What can I learn from
someone who is incarcerated?
00:00:19.27\00:00:24.70
What can a prisoner say to me?
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What can someone
who has spend time
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in a place like this,
what can they tell me,
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what lesson can
I learn from them,
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can they say anything to me?
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Can a person who has failed
in life have a message for me?
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Well, I think you'll be surprise
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because the question is,
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can we learn more from
success or from failure?
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Do we learn more
on the mountain top
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or down in the valley?
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Do we learn more
when we are being praised
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or when we're being cursed?
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Can a person who
has failed at life
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tell me something about my life?
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I think the Bible tells us
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that if we keep our hearts open
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and our minds alert and
that we always posture ourselves
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in the position of a learner
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that life has much to teach us,
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even someone who
has failed at life
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has something to say to
you, something to say to me.
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On today's program we are again
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at the women's
prison in Indiana.
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We're gonna meet some people
who have much to teach us,
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if we will but hear.
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Shirwanda
interview by Lemuel Vega
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has a message for you and for me
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and we're gonna meet
Laura, also a strong testimony
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and we get to hear her
sing the song "grateful."
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We get to hear a
little bit from Christy,
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who is a volunteer worker
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and then there's a strong
message on a merited favor,
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"grace" by our
own, Shelley Quinn.
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So does life have
something to tell us?
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Yes, it does.
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Does this program
have something to tell us?
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Surely, it does.
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Can we learn something from
those who have failed in life?
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Oh, yes, we can.
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There is always
something to learn
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if we keep our
hearts and our minds open.
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Stay with us on this
edition of Free Indeed.
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Today we're at the
Indiana women's prison
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and we have a special
guest speaking with us,
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her name is,
Shirwanda Boone. Yes.
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How long you've been
in prison, Shirwanda?
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I've been across
already for 13 years.
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Is this your first
time in prison? Yes, sir.
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So something must have went
tragically wrong and--and now,
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now you're in prison.
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How long do you
have yet remaining?
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I have nine years remaining.
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Could you share with
me some hope and strength,
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actually you'll be
sharing with the world
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some hope and
strength that even though
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you're in prison you--you
seem to be pretty well, happy.
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Yes, I am.
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Most people have been
addicted to drugs, alcohol,
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but my addiction was love.
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I was looking for love
in all the wrong places.
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I was reaching for
love, but I didn't love myself
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and I didn't dig within myself
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to find what I really needed
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and that was God as it states
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in the Bible in Ephesians 3:18,
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"That everyone should
have the power of understanding
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and God's people
should no matter how wide,
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how long, how deep, how high,
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God loves you and that's
the only love that you need."
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Now before you got
incarcerated or before,
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you had two jobs. Yes, sir.
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So you were working hard by
society standards. Yes, sir.
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You had how many
children? I have three boys.
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Three boys? Yes, sir.
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And from a mother's
heart that just--you just long
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that your boys will not
make the wrong mistakes,
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Amen. Amen.
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And are you able to
share the hope and strength
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that you have in
prison with your boys?
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Yes, I do.
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My youngest son writes me
now and give me scriptures.
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He gave me Revelation 2:10
and he gave me Isaiah 54:17.
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Wow, what a blessing.
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Do have a favorite
Bible scripture in closing?
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Yes, I do, Isaiah 54:17.
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"No weapon formed
against you shall prosper."
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Before we close and you leave...
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would you just look out
there because you're no longer
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talking to your
co-partners in prison,
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would you look out there
and share with those people
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that are
suffering today in society.
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Yes, I will like
for everyone to seek
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the kingdom of God first
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because no matter
what high adversities,
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trials, tribulations,
there's--there's no love,
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but God's loves and seek him
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and get as far as
you can into the word
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and if you have to
stretch out wide on the floor,
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stretch out your arms
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and surrender all
unto the Lord, Thank you.
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If we surrender all,
then He can help us. Yes, sir.
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Thank you very,
very much, God bless you.
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God is in my life everyday
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and I'm just so filled with joy
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when I talk about God,
'cause he's so amazing.
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God is so amazing
because I didn't love myself.
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I thought I was ugly because
of all the detrimental abuse
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that I went through,
but He is just so amazing
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and he's always
been there for me
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and if it wasn't for God
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I wouldn't be able to
stay for 14 years in prison.
