That is a sound
that you just never
00:00:06.33\00:00:09.04
really get accustomed
to and yet if you've got
00:00:09.05\00:00:13.26
to spend months or
years here, it's a sound
00:00:13.27\00:00:17.58
that you've to get accustomed
00:00:17.59\00:00:18.75
to because it
becomes the background noise,
00:00:18.76\00:00:20.69
the rhythm of your
life. That sound wakes you up.
00:00:20.70\00:00:23.27
That sound puts you to bed.
00:00:23.28\00:00:25.07
That sound
announces when you can go out
00:00:25.08\00:00:27.16
to meals or to the
yard or when you have
00:00:27.17\00:00:29.45
to come back in and
shut it down for the night.
00:00:29.46\00:00:32.65
That sound becomes the
rhythm of your existence
00:00:32.66\00:00:36.99
for however long you're here.
00:00:37.00\00:00:40.32
On today's program, we are back
00:00:40.33\00:00:42.83
at the women's
prison in Indiana.
00:00:42.84\00:00:45.92
Today, you're gonna meet
Courtney, and Carol, and Kim
00:00:45.93\00:00:50.30
and you're gonna meet Tammy
00:00:50.31\00:00:52.46
and there's gonna be
a very special message
00:00:52.47\00:00:54.64
from our own Shelley Quinn.
00:00:54.65\00:00:56.86
Courtney is one who's
gonna talk about depression,
00:00:56.87\00:01:00.10
battling depression,
battling circumstances
00:01:00.11\00:01:02.67
that she had no control over.
00:01:02.68\00:01:04.96
That's a message for you.
00:01:04.97\00:01:06.43
Carol has made good
of her time in here.
00:01:06.44\00:01:10.32
She has worked. She
is now a master chef.
00:01:10.33\00:01:12.77
In fact, she cooked for the crew
00:01:12.78\00:01:14.41
and I have it on good authority
00:01:14.42\00:01:15.49
that she applies her trade well.
00:01:15.50\00:01:17.06
She is a very, very
good cook, there I say chef.
00:01:17.07\00:01:20.53
Tammy, the community worker
00:01:20.54\00:01:22.40
who got us in has a little
something to say to you also.
00:01:22.41\00:01:25.97
And then Kim also has
a strong message for us.
00:01:25.98\00:01:30.99
Lemuel Vega has
a short interview.
00:01:31.00\00:01:32.51
So it's a very
full program, a program
00:01:32.52\00:01:34.31
that has a lot to
say to you, a program
00:01:34.32\00:01:36.43
that will
encourage you as you stay
00:01:36.44\00:01:38.48
by for this
edition of "Free Indeed."
00:01:38.49\00:01:41.36
Today we have
Courtney Simpson with us.
00:01:57.03\00:01:59.21
Courtney, is this
your first time in prison?
00:01:59.22\00:02:01.25
Yes, it is.
00:02:01.26\00:02:02.25
How long have
you been in prison?
00:02:02.26\00:02:03.55
Three years. Three years.
00:02:03.56\00:02:04.78
How many years do you
have remaining in prison?
00:02:04.79\00:02:07.04
I have 10 years left.
00:02:07.05\00:02:08.35
Okay, you are in prison
00:02:08.36\00:02:09.95
but something went wrong
in this prison time of yours
00:02:09.96\00:02:12.93
and you are in maximum
security, in a lockup facility?
00:02:12.94\00:02:16.19
Yes, what would you
share a message of hope
00:02:16.20\00:02:18.63
with the world for those people
00:02:18.64\00:02:19.63
that are free by
society standards
00:02:19.64\00:02:21.28
but yet they're
locked up in that bondage?
00:02:21.29\00:02:24.01
Just step out--
outside of yourself
00:02:24.02\00:02:26.14
and let God step in.
00:02:26.15\00:02:27.34
Let Him--allow Him to take
over whatever the situation is.
00:02:27.35\00:02:31.58
So He can carry you out
with His hands and His ways.
00:02:31.59\00:02:35.38
He just--don't
look for it in yourself
00:02:35.39\00:02:38.96
or no one else
'cause can nobody help you,
00:02:38.97\00:02:41.45
no one, just look to God,
00:02:41.46\00:02:43.05
He will be the
one to care you, amen.
00:02:43.06\00:02:45.50
During that time in that
little tiny segregation cell
00:02:49.42\00:02:54.21
somehow that hope begin
to regenerate in your life.
00:02:54.22\00:02:57.90
Yes, would you share with me
a moment about that in closing?
00:02:57.91\00:03:00.91
Well, the situation I
was in lasted for about
00:03:00.92\00:03:03.89
seven or eight months
and um, it went exactly
00:03:03.90\00:03:07.37
all the way locked
but it was a situation
00:03:07.38\00:03:09.23
where you can--
you have no choice
00:03:09.24\00:03:11.07
but to remain calm and
let God just guide you out.
