attended last's years "Rock Da Reservoir." A number of them, including an elderly woman, committed their lives to Christ.

"They said, 'I really felt your message,'" Glover said. He said six people gave their life to God, and the ones who didn't come up said they felt the message and felt Glover was  talking to them.

This year, he and his friends distributed 10,000 fliers for the event in hopes that three times as many people will attend.

And eventually, he said, he hopes the event will draw as many people as the Fourth of July fireworks at Long's Park.

Glover has "grown in God a whole lot" in the past year. He counsels residents of Manos House, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for teenage boys, and stays in touch with friends who are still "out there."

"What I've noticed is that younger people just want someone to talk to, somebody who's going to be faithful, honest and keep it real with them."