A Model of Success
The first time I remember meeting Edris was at one of our Thursday evening meetings. Our Thursday group is where we offer the Lessons for Life course at our church, and most of the participants are friends and family of prisoners or volunteers in prison ministry. Although Edris was respectful, she didn’t look like she wanted to be there. Her mom, a regular attendee, was happy Edris had shown up, but it was clear by the look on both of their faces that there was something going on that wasn’t good.
Sure enough, within a few weeks we found out what it was: Edris had been convicted of a crime and was in county jail awaiting sentencing. As soon as we got the news, Pastor Guy, who heads up our jail ministry, went to visit her. We sent her a Bible, a copy of Plain Vanilla Wrapper, and signed her up for our Lessons for Life correspondence course. We were all praying for Edris to be given probation so she could come back to our group and continue turning her life around on the outside. It felt like she was at a tipping point, and it was easy to believe that probation was the best way to keep her tipping in the right direction.
It was not to be. Edris was sentenced to prison. But little did she know we would be going there with her. Shortly after her sentencing, we were approved to start a Lessons for Life class at the women’s prison in Denver. And after she arrived, she was able to pick up where she left off at county jail.
I still remember the first class Edris attended at the prison. Although we really didn’t know her that well yet, it was like a family reunion. Her face lit up the second she saw us, and ours did as well. I knew that our being there for her was the comfort and encouragement that she needed. Prison can tempt a person to despair, especially someone struggling to get their life turned around with the Lord. A familiar face at the right time can sometimes make all the difference.
Over the course of the next few meetings, we began to notice that not only were we there for Edris, but Edris was there for us. She had been spending so many hours reading the Bible and growing close to the Lord that her presence and wisdom was ministering to us and the entire class. She wasn’t there just to receive, but to give. As time went on, we began to hear more and more from the other ladies about how Edris was influencing their lives in a positive way throughout the week. Edris had become what I like to call a “missionary on the inside.”
No surprise to us, Edris was paroled early because of her good behavior. Once she was released, she began attending our Thursday Lessons for Life group, going to church, and volunteering anywhere she could. She continued being that same bright and shining star on the outside that she was in prison, helping and praying for anyone going through difficult times. Edris is currently working on her certification to become a Life Coach with our ministry, and she has recently started teaching Lessons for Life classes for ladies. God is good.
Edris’s journey exemplifies what we want to see multiplied over and over again in this ministry. It begins while they are incarcerated. We connect with them and encourage them to get serious about their walk with God. We offer prayer, a Bible, some lessons to help them get on track, and a welcoming place for when they are released. Once they get out of prison, we walk alongside and help them discover God’s plan for their lives. We also do what we can to equip and empower them to step into that plan.
We believe God has a calling for everyone. It might not be the same one that He has for Edris. It might not have anything to do with teaching the Lessons for Life course, or Life Coaching, or anything in regard to what we think of when we think of ministry. But our role is the same. We connect, we encourage, we help prepare them, and we walk alongside supporting the plans God has for them. He takes care of the rest.
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Thank you for your partnership of prayer and support for what God is doing with this ministry. Many of you have been with us from the beginning. As we are completing our fourteenth year of our journey, we know this is no small thing on your part. We look forward to sharing more testimonies of God’s goodness with you in the years to come. God bless you!