Participants: Shelley Quinn (Host), Lemuel Vega (Host), C.A. Murray (Host), Shirwanda Boone, Lara Campbell, Michelle Jones, Christy Mann
Series Code: FIN
Program Code: FIN000008
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00:19 What can I learn from someone who is incarcerated?
00:24 What can a prisoner say to me? 00:27 What can someone who has spend time 00:30 in a place like this, what can they tell me, 00:33 what lesson can I learn from them, 00:35 can they say anything to me? 00:38 Can a person who has failed in life have a message for me? 00:45 Well, I think you'll be surprise 00:47 because the question is, 00:49 can we learn more from success or from failure? 00:55 Do we learn more on the mountain top 00:58 or down in the valley? 01:00 Do we learn more when we are being praised 01:04 or when we're being cursed? 01:07 Can a person who has failed at life 01:11 tell me something about my life? 01:15 I think the Bible tells us 01:16 that if we keep our hearts open 01:18 and our minds alert and that we always posture ourselves 01:22 in the position of a learner 01:25 that life has much to teach us, 01:27 even someone who has failed at life 01:32 has something to say to you, something to say to me. 01:36 On today's program we are again 01:38 at the women's prison in Indiana. 01:42 We're gonna meet some people who have much to teach us, 01:44 if we will but hear. 01:46 Shirwanda interview by Lemuel Vega 01:49 has a message for you and for me 01:52 and we're gonna meet Laura, also a strong testimony 01:57 and we get to hear her sing the song "grateful." 02:02 We get to hear a little bit from Christy, 02:05 who is a volunteer worker 02:07 and then there's a strong message on a merited favor, 02:10 "grace" by our own, Shelley Quinn. 02:12 So does life have something to tell us? 02:14 Yes, it does. 02:15 Does this program have something to tell us? 02:17 Surely, it does. 02:18 Can we learn something from those who have failed in life? 02:24 Oh, yes, we can. 02:26 There is always something to learn 02:28 if we keep our hearts and our minds open. 02:31 Stay with us on this edition of Free Indeed. 02:35 Today we're at the Indiana women's prison 02:36 and we have a special guest speaking with us, 02:38 her name is, Shirwanda Boone. Yes. 02:40 How long you've been in prison, Shirwanda? 02:41 I've been across already for 13 years. 02:43 Is this your first time in prison? Yes, sir. 02:46 So something must have went tragically wrong and--and now, 02:49 now you're in prison. 02:50 How long do you have yet remaining? 02:52 I have nine years remaining. 02:54 Could you share with me some hope and strength, 02:57 actually you'll be sharing with the world 02:59 some hope and strength that even though 03:01 you're in prison you--you seem to be pretty well, happy. 03:04 Yes, I am. 03:05 Most people have been addicted to drugs, alcohol, 03:09 but my addiction was love. 03:11 I was looking for love in all the wrong places. 03:14 I was reaching for love, but I didn't love myself 03:17 and I didn't dig within myself 03:19 to find what I really needed 03:21 and that was God as it states 03:23 in the Bible in Ephesians 3:18, 03:25 "That everyone should have the power of understanding 03:28 and God's people should no matter how wide, 03:31 how long, how deep, how high, 03:33 God loves you and that's the only love that you need." 03:36 Now before you got incarcerated or before, 03:39 you had two jobs. Yes, sir. 03:41 So you were working hard by society standards. Yes, sir. 03:44 You had how many children? I have three boys. 03:47 Three boys? Yes, sir. 03:48 And from a mother's heart that just--you just long 03:50 that your boys will not make the wrong mistakes, 03:52 Amen. Amen. 03:54 And are you able to share the hope and strength 03:56 that you have in prison with your boys? 03:58 Yes, I do. 03:59 My youngest son writes me now and give me scriptures. 04:03 He gave me Revelation 2:10 and he gave me Isaiah 54:17. 04:07 Wow, what a blessing. 04:08 Do have a favorite Bible scripture in closing? 04:11 Yes, I do, Isaiah 54:17. 04:13 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." 04:17 Before we close and you leave... 04:22 would you just look out there because you're no longer 04:25 talking to your co-partners in prison, 04:27 would you look out there and share with those people 04:30 that are suffering today in society. 04:33 Yes, I will like for everyone to seek 04:36 the kingdom of God first 04:37 because no matter what high adversities, 04:40 trials, tribulations, there's--there's no love, 04:43 but God's loves and seek him 04:45 and get as far as you can into the word 04:48 and if you have to stretch out wide on the floor, 04:51 stretch out your arms 04:52 and surrender all unto the Lord, Thank you. 04:54 If we surrender all, then He can help us. Yes, sir. 04:57 Thank you very, very much, God bless you. 05:03 God is in my life everyday 05:06 and I'm just so filled with joy 05:08 when I talk about God, 'cause he's so amazing. 