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Lord, I'm grateful for
the things that you have done
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Yes, I'm grateful
for the victories we won
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I could go on and on
and on about your works
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Because I'm
grateful grateful so grateful
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just to praise You
Lord Flowing from my heart
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Are the issues of my
heart, is gratefulness
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Lord, I'm
grateful, I am grateful
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So grateful,
Lord I'm so grateful
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Yes, I am grateful, so grateful
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Lord, I'm
grateful for the things
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that You have done
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Yes, I'm grateful
for the victories we won
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I could go on and on
and on about your works
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Because I'm
grateful, grateful so grateful
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just to praise You Lord
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Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart,
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He is
gratefulness God I'm grateful
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I know somebody out there
got to be grateful tonight,
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right, come on, come on now.
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Grateful,
Grateful Grateful, Grateful
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Grateful,
Grateful Grateful, Grateful
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Grateful, Grateful,
Grateful, gratefulness
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He is flowing from my heart
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Grateful,
Grateful, Grateful, Grateful,
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Grateful,
Grateful Grateful, Grateful
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Grateful, Grateful, Grateful
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gratefulness is
flowing from my heart
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Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart
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Flowing from my heart
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Are the issues of my
heart, He is gratefulness.
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Some times I get angry at
God, but that's the human side,
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you know what I mean,
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but I just know
that He's the only one
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that I can depend
on and I know that
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He's the only way that
I've got to this time, you know.
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And He's blessed me so much,
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I mean, most
people wouldn't say that
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about being in
prison, but it could have been
00:09:42.12\00:09:44.86
so much worse 'cause I was
in a domestic violent situation
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and I got with a
man who I thought was
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just the best thing ever like
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most females get involved with.
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And he was
gorgeous and he made me feel
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like I was beautiful.
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This was the first year or
so and then everything changed
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and with the
first hit and I feel
00:10:03.75\00:10:08.24
like anything that
was beautiful of me,
00:10:08.25\00:10:13.75
I'm sorry, that
he just stole from me
00:10:13.76\00:10:18.72
and I had to
hide from my parents
00:10:18.73\00:10:21.60
and I couldn't be around them.
00:10:21.61\00:10:24.91
My niece was just 11
months old and that's--
00:10:24.92\00:10:28.30
those are the times
that I should have been
00:10:28.31\00:10:29.76
there for her, but I
would either have a black eye
00:10:29.77\00:10:32.46
or my ribs were
bruised and my hand was broke
00:10:32.47\00:10:36.28
and I would never
take that around her.
00:10:36.29\00:10:39.42
So I tried to get
away several times,
00:10:39.43\00:10:42.80
but when I would press charges,
00:10:42.81\00:10:45.24
they would say,
they can't do anything
00:10:45.25\00:10:46.62
because we were married
00:10:46.63\00:10:50.06
and that's what
happens with a lot of people.
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Lot of people feel like
they don't have anywhere to go.
00:10:52.44\00:10:54.97
I went through a lot
of anger for a long time
00:10:54.98\00:10:57.93
saying, you know,
why me but like I said
00:10:57.94\00:11:02.78
if I didn't have God,
00:11:02.79\00:11:05.17
I couldn't have
made it through this.
00:11:05.18\00:11:07.11
and my parents
have been so supportive.
00:11:07.12\00:11:10.68
I'm sorry.
00:11:10.69\00:11:13.61
Because I hurt
them more than anything
00:11:13.62\00:11:16.49
and I know I
disappointed them a lot,
00:11:16.50\00:11:20.27
but I thought that I
was doing the right thing
00:11:20.28\00:11:22.52
by not going back to them.
00:11:22.53\00:11:24.91
And you know, trying to
hide everything from them
00:11:24.92\00:11:27.59
because I knew they
have a lot to deal with so.
00:11:27.60\00:11:30.76
If I have to go through this
00:11:30.77\00:11:32.15
in order for
these changes to happen,
00:11:32.16\00:11:34.41
then I'm glad to do it.
00:11:34.42\00:11:36.30
But it's, you know, it hurtful,
00:11:36.31\00:11:38.60
but I've had to
take my life back.