00:03:11.08\00:03:15.63
Because without Him,
I know I wouldn't have
00:03:15.64\00:03:17.96
been able to just come out here
00:03:17.97\00:03:19.41
and come and be
able to find out about
00:03:19.42\00:03:22.13
more things like
I still am today,
00:03:22.14\00:03:24.07
find out things about myself
that I never knew possible.
00:03:24.08\00:03:29.05
I was very angry, very hard,
00:03:29.06\00:03:32.71
discouraged but through all
that I let God just hold me.
00:03:32.72\00:03:37.43
God will hold you
until He comes again.
00:03:37.44\00:03:40.07
Thank you, Courtney.
00:03:40.08\00:03:41.07
God has always been in my life.
00:03:41.08\00:03:46.67
I grew up in
church but as a teenager
00:03:46.68\00:03:49.75
you still wanna go your own away
00:03:49.76\00:03:51.31
and find what's
out there and be nosy.
00:03:51.32\00:03:54.87
And I was the one
trying to find my own way
00:03:54.88\00:03:59.60
so-- I wasn't
raised in a abusive home
00:03:59.61\00:04:05.40
so when I ended up in
a abusive relationship,
00:04:05.41\00:04:09.32
it all came as a shock.
00:04:09.33\00:04:11.30
It came as a shock to my family.
00:04:11.31\00:04:13.08
The guy that I
was so madly in love
00:04:16.63\00:04:18.96
with and held on to him,
00:04:18.97\00:04:23.24
he became abusive not only to me
00:04:23.25\00:04:26.43
but to my children. So
one particular morning,
00:04:26.44\00:04:30.73
he struck my son
00:04:33.89\00:04:36.27
and the blow killed him.
00:04:36.28\00:04:39.71
And because I didn't leave him
00:04:39.72\00:04:44.08
as the State thought I should,
00:04:44.09\00:04:46.43
I was given a neglect charge.
00:04:46.44\00:04:50.56
When this happened,
00:04:50.57\00:04:52.53
I wanted to be mad at
God, and I wanted to blame God,
00:04:52.54\00:04:56.39
why did you allow
this to happen to my child?
00:04:56.40\00:04:58.57
He was so innocent.
00:04:58.58\00:05:01.90
And I always questionable Him
00:05:01.91\00:05:05.14
almost hateful
but as I sat down,
00:05:05.15\00:05:10.07
he began to talk
to me and told me,
00:05:10.08\00:05:12.53
"I'm not gonna leave you,
00:05:12.54\00:05:13.68
this is all make you stronger,
this is all gonna workout."
00:05:13.69\00:05:17.58
So I just had to
believe that and trust in God
00:05:17.59\00:05:20.50
and now that healed
me and my family too.
00:05:20.51\00:05:24.33
We can even listen
along with, by myself.
00:05:24.34\00:05:27.23
I have a 10-year-old son.
00:05:27.24\00:05:28.45
I have a 4-year-old daughter.
00:05:28.46\00:05:30.04
And I have a very strong family
00:05:30.05\00:05:31.47
who's still there for me today.
00:05:31.48\00:05:34.83
So I just have to be
thankful for everything
00:05:34.84\00:05:37.38
that He's doing
for me. Not even then,
00:05:37.39\00:05:40.94
even when I was
going to, you know,
00:05:40.95\00:05:43.65
He stayed with me
and I was just thanking
00:05:43.66\00:05:46.27
the little for the
loving God and everything
00:05:46.28\00:05:49.54
that He's shown me has taught me
00:05:49.55\00:05:51.35
how to love people, not
generally in just as a whole,
00:05:51.36\00:05:56.21
not just this about a person,
00:05:56.22\00:05:58.47
or that about a
person or be one sided.
00:05:58.48\00:06:03.23
He's just awesome.
00:06:03.24\00:06:06.66
Holy and righteous
is thy name, oh, Lord
00:06:06.67\00:06:14.50
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:06:14.51\00:06:19.47
Every knee shall
bow and every tongue
00:06:19.48\00:06:26.90
Must confess that
00:06:26.91\00:06:29.81
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:06:29.82\00:06:35.46
You can snap your
fingers, its okay.
00:06:35.47\00:06:37.33
King of kings and
you're the Lord of lords
00:06:37.34\00:06:44.97
King of kings
and the Lord of lords
00:06:44.98\00:06:52.39
The whole earth
is full of thy glory
00:06:52.40\00:06:59.50
The whole earth
is full of thy grace
00:06:59.51\00:07:07.00
The whole earth
is full of thy mercy
00:07:07.01\00:07:13.66
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:07:15.00\00:07:19.52
Holy, and Thou are righteous
00:07:22.42\00:07:27.54
And You are holy,
and Thou are righteous
00:07:28.74\00:07:35.78
You are Holy, and
Thou are righteous
00:07:35.79\00:07:43.52
And You are Holy,
and Thou are righteous
00:07:43.53\00:07:49.91
You are so Holy,
00:07:49.92\00:07:53.89
Thank you for being so righteous
00:07:53.90\00:07:57.27
You are, you are Holy,
00:07:57.28\00:08:01.12
Thank you for
loving me, righteous
00:08:01.13\00:08:04.76
Holy and thank you
for being so, righteous
00:08:07.29\00:08:11.70
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:14.38\00:08:19.57
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:19.58\00:08:27.17
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:27.18\00:08:34.64
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:34.65\00:08:42.05
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:42.06\00:08:49.41
Holy and righteous is thy name
00:08:49.42\00:08:56.66
Holy
00:08:56.67\00:08:58.52
In 1980, I got
charged with a murder charge.
