When God Shows Up: Real Stories of FaithНамуна

Transcript:

This week, we focus on the story of the paralytic man – paralyzed for years and unable to reach Jesus on his own, his friends lowered him through a roof while Jesus was teaching. This story reminds us that sometimes we need others to carry us to the feet of Jesus, especially when we feel stuck or unable to move forward on our own.

To help us explore this, we’re joined by Rhonda. Rhonda, you bring a unique and powerful perspective to this conversation. You’ve experienced the challenges of re-entry into society after prison, and you’ve helped hundreds of women rebuild their lives and break free from toxic cycles. I’m excited to talk to you today, and I have a few questions.

The first is, how did God show up for you in your own journey of re-entry?

‘That’s a great question, Jamie. So upon leaving prison and re-entering society, I needed help, and I really didn’t even realize how much help I needed. But God knew, and He sent me an amazing team of 6 married couples who came into my life to mentor me, to teach me how to move beyond criminal mind thinking, to move beyond addiction, to move into being a good mom, and a leader in our community.’

The story of the paralytic man in John 5 is about being carried to Jesus when you can’t get there on your own. How have you seen this play out in the lives of the women you serve?

‘Well, it started with my Stand in the Gap team helping me to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. And you know, my main heart was to get my children back and break generational cycles and be able to heal with my children. And I needed a team that was willing to walk with me and help me grow in that way- grow to Jesus. But because of that, now I get the opportunity, as you said, to help hundreds of women by going back into the prisons/jails/rehabs, and leading them to a program that helps them with re-entry, but also with the foundation of knowing that the real foundation here is Jesus Christ. And if we can lead you to Jesus Christ and He can heal your life, then you can go anywhere and live a successful life.’

What are some of the biggest challenges women face when coming out of prison, and how does a faithful community help them overcome those?

‘So imagine this. Imagine that you’ve gone to prison, and you've burnt about every bridge behind you with relationships with family, children, and community. And now it’s time to exit prison, and when you leave, what you have with you is probably every book you’ve ever read while you’re in prison, which means this is going to be a very heavy bag on your back…and $50. So you’re leaving prison, and the challenge before you is ‘Where will I live? What can I eat? How can I live in recovery? Will my children ever allow me back into their lives? I have nowhere to go. What do I do? How far will $50 take me?’ So at this point, when we have homes that are available to help people in transition, to get them into a home (especially a faith-based home), and there we have people inside the home that are willing to help them navigate this re-entering into society, help them be accepted inside the community of a church, help them feel like they are coming to a place where they belong…because really, criminal record or not, everyone has a desire to belong. And when you’re met at a home and welcomed into a community where you feel like you can belong, then it allows you this freedom to seek Jesus even more.’

For someone watching who may feel stuck or paralyzed by their past or present right now, what hope or encouragement would you share with them?

‘The first thing I would recommend is sharing when you feel stuck...I make a joke all the time that there are times when you can sit in a chair and pray, and there are times that you need to be on your knees praying, or even lying on your face praying. And when you’re stuck, that is a time for knee prayer. First, seek the Lord for an opportunity to get unstuck. Be prepared for the answer – because sometimes it comes in prison, jail, rehab…or maybe there’s an intervention through a group of people in the church that can come and offer an opportunity to get unstuck. But as we shared a while ago about the people wanting to belong…there’s a power in belonging and being a part of a community, that when you are stuck, it can get you unstuck. It might mean inviting that person to church who doesn't look like you, who doesn’t dress like you, who doesn’t smell like you. Be a friend, make a friend, lead that person to Christ. And that person who is looking for hope…your hope is going to be found in Jesus Christ. That is probably going to start on your knees and in a local community church.'

No matter how heavy your burden or how stuck you feel, God’s grace and community can carry you to new life. Keep believing in restoration and hope.