05:12 God is so amazing because I didn't love myself. 05:16 I thought I was ugly because of all the detrimental abuse 05:23 that I went through, but He is just so amazing 05:27 and he's always been there for me 05:30 and if it wasn't for God 05:31 I wouldn't be able to stay for 14 years in prison. 05:36 Lord, I'm grateful for the things that you have done 05:45 Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we won 05:54 I could go on and on and on about your works 06:04 Because I'm grateful grateful so grateful 06:08 just to praise You Lord Flowing from my heart 06:23 Are the issues of my heart, is gratefulness 06:34 Lord, I'm grateful, I am grateful 06:38 So grateful, Lord I'm so grateful 06:42 Yes, I am grateful, so grateful 06:48 Lord, I'm grateful for the things 06:53 that You have done 06:57 Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we won 07:07 I could go on and on and on about your works 07:17 Because I'm grateful, grateful so grateful 07:21 just to praise You Lord 07:28 Flowing from my heart Are the issues of my heart, 07:44 He is gratefulness God I'm grateful 07:51 I know somebody out there got to be grateful tonight, 07:53 right, come on, come on now. 07:55 Grateful, Grateful Grateful, Grateful 07:59 Grateful, Grateful Grateful, Grateful 08:04 Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, gratefulness 08:11 He is flowing from my heart 08:13 Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, 08:18 Grateful, Grateful Grateful, Grateful 08:22 Grateful, Grateful, Grateful 08:26 gratefulness is flowing from my heart 08:32 Flowing from my heart Are the issues of my heart 08:50 Flowing from my heart 08:58 Are the issues of my heart, He is gratefulness. 09:24 Some times I get angry at God, but that's the human side, 09:28 you know what I mean, 09:29 but I just know that He's the only one 09:32 that I can depend on and I know that 09:35 He's the only way that I've got to this time, you know. 09:38 And He's blessed me so much, 09:40 I mean, most people wouldn't say that 09:42 about being in prison, but it could have been 09:44 so much worse 'cause I was in a domestic violent situation 09:48 and I got with a man who I thought was 09:50 just the best thing ever like 09:52 most females get involved with. 09:54 And he was gorgeous and he made me feel 09:57 like I was beautiful. 09:58 This was the first year or so and then everything changed 10:03 and with the first hit and I feel 10:08 like anything that was beautiful of me, 10:13 I'm sorry, that he just stole from me 10:18 and I had to hide from my parents 10:21 and I couldn't be around them. 10:24 My niece was just 11 months old and that's-- 10:28 those are the times that I should have been 10:29 there for her, but I would either have a black eye 10:32 or my ribs were bruised and my hand was broke 10:36 and I would never take that around her. 10:39 So I tried to get away several times, 10:42 but when I would press charges, 10:45 they would say, they can't do anything 10:46 because we were married 10:50 and that's what happens with a lot of people. 10:52 Lot of people feel like they don't have anywhere to go. 10:55 I went through a lot of anger for a long time 10:57 saying, you know, why me but like I said 11:02 if I didn't have God, 11:05 I couldn't have made it through this. 11:07 and my parents have been so supportive. 11:10 I'm sorry. 11:13 Because I hurt them more than anything 11:16 and I know I disappointed them a lot, 11:20 but I thought that I was doing the right thing 11:22 by not going back to them. 11:24 And you know, trying to hide everything from them 11:27 because I knew they have a lot to deal with so. 11:30 If I have to go through this 11:32 in order for these changes to happen, 11:34 then I'm glad to do it. 11:36 But it's, you know, it hurtful, 11:38 but I've had to take my life back. 11:42 You know, one day at a time 11:44 and one piece at a time and it was never love 11:49 and it doesn't matter how hard you search for it, 11:52 there'll never be a love like God 11:54 and that's what I'm really trying to learn about myself 11:58 is I don't need a man to love me or somebody else, 12:01 you know, in prison a lot of times 12:03 women try to find love anywhere 12:05 and it's not their fault, they just, they don't get it. 12:09 And every single woman in this prison has been abused 12:12 in some way, shape, or form 12:15 and they just want to be loved 12:17 and I just think that if they would stop 12:19 and try to think about God's the only way, 12:23 He's the only way 12:24 and He'll put the right people in your life 12:26 when you're ready. 