00:11:38.61\00:11:42.96
You know, one day at a time
00:11:42.97\00:11:44.37
and one piece at a
time and it was never love
00:11:44.38\00:11:49.45
and it doesn't matter
how hard you search for it,
00:11:49.46\00:11:52.41
there'll never
be a love like God
00:11:52.42\00:11:54.91
and that's what I'm really
trying to learn about myself
00:11:54.92\00:11:58.29
is I don't need a man to
love me or somebody else,
00:11:58.30\00:12:01.70
you know, in
prison a lot of times
00:12:01.71\00:12:03.44
women try to find love anywhere
00:12:03.45\00:12:05.86
and it's not their fault,
they just, they don't get it.
00:12:05.87\00:12:09.03
And every single woman in
this prison has been abused
00:12:09.04\00:12:12.90
in some way, shape, or form
00:12:12.91\00:12:15.34
and they just want to be loved
00:12:15.35\00:12:17.38
and I just think
that if they would stop
00:12:17.39\00:12:19.92
and try to think
about God's the only way,
00:12:19.93\00:12:23.25
He's the only way
00:12:23.26\00:12:24.27
and He'll put the
right people in your life
00:12:24.28\00:12:26.51
when you're ready.
00:12:26.52\00:12:28.00
So I was very
codependent, very codependent
00:12:28.01\00:12:31.26
and my self esteem was horrible,
00:12:31.27\00:12:33.64
but now it's, you know,
00:12:33.65\00:12:35.51
one day at a time
I'm trying to change.
00:12:35.52\00:12:38.73
Today we are at the
Indiana Women's Prison
00:12:38.74\00:12:41.15
and we have a lovely lady here,
00:12:41.16\00:12:43.33
Christy Mann and
she's involved in
00:12:43.34\00:12:46.10
the--in the community
outreach in the jail ministry
00:12:46.11\00:12:48.61
in her area.
00:12:48.62\00:12:49.91
Christy, what would
inspire you to want to go back
00:12:49.92\00:12:53.06
in to the county jail or to--
00:12:53.07\00:12:55.29
To love these
women that are in prison?
00:12:55.30\00:12:57.11
Okay, what I would
say is that initially
00:12:57.12\00:13:02.19
I became involved
in prison ministry
00:13:02.20\00:13:04.26
from working as a nurse
00:13:04.27\00:13:06.27
and in the jail in our community
00:13:06.28\00:13:08.77
and so many times I
would just see the women--
00:13:08.78\00:13:13.27
And in some ways I saw myself.
00:13:13.28\00:13:15.86
I've heard at time and
time again looking for love,
00:13:15.87\00:13:20.21
looking for someone who cares.
00:13:20.22\00:13:22.63
And it's just my
heart's desire that,
00:13:22.64\00:13:25.21
that they would know,
that they would know that
00:13:25.22\00:13:27.64
our Father in
heaven just adores you,
00:13:27.65\00:13:31.57
adores everyone of you
and--and I've been looking
00:13:31.58\00:13:34.82
at your backs this whole time
00:13:34.83\00:13:37.00
and every speaker
that came up and said oh,
00:13:37.01\00:13:39.80
how beautiful you all
are and I am just convinced
00:13:39.81\00:13:44.35
beyond a shadow of a
doubt that our Father in heaven
00:13:44.36\00:13:47.09
up there looks down,
looks at you beautiful women,
00:13:47.10\00:13:51.51
you do not have to
be looking for love
00:13:51.52\00:13:54.17
in any of the wrong places
because He is pouring it down
00:13:54.18\00:13:58.40
over your hearts
as I speak right now,
00:13:58.41\00:14:01.50
I know He is.
00:14:01.51\00:14:03.00
And so I loved being a
part of loving each one of you.
00:14:03.01\00:14:07.26
You know, you came here today
00:14:07.27\00:14:09.25
with a message of
hope on your heart
00:14:09.26\00:14:11.54
and you would like to share
00:14:11.55\00:14:13.54
some hope with
these ladies personally
00:14:13.55\00:14:16.67
and that the viewers
that are incarcerated
00:14:16.68\00:14:19.09
by man standards
around the world,
00:14:19.10\00:14:21.13
what is that message of hope?