00:09:05.11\00:09:10.66
I came from a
very Christian family,
00:09:10.67\00:09:13.58
when I was a kid.
00:09:13.59\00:09:15.76
I got married into a
very, very abusive relationship.
00:09:15.77\00:09:20.09
I guess the last draw was
when he threatened to kill me
00:09:20.10\00:09:24.37
and my kids, but
00:09:24.38\00:09:25.97
Everybody in here is
not bad, we made a mistake
00:09:25.98\00:09:30.44
and you can go from
whatever you do in here.
00:09:30.45\00:09:33.44
Since then, I have got my GED.
00:09:33.45\00:09:37.57
I have associate in
food and management.
00:09:37.58\00:09:41.28
I've got a
bachelors in humanities.
00:09:41.29\00:09:44.38
I have 18 years of
culinary art at the old prison.
00:09:44.39\00:09:49.67
And I've got almost two here.
00:09:49.68\00:09:52.17
If it wasn't for God,
I wouldn't have made it
00:09:52.18\00:09:54.14
because there was a lot of times
00:09:54.15\00:09:55.31
when I first came
here with 80 years,
00:09:55.32\00:09:57.10
I didn't think I
would ever see daylight.
00:09:57.11\00:10:00.85
It was very unreal to me
00:10:00.86\00:10:03.69
because I've
never been in trouble.
00:10:03.70\00:10:04.94
I never had been
arrested or anything.
00:10:04.95\00:10:08.69
So it was really hard and
I started praying and asked
00:10:08.70\00:10:14.84
Him to give me the
strength to make it and He has.
00:10:14.85\00:10:19.11
He has given me
all the strength.
00:10:19.12\00:10:20.61
He's given me good jobs.
00:10:20.62\00:10:21.78
He's given me good bosses.
00:10:21.79\00:10:23.70
I mean, I
couldn't--for a prison,
00:10:23.71\00:10:26.04
I couldn't ask for better.
00:10:26.05\00:10:28.45
and I know He's the one
00:10:28.46\00:10:29.57
that's put these
people in my life.
00:10:29.58\00:10:32.98
In here I do feel
like I'm free indeed.
00:10:32.99\00:10:36.76
It means to me that
I'm free in my heart.
00:10:36.77\00:10:39.92
I may not be
able to walk outside
00:10:39.93\00:10:42.26
but I'm free within me.
00:10:42.27\00:10:44.27
God has given me that freedom
00:10:44.28\00:10:46.19
and He's given me good friends,
good family, good loved ones.
00:10:46.20\00:10:53.22
He's taken care of me.
00:10:53.23\00:10:56.87
Today we are at the
Indiana Women's Prison
00:10:56.88\00:10:58.72
and we have Tammy Atwood with us
00:10:58.73\00:11:00.42
at the Indiana Women's Prison.
00:11:00.43\00:11:01.64
And Miss Atwood,
what is your position here
00:11:01.65\00:11:03.35
at the Indiana Women's Prison?
00:11:03.36\00:11:04.88
I'm the community
involvement coordinator here.
00:11:04.89\00:11:07.22
And what does that entail?
00:11:07.23\00:11:09.59
We work with the
live different programs.
00:11:09.60\00:11:11.64
We have a lot of
giveback in this institution.
00:11:11.65\00:11:14.02
We believe in giving
back to the community
00:11:14.03\00:11:15.66
with different programs.
00:11:15.67\00:11:17.42
What kind of value or
blessing does a lady receive
00:11:17.43\00:11:21.35
when she has the
opportunity to volunteer
00:11:21.36\00:11:22.95
her time in prison
to give back to society?
00:11:22.96\00:11:26.02
Self esteem, one of them.
00:11:26.03\00:11:28.62
When they walk out the store,
00:11:28.63\00:11:30.11
they know they've
done a lot of good things
00:11:30.12\00:11:31.88
in this community
that they are very much
00:11:31.89\00:11:33.49
a part of this community
from all that they have done.
00:11:33.50\00:11:35.99
So even though they've
been locked up for wrong,
00:11:36.00\00:11:37.89
when they leave, this
gives them a sense of well being
00:11:37.90\00:11:40.60
and a sense of a
connection when they go out.
00:11:40.61\00:11:42.38
Absolutely. Okay,
well, Miss Atwood,
00:11:42.39\00:11:43.85
I thank you for
being more than just
00:11:43.86\00:11:45.76
an employee of the
Department of Corrections.
