Summary

SummaryI was just a child when abuse taught me I was worthless. Drugs became my escape, and I ended up serving four years at the Indiana Women’s Prison. When God Behind Bars and Northview Church came, I knelt in those walls and wrote God’s promises on postcards, saying out loud: ‘I am worthy… I am loved… I am beautiful.’ On Christmas Eve, the program I completed earned me a miracle release, though I returned home to lose my mother days later. Rather than destroy me, her passing strengthened my faith beyond measure. Six weeks later, the Department of Corrections invited me to help reform the system I once endured. Now, as a volunteer and council member, I celebrate the God who turned my chains into a calling.

“I was sexually abused by a family member when I was just a child. Because of the sexual abuse, whenever I looked at myself in the mirror all I would see is an ugly face. There were many nights where I would jump out of my bedroom window and run. During my childhood, Jesus was the only constant in my life. I think everyone has a story where if you look deep enough you will see Jesus. Because of all of this, I started using drugs and that is what got me into prison. I spent 4 years here in the Prison. I remember the first day God behind Bars came to our prison. We were so excited! I have been a member of God Behind Bars the very first day they came here. I’ve been a member now for 6 years. When God Behind Bars came, it felt like I was a part of an actual church. I started a program here in prison and it started to teach me to actually believe who God says that I am. I spent many nights on my knees in this prison. I had to accept the things that I did to hurt the people I cared about. I lost children and that affected their life. When I completed this program I was quickly released from prison. It was a true miracle. I got released on Christmas Day. So I knew it was Jesus. In order to work through the abuse that I had gone through. I would write the promises of God on postcards and every time that I felt worthless, I would read those promises out loud. I would say, ‘God says that I am worthy, God says that I am a child of His, that I am a daughter, that I am loved and beautiful.’ These are the things I would have to say over and over until I believed them.” – Talesa

We are wanting to plant 10 more church campuses inside of prisons in 2023. To help incarcerated men and women. We have already planted two campuses this year. Would you pray about donating $10, $20, or more to help us make this possible? Go to godbehindbars.com to join this mission!

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God Behind Bars
2.3 million people in the U.S. are affected by incarceration each year, the most unchurched population in our country. We are on a mission to change that. We will stop at nothing to ensure every inmate in the U.S. has direct and personal access to the Gospel. We want to help them grow their faith, heal trauma and emotional wounds, break addictions and cycles, and allow every person behind bars to step into their calling as sons and daughters of the Most High. It’s a simple fact that less than 15% of inmates are serving life sentences, and up to as many as 90% of all incarcerated individuals will be released back to society at some point. 75% of those released will return to prison within three years. God Behind Bars addresses this drastic recidivism problem with a unique approach that focuses on the spiritual, physical, and relational needs of inmates and their families.
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