12:28 So I was very codependent, very codependent 12:31 and my self esteem was horrible, 12:33 but now it's, you know, 12:35 one day at a time I'm trying to change. 12:38 Today we are at the Indiana Women's Prison 12:41 and we have a lovely lady here, 12:43 Christy Mann and she's involved in 12:46 the--in the community outreach in the jail ministry 12:48 in her area. 12:49 Christy, what would inspire you to want to go back 12:53 in to the county jail or to-- 12:55 To love these women that are in prison? 12:57 Okay, what I would say is that initially 13:02 I became involved in prison ministry 13:04 from working as a nurse 13:06 and in the jail in our community 13:08 and so many times I would just see the women-- 13:13 And in some ways I saw myself. 13:15 I've heard at time and time again looking for love, 13:20 looking for someone who cares. 13:22 And it's just my heart's desire that, 13:25 that they would know, that they would know that 13:27 our Father in heaven just adores you, 13:31 adores everyone of you and--and I've been looking 13:34 at your backs this whole time 13:37 and every speaker that came up and said oh, 13:39 how beautiful you all are and I am just convinced 13:44 beyond a shadow of a doubt that our Father in heaven 13:47 up there looks down, looks at you beautiful women, 13:51 you do not have to be looking for love 13:54 in any of the wrong places because He is pouring it down 13:58 over your hearts as I speak right now, 14:01 I know He is. 14:03 And so I loved being a part of loving each one of you. 14:07 You know, you came here today 14:09 with a message of hope on your heart 14:11 and you would like to share 14:13 some hope with these ladies personally 14:16 and that the viewers that are incarcerated 14:19 by man standards around the world, 14:21 what is that message of hope? 14:23 What I would say, it relates to the scripture 14:25 that I brought out I don't think 14:27 anyone's mentioned it again, is keep on asking 14:32 and you'll receive as you ask. 14:34 Keep on seeking and you'll find. Amen. 14:37 Keep on knocking and that door will be open to you 14:40 for everyone who ask receives, everyone who seeks finds, 14:44 and to everyone who knocks that door will be opened 14:48 and I just want to encourage you to persevere. 14:52 It's been said verse after verse, 14:55 the scripture of hope, 14:58 you know, our God's plan for you is of hoping 15:02 and not of calamity and I just persevere 15:05 and ask, knock, seek because it is yours, 15:11 it is yours. We can do all things. 15:15 Through God. Through Christ. 15:18 Yes. Which strengtheneth us. Yes. 15:21 Sisters, that is the key to Free Indeed, 15:25 is to surrender our will and our life to our Creator, 15:28 because He know it what is needful, 15:30 necessary in our lives. 15:31 He will transform our lives, He will renew our minds, 15:34 He will give us new desires, 15:36 God bless you and we love you, 15:37 thank you, Christy. Amen, Amen. 15:42 As you walked in I looked at all these angelic faces 15:45 and I thought, what on Earth are they doing here. 15:49 And you know I just want to tell you, 15:51 I'm old enough to be most of your mother, 15:54 most of yours mother. 15:56 How ever you say that. 15:58 And my mother's heart aches for you 16:01 and I want you to know how much God loves you. 16:06 I'm gonna share a quick story with you 16:09 and like Lara's story, I know that many of you in here 16:15 have been disappointed or very hurt by a man, 16:21 it may have been a stranger, 16:23 it could have been a boyfriend, 16:25 it could have been your father or your husband, 16:30 but I know that a lot of problem start from abuse. 16:35 And I want to tell you in the Bible, 16:37 the number seven is the number of perfection. 16:42 Did you know that's the only reason 16:43 that we have a weekly cycle, 16:46 I mean, there's--there's a reason for the yearly cycle 16:50 because that's how the Earth is going around the moon. 16:53 There's a reason for the monthly cycle 16:56 that's how the moon is going around the Earth. 16:58 And the only reason we have a weekly cycle is 17:01 because God established it on the seventh day 17:05 when everything was done, 17:07 He said, this is my day of rest, 17:09 everything is good and very good. 17:11 And that number seven was the day of completion, 17:14 the day of perfection. 17:16 All I want to tell you about a lady 17:19 who had an encounter with the master of grace. 17:22 When Jesus had left Judea and He was going to Galilee, 17:26 He took the short route one time 17:28 and He went though Samaria. 17:30 I don't know if you know much about the Jews 17:32 and the Samaritans, 17:33 but the Samaritans were kind of--in the Jews eyes, 17:39 the Samaritans were half breed mongrels. 