From Business Woman to Federal Inmate

"I didn't know I had friends here until last weekend", said Carol (name changed), who was just released from suicide watch two days prior, to a room filled with her fellow inmates. Carol is one of four women who shared her testimony of coming to faith in Christ, due in large part to the ministry of Celebrate Recovery inside the Waseca Women's Prison. Carol explained how when she was released from her suicide watch, she was amazed at the number of women who cared for her, expressing their concern in asking how she was doing and telling her they were praying for her. It amazed her, she thought she was all alone.

For many years, Carol was living the good life. She served in the military, bought a home, and started her own law firm. But during this time, she got involved with using drugs and life began to crumble in her 30 years of drug use. Carol referenced 1 Cor. 10:12 in her testimony which says, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!". In a short matter of time, Carol lost her dad to a car accident, her partner cheated on her, and because of her drug addiction she lost her home and her law firm. Her plans had collapsed.

At one of the drug treatment centers she admitted herself into, she was told that "The only way to stay sober is God and helping others". This stuck with her and it wasn't until being brought to the Waseca Prison and becoming involved in Celebrate Recovery (CR) that she started to really apply this to her own life.

Carol signed up for the CR class, which is a 12-Step Christ-Centered recovery program, and that's when she says her relationship with God began to change. "God filled the empty holes in my life and I felt peace for the first time in my life." Carol closed her story by expressing this to her 25 other fellow Celebrate Recovery graduates: "I don't know why all these things have happened. All I know is there is a God and He loves us". 

What faith.

Such a blessing for me to be part of this CR graduation ceremony and celebrate with the women as we sang Christmas carols together, encouraged one another, and prayed together. Can't wait to go back!