00:14:21.14\00:14:23.02
What I would say, it
relates to the scripture
00:14:23.03\00:14:25.73
that I brought out I don't think
00:14:25.74\00:14:27.71
anyone's mentioned it
again, is keep on asking
00:14:27.72\00:14:32.33
and you'll receive as you ask.
00:14:32.34\00:14:34.73
Keep on seeking
and you'll find. Amen.
00:14:34.74\00:14:37.29
Keep on knocking and
that door will be open to you
00:14:37.30\00:14:40.80
for everyone who ask receives,
everyone who seeks finds,
00:14:40.81\00:14:44.36
and to everyone who
knocks that door will be opened
00:14:44.37\00:14:48.58
and I just want to
encourage you to persevere.
00:14:48.59\00:14:52.59
It's been said
verse after verse,
00:14:52.60\00:14:55.88
the scripture of hope,
00:14:55.89\00:14:58.54
you know, our God's
plan for you is of hoping
00:14:58.55\00:15:02.35
and not of calamity
and I just persevere
00:15:02.36\00:15:05.73
and ask, knock,
seek because it is yours,
00:15:05.74\00:15:11.54
it is yours. We
can do all things.
00:15:11.55\00:15:15.71
Through God. Through Christ.
00:15:15.72\00:15:18.09
Yes. Which
strengtheneth us. Yes.
00:15:18.10\00:15:21.10
Sisters, that is
the key to Free Indeed,
00:15:21.11\00:15:25.35
is to surrender our will
and our life to our Creator,
00:15:25.36\00:15:28.55
because He know
it what is needful,
00:15:28.56\00:15:30.09
necessary in our lives.
00:15:30.10\00:15:31.65
He will transform our
lives, He will renew our minds,
00:15:31.66\00:15:34.42
He will give us new desires,
00:15:34.43\00:15:36.57
God bless you and we love you,
00:15:36.58\00:15:37.83
thank you, Christy. Amen, Amen.
00:15:37.84\00:15:40.14
As you walked in I looked
at all these angelic faces
00:15:42.98\00:15:45.89
and I thought, what on
Earth are they doing here.
00:15:45.90\00:15:49.16
And you know I
just want to tell you,
00:15:49.17\00:15:51.83
I'm old enough to
be most of your mother,
00:15:51.84\00:15:54.16
most of yours mother.
00:15:54.17\00:15:56.10
How ever you say that.
00:15:56.11\00:15:58.10
And my mother's
heart aches for you
00:15:58.11\00:16:01.36
and I want you to know
how much God loves you.
00:16:01.37\00:16:06.22
I'm gonna share a
quick story with you
00:16:06.23\00:16:09.31
and like Lara's story, I
know that many of you in here
00:16:09.32\00:16:15.67
have been disappointed
or very hurt by a man,
00:16:15.68\00:16:21.25
it may have been a stranger,
00:16:21.26\00:16:23.33
it could have been a boyfriend,
00:16:23.34\00:16:25.62
it could have been
your father or your husband,
00:16:25.63\00:16:30.15
but I know that a lot of
problem start from abuse.
00:16:30.16\00:16:35.40
And I want to
tell you in the Bible,
00:16:35.41\00:16:37.85
the number seven is
the number of perfection.
00:16:37.86\00:16:42.32
Did you know
that's the only reason
00:16:42.33\00:16:43.51
that we have a weekly cycle,
00:16:43.52\00:16:46.94
I mean, there's--there's a
reason for the yearly cycle
00:16:46.95\00:16:50.80
because that's how the
Earth is going around the moon.
00:16:50.81\00:16:53.67
There's a reason
for the monthly cycle
00:16:53.68\00:16:55.99
that's how the moon is
going around the Earth.
00:16:56.00\00:16:58.10
And the only reason
we have a weekly cycle is
00:16:58.11\00:17:01.46
because God established
it on the seventh day
00:17:01.47\00:17:05.57
when everything was done,
00:17:05.58\00:17:07.47
He said, this is my day of rest,
00:17:07.48\00:17:09.87
everything is
good and very good.
00:17:09.88\00:17:11.64
And that number seven
was the day of completion,
00:17:11.65\00:17:14.70
the day of perfection.