17:42 They practice heathenism and they practice 17:45 kind of an apostate Jewish religion, 17:48 and the Samaritans hated the Jews, 17:51 the Jews hated the Samaritans. 17:53 But Jesus took the short route 17:55 and He was going through Samaria 17:57 and He was weary and He send His disciples 18:00 on ahead to get some food and water 18:02 and He stopped at the well of Abraham. 18:05 But He didn't have a pot and a rope 18:07 to get water from the deep well. 18:10 So He was sitting there resting 18:12 and here comes a woman at high noon. 18:14 She was a Samaritan woman 18:16 and when she came to the well, 18:19 it was an unusual hour to come to the well 18:22 because most people, because of the heat of the day, 18:25 most people would come in the morning to get water 18:27 or they'd come in the evening to get water, 18:31 but this woman had five husbands, 18:35 she was living with man number six, 18:37 she wasn't married to him. 18:39 But she was living with man number six. 18:43 And she came at midday to avoid 18:46 the wagging tongues of the villagers. 18:49 The ones who pointed and said, 18:52 ah, she's living in sin. 18:54 So here she comes not expecting to see anybody 18:58 and she runs into Jesus. 19:01 Now, you know, Jews do not talk, 19:04 Jewish men do not talk to women in public. 19:07 And so she sees this man 19:08 and she recognizes his features 19:10 and she knows he is a Jew 19:12 and so she goes on about her business to get some water 19:15 and Jesus startles her with a request 19:18 for a drink of water. 19:20 And she says to him, in John 4:9, 19:24 "How is it that You, 19:26 a Jew, can ask a drink of water from me, 19:30 a Samaritan woman." 19:32 I am very moved by what Jesus did next. 19:36 He didn't go into a sermon 19:38 to explain their doctrinal differences, 19:40 the way they believe. 19:42 He didn't start telling her about her sins. 19:45 You know what He said to her? 19:48 He said to her, 19:50 if only you knew the gift of God 19:55 and who it is that is speaking to you, 19:58 you would ask Him and He would give you 20:02 a drink of living water. 20:05 And you know what? 20:08 In my active imagination, 20:11 I see Jesus standing like this, 20:16 if only you knew that this is God. 20:22 He spread his arms in a welcoming embrace 20:26 and He spread his arms like He would on the cross. 20:29 He was telling her, I am the gift of God, 20:35 if only you knew who it is that stands before you. 20:40 Ladies, we are all sinners saved by grace 20:44 and you know what, God doesn't look at your sin 20:47 any worse than He looks at my sin. 20:49 He knows that we need grace 20:54 and Jesus Christ is the number one gift of grace. 20:59 You know, this woman, 21:01 her heart was parched and thirsty. 21:05 She'd been looking for love in all the wrong places 21:08 and when she came to meet Jesus, 21:12 you know, the Samaritans believed in Messiah, 21:15 they knew that they was gonna be a coming Messiah, 21:18 but she wasn't looking for the Messiah that day. 21:21 You may have come today 21:23 and you weren't looking for the Messiah, 21:25 but you know what, 21:26 the love of God will chase you down. 21:29 He will you chase you down 21:31 because that's how much He loves you 21:33 and she came face to face with the master of Grace. 21:37 He told her all about her life 21:40 and she knew He was a prophet 21:41 because He knew all the details of her life 21:44 and, you know what she did, she dropped her water pot 21:46 and she ran off to the village 21:48 and she told everyone I've met the Messiah. 21:51 And she's telling everything 21:53 and they come running out with her, 21:55 all of these villagers and this woman's parched 22:00 and thirsty soul was stimulated by Jesus. 22:05 He aroused within her a desire that was there all along, 22:11 because the Bible says, 22:12 that God puts eternity in everyone of our hearts. 22:17 And did you know something 22:19 that hole that you've been trying to fill up, 22:22 that emptiness, only Jesus can fill it 22:26 and when God gives us grace. 22:30 You know, what is the definition of grace? 22:33 Unmerited favor, what does it mean? 22:38 All right, let's think about this. 22:40 Unmerited, it means you can't earn it, 22:44 you cannot-- You don't deserve it, 22:47 favor is gifts of God but we've got to look at grace 22:52 more than just the gift of salvation. 22:54 Jesus Christ is the number one gift of grace 22:58 and you know what he said, 22:59 He said when He was talking about that living water 23:02 later on in John Chapter 7, he was talking about 23:05 the Holy Spirit is the living water. 23:08 And the Holy Spirit is the second gift of grace, 23:12 greatest gift of grace, 23:13 and this word is a gift of his grace. 