Erika’s Testimony – All Things Are New

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Addiction, Erika, Inmate Testimonies, Jail Ministry Musings, Jesus Christ, Restoration, Salvation, Testimony

My name is Erika.  I was born to a single mother in Texas.  Growing up, my childhood was very difficult for me.  Roughly from the age of two to eight years old my mom had a live in boyfriend that would regularly molest me.  I reached out to my mom, but she was unable to help.  He would physically beat her, and I think out of fear she felt powerless to do anything.

The Honored Woman At The Well

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Grace, Jail Ministry Musings, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Salvation

My partner Terry and I are teaching through the Gospel of John for our studies in jail.  We are doing 2-3 chapters at a time, and showing the corresponding sections of the movie “The Gospel Of John“.  The women seem to really be enjoying it.

I taught on John 4 a couple weeks ago, and as I prepared the lesson it really struck me that the FIRST person Jesus chose to reveal Himself to as Messiah was the woman at the well.

Thankfulness In Dark Places

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Gratitude, Jail Ministry Musings, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

I didn’t expect jail to be a place where thankfulness was commonplace.  You wouldn’t think women in that difficult environment, facing difficult circumstances, working through the guilt, shame and regret from bad decisions would have hearts that overflow with gratitude and thankfulness… but many of them do.  I have learned so much from them, and I am grateful for how they minister to my heart.

When A Bud Opens

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Jail Ministry Musings, Salvation

When you look at the bud of a flower, it is just a tight little green wad.  It isn’t particularly pretty, but it has the potential to be extraordinarily beautiful.

While the bud is closed, you have no idea what that flower is going to look like.  Will it be fairly plain, or will it be impossibly intricate?  Will it have lots of small petals, or a few big ones?  What color will it be?  No two are alike, but all are beautiful because all are God’s handiwork.