00:17:14.71\00:17:16.36
All I want to
tell you about a lady
00:17:16.37\00:17:19.04
who had an encounter
with the master of grace.
00:17:19.05\00:17:22.26
When Jesus had left Judea
and He was going to Galilee,
00:17:22.27\00:17:26.69
He took the short route one time
00:17:26.70\00:17:28.64
and He went though Samaria.
00:17:28.65\00:17:30.29
I don't know if you
know much about the Jews
00:17:30.30\00:17:32.19
and the Samaritans,
00:17:32.20\00:17:33.50
but the Samaritans were
kind of--in the Jews eyes,
00:17:33.51\00:17:39.38
the Samaritans were
half breed mongrels.
00:17:39.39\00:17:42.38
They practice
heathenism and they practice
00:17:42.39\00:17:45.00
kind of an
apostate Jewish religion,
00:17:45.01\00:17:48.23
and the
Samaritans hated the Jews,
00:17:48.24\00:17:51.08
the Jews hated the Samaritans.
00:17:51.09\00:17:53.33
But Jesus took the short route
00:17:53.34\00:17:55.56
and He was going through Samaria
00:17:55.57\00:17:57.55
and He was weary and
He send His disciples
00:17:57.56\00:18:00.12
on ahead to get
some food and water
00:18:00.13\00:18:02.49
and He stopped at
the well of Abraham.
00:18:02.50\00:18:05.25
But He didn't
have a pot and a rope
00:18:05.26\00:18:07.76
to get water from the deep well.
00:18:07.77\00:18:10.17
So He was sitting there resting
00:18:10.18\00:18:12.11
and here comes a
woman at high noon.
00:18:12.12\00:18:14.61
She was a Samaritan woman
00:18:14.62\00:18:16.58
and when she came to the well,
00:18:16.59\00:18:19.01
it was an unusual
hour to come to the well
00:18:19.02\00:18:22.14
because most people,
because of the heat of the day,
00:18:22.15\00:18:24.99
most people would come
in the morning to get water
00:18:25.00\00:18:27.94
or they'd come in
the evening to get water,
00:18:27.95\00:18:31.19
but this woman
had five husbands,
00:18:31.20\00:18:35.16
she was living
with man number six,
00:18:35.17\00:18:37.93
she wasn't married to him.
00:18:37.94\00:18:39.80
But she was living
with man number six.
00:18:39.81\00:18:43.31
And she came at midday to avoid
00:18:43.32\00:18:46.29
the wagging
tongues of the villagers.
00:18:46.30\00:18:49.69
The ones who pointed and said,
00:18:49.70\00:18:52.22
ah, she's living in sin.
00:18:52.23\00:18:54.90
So here she comes not
expecting to see anybody
00:18:54.91\00:18:58.23
and she runs into Jesus.
00:18:58.24\00:19:01.42
Now, you know, Jews do not talk,
00:19:01.43\00:19:04.12
Jewish men do not
talk to women in public.
00:19:04.13\00:19:07.52
And so she sees this man
00:19:07.53\00:19:08.77
and she recognizes his features
00:19:08.78\00:19:10.47
and she knows he is a Jew
00:19:10.48\00:19:12.47
and so she goes on about
her business to get some water
00:19:12.48\00:19:15.55
and Jesus
startles her with a request
00:19:15.56\00:19:18.81
for a drink of water.
00:19:18.82\00:19:20.35
And she says to
him, in John 4:9,
00:19:20.36\00:19:24.14
"How is it that You,
00:19:24.15\00:19:26.00
a Jew, can ask a
drink of water from me,
00:19:26.01\00:19:30.41
a Samaritan woman."
00:19:30.42\00:19:32.23
I am very moved by
what Jesus did next.
00:19:32.24\00:19:36.19
He didn't go into a sermon
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.29
to explain their
doctrinal differences,
00:19:38.30\00:19:40.68
the way they believe.
00:19:40.69\00:19:42.27
He didn't start
telling her about her sins.
00:19:42.28\00:19:45.67
You know what He said to her?