23:16 And when these are operating in your soul, 23:18 Ephesians 3:16 I'm gonna read to you 23:21 from the New Living Testament. 23:23 Paul writes to the Ephesians, he says, 23:25 "I pray that from His glorious, 23:27 unlimited resources He will empower you 23:31 with inner strength through His Spirit. 23:34 Then Christ will make His home 23:36 in your hearts as you trust in Him. 23:38 Your roots will go down into God's love 23:40 and keep you strong. 23:42 And may you have the power to understand, 23:44 as all God's people should, 23:46 how wide, how long, how deep, 23:49 how high is the love of God. 23:53 May you experience this love of Christ, 23:55 though it is too great to fully understand. 23:58 Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life 24:02 that comes from God. 24:04 And he says, now all glory to God 24:07 who is able to do exceedingly 24:12 more than you will ever imagine 24:15 because of the power, 24:17 the Holy Spirit that's living in you. 24:21 I know that the Bible says in Isaiah, Chapter 54, 24:26 "your maker is your husband." 24:29 I want to encourage you everybody longs to be loved, 24:34 let God be your husband and when you-- 24:37 If you're getting out of here 24:39 start praying for a godly husband, 24:42 but start praying that God would make you 24:45 a scriptural wife, a scriptural mother, 24:49 that he will prepare your heart. 24:52 Thank you. 25:00 The importance of programs coming in like 25:03 Free Indeed is huge for the women here 25:05 and for myself personally. 25:08 We had this wonderful day 25:11 and all these people came in from Free Indeed 25:14 and we were able to pray and worship with them 25:17 and some of us able to sing and, 25:23 Pastor Vega was able to preach 25:25 and it was a wonderful coming together of people. 25:29 And I love when volunteers come in personally 25:33 because of their openness and willingness 25:36 to share their lives with us. 25:37 They don't treat us as if we are junk 25:40 or garbage or throw away 25:42 or castaways or outcasts people 25:47 and we are people. 25:49 We're people who need to hear the word of Lord, 25:51 we're people who need to find our way 25:55 back to God, so I don't think-- 25:57 'cause I don't believe there's any real separation 25:59 between ourselves and God. 26:00 He is always present, always in our lives, 26:02 ever present in everything. 26:04 And sometimes we need to have people come in 26:09 who can help us remember that 26:11 and have opportunities to express that in a open way. 26:15 To pray and worship 26:17 and shout and say thank you in an open way. 26:20 And when Free Indeed came in, 26:22 there was such as spirit revival 26:24 and women were raising their hands 26:28 and clapping and standing up 26:29 and testifying and crying out to God. 26:32 And so whenever volunteers come in 26:35 like that with their hearts open, 26:37 ready to share, ready to worship, 26:39 it's transformational, it's transformational. 26:42 Some of you may know my name is Lemuel Vega. 26:45 And I work with Christmas Behind Bars Outreach Ministry, 26:48 which carries the gospel message 26:50 literally around the world, 365 days a year. 26:53 We've come to a really critical point, 26:56 we need Bibles at this point, 26:58 and we are asking for your help. 27:00 Do you have any ideas 27:01 how we can get 700 Bibles every month 27:04 to put in these people's hands. 27:06 We have a warehouse, it's been donated 27:08 and we have skids of material in that warehouse, 27:12 for Bible the skid is empty, 27:14 700 every month and we need your help. 27:16 A new Bible costs $3, 27:18 three simple dollars to put a brand new Bible 27:21 into these people's hands. 27:23 Is there anybody here that would like a Bible, 27:27 but don't have one? 27:34 We're trying to get more Bibles, brothers. 27:37 So we say thank you, we need new Bibles, 27:40 used Bibles, we just say thank you 27:42 for seeking the word of God in your own community 27:45 in your Bible study group, 27:46 and for sharing it with brothers like Sydney 27:49 who are in prison and who don't have the opportunity 27:52 to receive a Bible other than through your sponsorship. 27:55 God Bless you and I'm sure you'll see 27:57 many people in the kingdom of heaven 27:58 because you were willing to give, 28:00 you were willing to serve. 28:02 God's blessings to you and your families. 28:05 I would like thank the administration 28:06 for bringing the program to us, 28:08 because it brought quite a highlight to my life 28:10 and I will always remember it 28:11 over everything that I've experienced and-- 28:13 that they need to keep bringing it back 28:16 for the other people. 28:17 When there was no hope they brought hope to us. |
Revised 2014-12-17