Free Life

A Personal God of Second Chances: Beth's Story

​I was born into a Christian home, but by my early 30's, my life was in pieces. After years in a marriage marked by hidden struggles and verbal abuse, followed by an unhealthy relationship that left me $20,000 in debt and carrying the weight of a secret abortion, I hit absolute rock bottom. I felt shattered, insecure, and disqualified from a good life.

​In 1994, following the death of my father, I moved back to Ohio and sat on a beach, crying out for a second chance. I saw a sea urchin shell in the sand and realized it symbolized my life: covered in sharp, painful spines. I learned that if you place that shell in the sun, the spines fall off, leaving a beautiful, smooth treasure behind. That is exactly what happened to my soul.
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​Years later, I saw a story on TV about a young woman in prison. I felt an incredible surge of empathy for her pain. ​I began writing to her, and we developed a deep, intimate friendship. I traveled three hours every few months to visit her until she finished her sentence. ​Today, she is a free woman who loves God with all her heart, and we remain close friends.

​God didn't just heal me; He used my brokenness to reach into a prison cell and bring someone else into the light. If you feel like your life is in pieces, give them to the God of second chances. He can recreate something beautiful out of your circumstances, just as He did for me.

​You matter to Him, and He has a plan for your life that no one else can fulfill!

Do We Identify With Prisoners?

In Hebrews 13:3 (NLT), the Bible explicitly commands believers to "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself." This verse encourages a profound sense of empathy and solidarity with the incarcerated. Forgetting them is not an option.

The Bible instructs us to care for the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) - believers caring for believers. Roughly 66% of the incarcerated population in the U.S. are Christians. Statistics also reveal that a substantial number of these Christian prisoners are indigent, and many are without regular visitations.

These believers are a part of our Christian family. Could it be that society has conditioned people to think differently about prisoners? Here are some things to consider:

Have you unknowingly distanced yourself from this part of the Christian body simply because they aren't in your immediate circle? Have you unconsciously viewed prisoners as "other?"
Do they make it to your prayer list?

At Free Life, Christ Temple Church, we refuse to let that distance persist. We are committed to setting a new, biblical standard for how the Church views and cares for the incarcerated. We are committed to every family member of God from the church building to the jails and prisons.

​Connect with us today, and learn how YOU can make a real, lasting impact in the life of a prisoner NOW!

This is a picture of what God can do when we are involved in prison ministry! One of our team members, Millard (4th from L) found Jesus while serving time. He was blessed to reconnect with some of his fellow inmates who have since moved on to productive lives upon release.

We are invested in the lives of prisoners because we know that God still changes lives. At Free Life, we make friends for life!

What a glorious day we had this past Sunday. We were privileged to witness four men proclaim their faith in the Lord through baptism.