00:19:45.68\00:19:48.03
He said to her,
00:19:48.04\00:19:50.03
if only you knew the gift of God
00:19:50.04\00:19:55.50
and who it is that
is speaking to you,
00:19:55.51\00:19:58.35
you would ask Him
and He would give you
00:19:58.36\00:20:01.98
a drink of living water.
00:20:01.99\00:20:05.11
And you know what?
00:20:05.12\00:20:06.29
In my active imagination,
00:20:08.44\00:20:11.78
I see Jesus standing like this,
00:20:11.79\00:20:16.36
if only you knew
that this is God.
00:20:16.37\00:20:20.18
He spread his arms
in a welcoming embrace
00:20:22.17\00:20:26.40
and He spread his arms
like He would on the cross.
00:20:26.41\00:20:29.83
He was telling her,
I am the gift of God,
00:20:29.84\00:20:35.17
if only you knew who it
is that stands before you.
00:20:35.18\00:20:40.72
Ladies, we are all
sinners saved by grace
00:20:40.73\00:20:44.49
and you know what, God
doesn't look at your sin
00:20:44.50\00:20:47.23
any worse than
He looks at my sin.
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.66
He knows that we need grace
00:20:49.67\00:20:54.25
and Jesus Christ is the
number one gift of grace.
00:20:54.26\00:20:59.60
You know, this woman,
00:20:59.61\00:21:01.56
her heart was
parched and thirsty.
00:21:01.57\00:21:05.21
She'd been looking for
love in all the wrong places
00:21:05.22\00:21:08.84
and when she came to meet Jesus,
00:21:08.85\00:21:12.27
you know, the
Samaritans believed in Messiah,
00:21:12.28\00:21:15.24
they knew that they was
gonna be a coming Messiah,
00:21:15.25\00:21:18.04
but she wasn't looking
for the Messiah that day.
00:21:18.05\00:21:21.07
You may have come today
00:21:21.08\00:21:23.04
and you weren't
looking for the Messiah,
00:21:23.05\00:21:25.60
but you know what,
00:21:25.61\00:21:26.60
the love of God
will chase you down.
00:21:26.61\00:21:29.62
He will you chase you down
00:21:29.63\00:21:31.49
because that's
how much He loves you
00:21:31.50\00:21:33.53
and she came face to
face with the master of Grace.
00:21:33.54\00:21:37.64
He told her all about her life
00:21:37.65\00:21:40.00
and she knew He was a prophet
00:21:40.01\00:21:41.77
because He knew all
the details of her life
00:21:41.78\00:21:44.66
and, you know what she
did, she dropped her water pot
00:21:44.67\00:21:46.67
and she ran off to the village
00:21:46.68\00:21:48.41
and she told
everyone I've met the Messiah.
00:21:48.42\00:21:51.88
And she's telling everything
00:21:51.89\00:21:53.66
and they come
running out with her,
00:21:53.67\00:21:55.94
all of these villagers
and this woman's parched
00:21:55.95\00:22:00.64
and thirsty soul
was stimulated by Jesus.
00:22:00.65\00:22:05.21
He aroused within her a
desire that was there all along,
00:22:05.22\00:22:11.14
because the Bible says,
00:22:11.15\00:22:12.79
that God puts eternity
in everyone of our hearts.
00:22:12.80\00:22:17.96
And did you know something
00:22:17.97\00:22:19.54
that hole that you've
been trying to fill up,
00:22:19.55\00:22:22.25
that emptiness,
only Jesus can fill it
00:22:22.26\00:22:26.57
and when God gives us grace.
00:22:26.58\00:22:30.26
You know, what is
the definition of grace?
00:22:30.27\00:22:33.64
Unmerited favor,
what does it mean?
00:22:33.65\00:22:35.59
All right, let's
think about this.
00:22:38.66\00:22:40.68
Unmerited, it
means you can't earn it,
00:22:40.69\00:22:44.33
you cannot-- You
don't deserve it,
00:22:44.34\00:22:47.00
favor is gifts of God but
we've got to look at grace
00:22:47.01\00:22:52.07
more than just
the gift of salvation.
00:22:52.08\00:22:54.89
Jesus Christ is the
number one gift of grace
00:22:54.90\00:22:58.41
and you know what he said,
00:22:58.42\00:22:59.90
He said when He was
talking about that living water
00:22:59.91\00:23:02.52
later on in John
Chapter 7, he was talking about
00:23:02.53\00:23:05.17
the Holy Spirit
is the living water.