00:11:45.77\00:11:47.78
You go above and beyond
00:11:47.79\00:11:48.85
and we say thank you
very much, very much.
00:11:48.86\00:11:50.28
Thank You, Lem. God bless you.
00:11:50.29\00:11:51.71
I would like to
bring Sister Kim up here.
00:11:54.46\00:11:57.28
And Kim is somebody
that's been in the same prison
00:11:57.29\00:12:00.53
with you all for
sometime and God provided
00:12:00.54\00:12:03.65
that she could go
from this prison house
00:12:03.66\00:12:06.09
to the free world but
there's something really
00:12:06.10\00:12:08.66
unique about Kim is
Kim has not forgotten her
00:12:08.67\00:12:12.13
sisters behind bars,
so you're not forgotten.
00:12:12.14\00:12:15.31
There is hope in
this time of need.
00:12:15.32\00:12:17.65
There is hope because
God has opened the way
00:12:17.66\00:12:19.91
to where inmates can
go back in to let you know
00:12:19.92\00:12:22.35
you're not forgotten.
00:12:22.36\00:12:23.50
Now we don't come today
00:12:23.51\00:12:25.22
half-stepping
back into the prison.
00:12:25.23\00:12:27.52
Today we come
and with all the zeal
00:12:27.53\00:12:29.83
and all the
blessings that God has given us
00:12:29.84\00:12:31.97
because we want you to
know that there is hope.
00:12:31.98\00:12:34.12
And Kim is one of your own
00:12:34.13\00:12:35.69
and Kim is here today to share
00:12:35.70\00:12:37.84
with you the Gospel
message in a moment of time
00:12:37.85\00:12:41.46
to not give up and
to not look back. Kim,
00:12:41.47\00:12:43.87
would you come up here please?
00:12:43.88\00:12:46.17
Would you just look at
these ladies from the heart
00:12:46.18\00:12:49.00
that you once
sat in these chairs,
00:12:49.01\00:12:51.22
and just let them now
that as you are free now
00:12:51.23\00:12:53.54
by society standards,
00:12:53.55\00:12:55.21
that somewhere on this
journey freedom started
00:12:55.22\00:12:57.25
while you were in
here to encourage them.
00:12:57.26\00:12:59.34
I would be happy to.
00:12:59.35\00:13:00.96
And you said a
very profile statement
00:13:00.97\00:13:03.00
as far as by society standards
00:13:03.01\00:13:05.35
because I was
free in here, amen.
00:13:05.36\00:13:09.71
Because "Who the Son
sets free, is free indeed."
00:13:09.72\00:13:13.98
And God set me free
in 1991 December the 3rd,
00:13:13.99\00:13:18.21
3:30 PM, I'll never forget it.
00:13:18.22\00:13:21.03
So when I walked
inside of these prison walls,
00:13:21.04\00:13:23.72
I was already free.
00:13:23.73\00:13:25.28
The chains had already fell off.
00:13:25.29\00:13:27.93
And I just decided not to
look back once I got here.
00:13:27.94\00:13:32.97
But I was
thinking about, you know,
00:13:32.98\00:13:34.91
what could I share today
00:13:34.92\00:13:37.70
and the Spirit
gave me the scripture,
00:13:37.71\00:13:39.35
Jeremiah 29:11, that says,
00:13:39.36\00:13:42.45
"For I know the thoughts
that I think towards you,
00:13:42.46\00:13:45.98
thoughts of good and
not of evil to give you
00:13:45.99\00:13:48.84
hope for your future
and an expected end."
00:13:48.85\00:13:52.69
So when I thought about,
God had a plan for my life
00:13:52.70\00:13:56.98
and He said it's a good plan,
00:13:56.99\00:13:59.46
then I thought
what am I doing here
00:13:59.47\00:14:02.40
if God has a
good plan for my life.
00:14:02.41\00:14:05.71
And so I began to
take the steps towards
00:14:05.72\00:14:08.88
being the person
that God created me
00:14:08.89\00:14:10.85
to be from the
foundation of the world
00:14:10.86\00:14:13.48
because life is
really all about choices.
00:14:13.49\00:14:17.27
And I chose to be a Christian.
00:14:17.28\00:14:19.27
I choose to be free.
Nobody is making me do it.
00:14:19.28\00:14:22.66
This is how I want to live
00:14:22.67\00:14:24.88
and I choose to come
back in just to show you
00:14:24.89\00:14:28.03
that God can make a
difference in your life
00:14:28.04\00:14:32.00
if you wanna be changed.
And again John 8:36 says,
00:14:32.01\00:14:37.26
"Who the Son sets
free, is free indeed."
00:14:37.27\00:14:39.89
These prison walls
cannot keep God out, amen.
00:14:39.90\00:14:44.13
There is no bar that's been made
00:14:44.14\00:14:46.52
that can keep the Spirit of
God from moving in your life,
00:14:46.53\00:14:50.03
if you want Him to move.
00:14:50.04\00:14:52.52
And I'm a witness
that even being in here
00:14:52.53\00:14:55.74
and being an
inmate, God still allowed me
00:14:55.75\00:14:59.04
to have the freedom
because when the guards see
00:14:59.05\00:15:01.94
that you really do
and all that you wanna be,
00:15:01.95\00:15:05.11
to be changed then
they'll begin to give you
00:15:05.12\00:15:08.52
favor even inside
these prison walls
00:15:08.53\00:15:11.66
when they see that
you're really not playing games,
00:15:11.67\00:15:14.70
what you really wanna be
about the business of the Lord
00:15:14.71\00:15:17.54
but again when you
choose to be a Christian,
00:15:17.55\00:15:20.85
you choose to be like God.
00:15:20.86\00:15:23.42
Of course there's
gonna be opposition
00:15:23.43\00:15:25.20
but there's opposition
out in the world, amen.
00:15:25.21\00:15:28.11
There's opposition out there
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.10
but as long as
you stay on that path,
00:15:30.11\00:15:32.04
as long as you stay
on the path to holiness
00:15:32.05\00:15:34.64
and righteousness, I'm a witness
00:15:34.65\00:15:36.94
that your life will
never ever, ever be the same.
00:15:36.95\00:15:40.82
Before I came here today,
00:15:40.83\00:15:42.05
I was over at
the Juvenile Center,
00:15:42.06\00:15:43.63
we did a three-day
retreat for the girls,
00:15:43.64\00:15:46.77
Grooming of the Queens Retreat
00:15:46.78\00:15:49.05
because it really
starts right here.
00:15:49.06\00:15:51.94
The choices start right here
00:15:51.95\00:15:54.02
what am I gonna do with my life?
00:15:54.03\00:15:56.25
Because sin will take you
further than you want to go.
00:15:56.26\00:15:59.36
It will keep you
lower than you wanna stay
00:15:59.37\00:16:01.66
and it'll cost you more than
00:16:01.67\00:16:02.80
you ever thought
you wanted to pay.
00:16:02.81\00:16:04.83
But there is a God
who we serve--Amen.
00:16:04.84\00:16:08.44
That can make all the
difference in your life.
00:16:08.45\00:16:11.05
That can open up
doors that no man can shut.
00:16:11.06\00:16:14.12
And He can shut
doors that no man can open.
00:16:14.13\00:16:16.81
Amen. Let me ask you a question.
00:16:16.82\00:16:18.58
What inspired you, you
said that when you came here
00:16:23.23\00:16:26.86
the chains had
already been set free
00:16:26.87\00:16:28.46
but yet you were coming to
prison perhaps in shackles.
00:16:28.47\00:16:31.14
Where on this journey
were you inspired or someone
00:16:31.15\00:16:33.61
directed your thoughts
towards a different path?
00:16:33.62\00:16:36.63
I was in jail and I was facing
00:16:36.64\00:16:39.51
a 50-year
sentence for dealing drugs.
00:16:39.52\00:16:42.71
And I got down on my knees.
00:16:42.72\00:16:44.94
Like yourself I had been
00:16:44.95\00:16:46.02
to some of the best
treatment centers in the world.
00:16:46.03\00:16:49.86
None of them could set me free.
00:16:49.87\00:16:51.57
None of them could get me free
00:16:51.58\00:16:53.02
from that cocaine
bondage that was--
00:16:53.03\00:16:55.16
had me gripped everyday.
00:16:55.17\00:16:56.84
I had a thousand
dollar a day habit. Wow.
00:16:56.85\00:17:00.44
Nothing could set me free.
00:17:00.45\00:17:02.31
And, I mean, I went to some of
the best hospitals in the world
00:17:02.32\00:17:05.71
'cause my husband had
some of the best insurance.
00:17:05.72\00:17:08.88
But it was in that jail cell
00:17:08.89\00:17:10.57
when I looked
around at that 2 x 4 cell
00:17:10.58\00:17:13.06
and I asked myself,
how did you get here?
00:17:13.07\00:17:16.77
And I went down on my knees
00:17:16.78\00:17:18.17
and I asked the Lord to please,
00:17:18.18\00:17:21.14
Glory Halleluiah, I said, Lord,
00:17:21.15\00:17:25.16
if you could just come
into my life and change me,
00:17:25.17\00:17:30.73
I promise, God,
I will never ever,
00:17:30.74\00:17:34.11
ever look back and change me.
00:17:34.12\00:17:38.04
He did. He came into my
heart, made the difference.
00:17:38.05\00:17:42.39
Yes, I got the time but I
did not turn my back on God.
00:17:42.40\00:17:47.64
And in 2006, what man
said say could not be done,
00:17:47.65\00:17:53.63
never been done before,
00:17:53.64\00:17:54.91
Never been done
before, I was granted clemency
00:17:54.92\00:17:58.53
by the government of
the State of Indiana, amen.
00:17:58.54\00:18:01.71
Now you said something,
you said something that God
00:18:05.96\00:18:09.59
can set any of these people
free that want to be free.