00:23:05.18\00:23:08.58
And the Holy Spirit is
the second gift of grace,
00:23:08.59\00:23:12.10
greatest gift of grace,
00:23:12.11\00:23:13.82
and this word is
a gift of his grace.
00:23:13.83\00:23:16.37
And when these are
operating in your soul,
00:23:16.38\00:23:18.73
Ephesians 3:16
I'm gonna read to you
00:23:18.74\00:23:21.57
from the New Living Testament.
00:23:21.58\00:23:23.74
Paul writes to the
Ephesians, he says,
00:23:23.75\00:23:25.37
"I pray that from His glorious,
00:23:25.38\00:23:27.95
unlimited
resources He will empower you
00:23:27.96\00:23:31.54
with inner
strength through His Spirit.
00:23:31.55\00:23:34.45
Then Christ will make His home
00:23:34.46\00:23:36.59
in your hearts
as you trust in Him.
00:23:36.60\00:23:38.07
Your roots will go
down into God's love
00:23:38.08\00:23:40.49
and keep you strong.
00:23:40.50\00:23:41.97
And may you have
the power to understand,
00:23:41.98\00:23:44.49
as all God's people should,
00:23:44.50\00:23:46.48
how wide, how long, how deep,
00:23:46.49\00:23:49.90
how high is the love of God.
00:23:49.91\00:23:53.12
May you experience
this love of Christ,
00:23:53.13\00:23:55.87
though it is too
great to fully understand.
00:23:55.88\00:23:58.63
Then you will be made complete
with all the fullness of life
00:23:58.64\00:24:02.58
that comes from God.
00:24:02.59\00:24:04.29
And he says,
now all glory to God
00:24:04.30\00:24:07.86
who is able to do exceedingly
00:24:07.87\00:24:12.23
more than you will ever imagine
00:24:12.24\00:24:15.68
because of the power,
00:24:15.69\00:24:17.78
the Holy Spirit
that's living in you.
00:24:17.79\00:24:21.89
I know that the Bible
says in Isaiah, Chapter 54,
00:24:21.90\00:24:26.40
"your maker is your husband."
00:24:26.41\00:24:29.16
I want to encourage you
everybody longs to be loved,
00:24:29.17\00:24:34.56
let God be your
husband and when you--
00:24:34.57\00:24:37.83
If you're getting out of here
00:24:37.84\00:24:39.23
start praying
for a godly husband,
00:24:39.24\00:24:42.65
but start praying
that God would make you
00:24:42.66\00:24:45.94
a scriptural wife,
a scriptural mother,
00:24:45.95\00:24:49.93
that he will prepare your heart.
00:24:49.94\00:24:52.75
Thank you.
00:24:52.76\00:24:53.75
The importance of
programs coming in like
00:25:00.49\00:25:03.08
Free Indeed is
huge for the women here
00:25:03.09\00:25:05.73
and for myself personally.
00:25:05.74\00:25:08.06
We had this wonderful day
00:25:08.07\00:25:11.42
and all these people
came in from Free Indeed
00:25:11.43\00:25:14.75
and we were able to
pray and worship with them
00:25:14.76\00:25:17.96
and some of us able to sing and,
00:25:17.97\00:25:23.83
Pastor Vega was able to preach
00:25:23.84\00:25:25.53
and it was a wonderful
coming together of people.
00:25:25.54\00:25:29.76
And I love when
volunteers come in personally
00:25:29.77\00:25:33.51
because of their
openness and willingness
00:25:33.52\00:25:36.24
to share their lives with us.
00:25:36.25\00:25:37.82
They don't treat
us as if we are junk
00:25:37.83\00:25:40.70
or garbage or throw away
00:25:40.71\00:25:42.12
or castaways or outcasts people
00:25:42.13\00:25:47.63
and we are people.
00:25:47.64\00:25:49.17
We're people who need
to hear the word of Lord,
00:25:49.18\00:25:51.16
we're people who
need to find our way
00:25:51.17\00:25:55.31
back to God, so I don't think--
00:25:55.32\00:25:57.23
'cause I don't believe
there's any real separation
00:25:57.24\00:25:59.49
between ourselves and God.