00:18:09.60\00:18:13.17
I believe in my
heart that every woman
00:18:13.18\00:18:15.57
sitting in this
auditorium today,
00:18:15.58\00:18:18.09
they want true
freedom just like you,
00:18:18.10\00:18:20.43
even though you're
in active addiction,
00:18:20.44\00:18:22.44
you sought help through
these treatment facilities
00:18:22.45\00:18:25.40
and God just
sometimes let's us go down
00:18:25.41\00:18:27.38
on our own way long
enough to where we see,
00:18:27.39\00:18:29.42
we can't get no help
but through Him. Amen.
00:18:29.43\00:18:32.17
So I believe that every
one of these women want change,
00:18:32.18\00:18:34.62
what do you think? Right,
00:18:34.63\00:18:35.81
even when I was doing drugs,
00:18:35.82\00:18:37.31
Mr. Vega, there
was something in me
00:18:37.32\00:18:39.22
that wanted to be free
00:18:39.23\00:18:41.58
but I didn't
know how to be free.
00:18:41.59\00:18:44.83
I didn't know how to
break that grip off of my life
00:18:44.84\00:18:48.08
but when I went down
on my knees and I cried,
00:18:48.09\00:18:51.74
Lord, help me
please. God heard my cry.
00:18:51.75\00:18:56.14
He reached way
down and picked me up,
00:18:56.15\00:18:59.25
set my feet on a solid rock.
00:18:59.26\00:19:02.30
And my life has
never been the same.
00:19:02.31\00:19:04.98
Amen. Sister,
that's I agree 100%.
00:19:04.99\00:19:08.63
In closing, in closing,
would you just look right out
00:19:08.64\00:19:11.71
there to the cameras
and now you're no longer
00:19:11.72\00:19:13.67
talking to the
inmates that are incarcerated,
00:19:13.68\00:19:15.40
you are talking to the world
00:19:15.41\00:19:16.77
that's still
suffering in active addiction,
00:19:16.78\00:19:18.90
what would you
share with them today?
00:19:18.91\00:19:21.46
I would have to go
back to Jeremiah 29:11,
00:19:21.47\00:19:25.49
where God said,
"For I know the thoughts
00:19:25.50\00:19:27.45
that I think towards
you, thoughts of good
00:19:27.46\00:19:30.26
and not of evil to give
you hope for your future
00:19:30.27\00:19:34.67
and to give you an expected end.
00:19:34.68\00:19:37.37
For God so love this world
00:19:37.38\00:19:39.35
that He gave His
only begotten son
00:19:39.36\00:19:42.07
that who should
ever believe in Him
00:19:42.08\00:19:44.37
will not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:19:44.38\00:19:47.09
And verse 17 of John 3 says,
00:19:47.10\00:19:49.66
"For God came not into
this world to condemn this world
00:19:49.67\00:19:53.29
but that the world
through Him might be saved."
00:19:53.30\00:19:56.43
Amen, what is
Jeremiah 29:13 say?
00:19:56.44\00:20:01.61
Jeremiah 29:13
says, "If you cry unto Me,
00:20:01.62\00:20:05.72
He said that He would hear you
00:20:05.73\00:20:07.68
and then He would answer you,
00:20:07.69\00:20:09.99
when you cry with
your whole heart."
00:20:10.00\00:20:11.94
With your whole heart.
00:20:11.95\00:20:13.16
Sisters, that's
what we got to do.
00:20:13.17\00:20:14.38
We can't come half stepping.
00:20:14.39\00:20:15.58
We gotta say, Lord,
here I am, I want change,
00:20:15.59\00:20:18.68
please help me if
You're really real.
00:20:18.69\00:20:20.64
And, sisters, he'll
begin to transform us.
00:20:20.65\00:20:22.54
And jail house
religion is not weak, amen.
00:20:22.55\00:20:25.04
You might see some gangster
going over to the church,
00:20:25.05\00:20:28.52
give them a break
because they too want
00:20:28.53\00:20:30.73
change just like you do, amen.
00:20:30.74\00:20:31.77
Sister, thank you
very much. God bless you.
00:20:31.78\00:20:33.44
If only we could grasp
the reality of this that God
00:20:38.56\00:20:42.33
is not asking you to
lead a Christian life
00:20:42.34\00:20:45.69
to walk in
obedience by your power.
00:20:45.70\00:20:49.60
God is saying, Come to
Me and learn to rely on Me
00:20:49.61\00:20:54.12
and I will empower
you to do these things.
00:20:54.13\00:20:58.56
Have you got a drug
habit? I will empower you.
00:20:58.57\00:21:02.31
I will cut you free.
Psalm 129 verse 4 says,
00:21:02.32\00:21:06.29
"I will cut you free
00:21:06.30\00:21:07.93
from the cord of the
wicked that binds you."
00:21:07.94\00:21:10.71
God loves us perfectly.
You are the apple of His eye.
00:21:10.72\00:21:16.67
He is the perfect
father whose love is unfailing.
00:21:16.68\00:21:20.02
He is your provider,
00:21:20.03\00:21:21.06
your protector
and your provision.
00:21:21.07\00:21:23.06
And the Bible says
He will instruct you
00:21:23.07\00:21:25.96
with His eye upon you.
His eye is always on you
00:21:25.97\00:21:30.42
and He will lead you
and show you the way.
00:21:30.43\00:21:33.65
And as any good father
will, God disciplines us.
00:21:33.66\00:21:38.32
And you know sometimes
when I'm out I'll tell people,
00:21:38.33\00:21:40.91
I pray for God's
discipline and people will go,
00:21:40.92\00:21:46.40
you hear a collective
gasp around the audience
00:21:46.41\00:21:49.79
'cause it's
like oh, I don't want
00:21:49.80\00:21:51.04
to pray for God's discipline.
00:21:51.05\00:21:53.32
You know what,
He's gonna discipline us
00:21:53.33\00:21:55.06
one way or the other and as long
00:21:55.07\00:21:57.93
as we're praying for
discipline Lord show us
00:21:57.94\00:22:01.99
His discipline is in
love and in gentleness
00:22:02.00\00:22:05.14
and what He does is when
we need to be disciplined,
00:22:05.15\00:22:08.53
He whispers into our ear.
He says don't go that way,
00:22:08.54\00:22:12.79
don't go that way, child, that
way leads to pain and sorrow,
00:22:12.80\00:22:16.71
please, don't go that way.
00:22:16.72\00:22:18.47
Sometimes we ignore Him
and we just keep on going,
00:22:18.48\00:22:21.26
got a little attitude
going on and then God will put
00:22:21.27\00:22:25.77
some kind of hindrance in
our path to discipline us.
00:22:25.78\00:22:32.81
Lot of you are here
because you're receiving
00:22:32.82\00:22:34.79
the discipline of God and
you should be thankful for it.
00:22:34.80\00:22:38.74
Because you know what,
our life on this earth,
00:22:38.75\00:22:41.44
if you look at the
line of infinity from time--
00:22:41.45\00:22:44.56
before time began to where--
00:22:44.57\00:22:47.23
we can't even see the end of it.
00:22:47.24\00:22:49.11
If we had a long
straight line out here,
00:22:49.12\00:22:51.50
life on earth
would take up less than
00:22:51.51\00:22:53.38
an eighth of an inch.
00:22:53.39\00:22:56.33
What we're looking
for is life eternal.
00:22:56.34\00:22:59.57
God, when trials and
tribulations come our way,
00:23:02.22\00:23:07.79
He's there to comfort
us, to walk us through,
00:23:07.80\00:23:10.99
to deliver us
from times of trouble.
00:23:11.00\00:23:13.72
The Bible says
when we're afflicted,
00:23:13.73\00:23:15.53
when we're in
trouble and distress,
00:23:15.54\00:23:17.42
He is afflicted.
He sees our tears
00:23:17.43\00:23:22.25
and this Book of Psalm says
00:23:22.26\00:23:23.55
He even collects
them in His bottle.
00:23:23.56\00:23:26.89
Get this one, Zephaniah 3:17,
00:23:26.90\00:23:30.02
"The Lord your
God in your midst.
00:23:30.06\00:23:33.16
The Mighty one will save,
00:23:33.17\00:23:36.17
He will rejoice
over you with gladness.
00:23:36.18\00:23:40.78
He will quiet you with singing,
quiet you with His love,
00:23:40.79\00:23:45.33
He will rejoice
over you with singing."
00:23:45.34\00:23:49.17
Is that your picture of God?
00:23:49.18\00:23:51.43
Can you see him
up there rejoicing
00:23:51.44\00:23:55.67
because you turn
your heart to Him,
00:23:55.68\00:23:57.76
rejoicing because you
make the right decision,
00:23:57.77\00:24:03.07
the right choice.
God will never force you.
00:24:03.08\00:24:07.44
He knows our
thoughts before we speak them.
00:24:07.45\00:24:09.64
He's watchful over
our comings and goings.
00:24:09.65\00:24:12.16
He is aware of the
smallest detail in our life.
00:24:12.17\00:24:16.01
The Bible even says he can
number the hairs on your head
00:24:16.02\00:24:19.51
and He has had
some-- I've had trouble
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.20
with my thyroid lately
and He's having trouble
00:24:21.21\00:24:23.66
keeping up with how
many hairs on my head
00:24:23.67\00:24:25.61
have fallen out.
00:24:25.62\00:24:27.52
But He says He
will not forget us
00:24:27.53\00:24:30.09
because we are permanently
tattooed on His palms.
00:24:30.10\00:24:34.73
Oh, no wonder John
said in First John 3:1,
00:24:34.74\00:24:39.67
"Behold what manner of love
00:24:39.68\00:24:42.46
the Father has bestowed upon us,
00:24:42.47\00:24:44.63
that we should be
called the children of God!"