00:25:59.50\00:26:00.49
He is always
present, always in our lives,
00:26:00.50\00:26:02.55
ever present in everything.
00:26:02.56\00:26:04.32
And sometimes we need
to have people come in
00:26:04.33\00:26:09.22
who can help us remember that
00:26:09.23\00:26:11.45
and have opportunities to
express that in a open way.
00:26:11.46\00:26:15.59
To pray and worship
00:26:15.60\00:26:17.07
and shout and say
thank you in an open way.
00:26:17.08\00:26:20.14
And when Free Indeed came in,
00:26:20.15\00:26:22.31
there was such as spirit revival
00:26:22.32\00:26:24.13
and women were
raising their hands
00:26:24.14\00:26:28.01
and clapping and standing up
00:26:28.02\00:26:29.93
and testifying
and crying out to God.
00:26:29.94\00:26:32.63
And so whenever
volunteers come in
00:26:32.64\00:26:35.56
like that with
their hearts open,
00:26:35.57\00:26:37.64
ready to share,
ready to worship,
00:26:37.65\00:26:39.12
it's transformational,
it's transformational.
00:26:39.13\00:26:42.94
Some of you may know
my name is Lemuel Vega.
00:26:42.95\00:26:45.36
And I work with Christmas
Behind Bars Outreach Ministry,
00:26:45.37\00:26:48.21
which carries the gospel message
00:26:48.22\00:26:50.03
literally around the
world, 365 days a year.
00:26:50.04\00:26:53.56
We've come to a
really critical point,
00:26:53.57\00:26:56.22
we need Bibles at this point,
00:26:56.23\00:26:57.97
and we are asking for your help.
00:26:57.98\00:27:00.35
Do you have any ideas
00:27:00.36\00:27:01.43
how we can get
700 Bibles every month
00:27:01.44\00:27:04.38
to put in these people's hands.
00:27:04.39\00:27:06.65
We have a
warehouse, it's been donated
00:27:06.66\00:27:08.86
and we have skids of
material in that warehouse,
00:27:08.87\00:27:12.55
for Bible the skid is empty,
00:27:12.56\00:27:14.63
700 every month
and we need your help.
00:27:14.64\00:27:16.65
A new Bible costs $3,
00:27:16.66\00:27:18.45
three simple dollars
to put a brand new Bible
00:27:18.46\00:27:21.24
into these people's hands.
00:27:21.25\00:27:23.23
Is there anybody here
that would like a Bible,
00:27:23.24\00:27:27.47
but don't have one?
00:27:27.48\00:27:29.01
We're trying to get
more Bibles, brothers.
00:27:34.91\00:27:37.49
So we say thank
you, we need new Bibles,
00:27:37.50\00:27:40.37
used Bibles, we
just say thank you
00:27:40.38\00:27:42.49
for seeking the word of
God in your own community
00:27:42.50\00:27:45.43
in your Bible study group,
00:27:45.44\00:27:46.84
and for sharing it
with brothers like Sydney
00:27:46.85\00:27:49.39
who are in prison and who
don't have the opportunity
00:27:49.40\00:27:52.15
to receive a Bible other
than through your sponsorship.
00:27:52.16\00:27:55.60
God Bless you and
I'm sure you'll see
00:27:55.61\00:27:57.03
many people in
the kingdom of heaven
00:27:57.04\00:27:58.91
because you
were willing to give,
00:27:58.92\00:28:00.58
you were willing to serve.
00:28:00.59\00:28:02.21
God's blessings to
you and your families.
00:28:02.22\00:28:05.44
I would like
thank the administration
00:28:05.45\00:28:06.73
for bringing the program to us,
00:28:06.74\00:28:08.14
because it brought
quite a highlight to my life
00:28:08.15\00:28:10.01
and I will always remember it
00:28:10.02\00:28:11.74
over everything that
I've experienced and--
00:28:11.75\00:28:13.90
that they need to
keep bringing it back
00:28:13.91\00:28:16.06
for the other people.
00:28:16.07\00:28:17.55
When there was no hope
they brought hope to us.
00:28:17.56\00:28:19.91