00:24:44.64\00:24:48.74
It's difficult for
us to comprehend this
00:24:48.75\00:24:52.35
but we are the king--
00:24:52.36\00:24:53.43
the children of
the king of kings.
00:24:53.44\00:24:56.27
You are His
princesses, God is love.
00:24:56.28\00:24:58.50
He is the very essence of love.
00:24:58.51\00:25:01.60
And by the grace of our
relationship with Christ Jesus,
00:25:01.61\00:25:05.61
this gift of love is magnified
00:25:05.62\00:25:08.23
and manifested and the
Bible tells us in Ephesians 1
00:25:08.24\00:25:11.56
that already He has blessed us
with every Spiritual blessing.
00:25:11.57\00:25:17.89
If God was willing to
sacrifice His son for us,
00:25:17.90\00:25:21.89
how could He not then
freely do all things for us?
00:25:21.90\00:25:27.29
He invites you. He sends
His Spirit into your heart
00:25:27.30\00:25:31.22
that you can cry
out Abba, Father.
00:25:31.23\00:25:34.82
You know what Abba means?
00:25:34.83\00:25:36.98
Abba is a-- an
Aramaic expression
00:25:36.99\00:25:40.61
and it's a very
intimate word for father.
00:25:40.62\00:25:44.13
It means like papa, daddy.
00:25:44.14\00:25:47.53
God wants you to
call on Him in such a way.
00:25:47.54\00:25:51.96
You are His child. You
are His precious child.
00:25:51.97\00:25:55.69
Psalm 27:10
says, "When my father
00:25:58.07\00:26:00.31
and mother forsake me, the
LORD will take care of me."
00:26:00.32\00:26:04.53
He's a father to the fathers.
00:26:04.54\00:26:07.28
He is a defender of the widows.
00:26:07.29\00:26:11.49
He sets the
solitary in families.
00:26:11.50\00:26:14.65
He says "Fear
not, for I am with you,
00:26:14.66\00:26:18.05
be not dismayed,
for I am your God,
00:26:18.06\00:26:20.79
I will strengthen
you, yes, I will help you,
00:26:20.80\00:26:25.07
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand."
00:26:25.08\00:26:28.79
Let's say
prayer. Heavenly Father,
00:26:28.80\00:26:33.89
we--everything
that I had spoken,
00:26:33.90\00:26:36.07
Lord, I have taken from
Your word and Your Bible says
00:26:36.08\00:26:40.39
that all of your promises
are ours in Christ Jesus.
00:26:40.40\00:26:44.42
Father, we so little
understand Your perfect love.
00:26:44.43\00:26:47.89
I ask in the name of
Jesus that the things
00:26:47.90\00:26:51.25
that have been
spoken today will penetrate
00:26:51.26\00:26:54.41
the hearts of my sisters.
00:26:54.42\00:26:56.35
I ask that You open our eyes
00:26:56.36\00:26:58.51
and take away this
veil and help us to see
00:26:58.52\00:27:02.67
and to understand to some degree
00:27:02.68\00:27:05.74
how great Your love is.
00:27:05.75\00:27:07.87
And Father, pour out
Your love into our hearts
00:27:07.88\00:27:10.68
that we may love You
with all of our heart,
00:27:10.69\00:27:13.24
soul, mind and
strength. In Jesus name, amen.
00:27:13.25\00:27:17.20
I would just
like to thank everyone
00:27:23.51\00:27:25.48
that's here. We thank you
00:27:25.49\00:27:26.82
from just a handful of people
00:27:26.83\00:27:28.34
but to know that
there are many more
00:27:28.35\00:27:30.00
that appreciate it
that never get to see you
00:27:30.01\00:27:32.01
'cause these people are down.
00:27:32.02\00:27:33.50
Their freedom's been taken away.
00:27:33.51\00:27:35.47
They see their
family once or twice a week.
00:27:35.48\00:27:38.19
They need something.
00:27:38.20\00:27:39.47
They need to know people care.
00:27:39.48\00:27:42.24
A lot of people think about them
00:27:42.25\00:27:44.21
but you can think
about them all you want to
00:27:44.22\00:27:46.86
until you come
in, you get involved
00:27:46.87\00:27:49.21
because they're not
just put away and forgotten.
00:27:49.22\00:27:51.75
And I'm happy
that the whole crew
00:27:51.76\00:27:53.33
could come here today
and put this all together.
00:27:53.34\00:27:55.67
It's very important.
00:27:55.68\00:27:56.99
I would like to
thank the administration
00:28:05.56\00:28:06.80
for bringing the program to us
00:28:06.81\00:28:08.35
because it brought
quite a highlight to my life
00:28:08.36\00:28:10.06
and I will always
remember it over everything
00:28:10.07\00:28:12.51
that I've
experienced and that they need
00:28:12.52\00:28:14.60
to keep bringing it
back for the other people,
00:28:14.61\00:28:17.47
I mean, when there was no hope,
00:28:17.48\00:28:18.47
they brought hope to us.
00:28:18.48\00:28:19.77