Testimonies

I have been in prison four times because of drugs. I used drugs to numb the pain from a childhood of abuse and neglect. I quit school in the eighth grade to take care of my baby, born as a product of rape. For most of my life, I have felt like I was a loser, a bad seed. Hopeless and uneducated, I had to survive the only way I knew: prostitution and drugs. This tim in prison, I was so sick of myself and my life, all I wanted to do was die. That's when God intervened. Through the social worker at Lexington Women's Prison, I heard about a new house in Summerfield, NC, who would take women like me and help us to change our lives.

I have completed a year with Tabitha House and it has been a miracle. Although we have recovery classes and support for our addictions, we don't focus on that: we learn what makes us want to escape. We learn where the pain started. I have also been taught how to budget my money and finances and how to dress like a lady. The unconditional love I have been given at Tabitha House has helped me to see myself differently.

I have decided to go to Bible College, and stay on with the ministry to help other women like myself.
 

I had been on the streets of Greensboro since I was 16 years old. I ran away from home because of my brother’s sexual abuse - my family did not believe me. I survived by using men and stealing. I did manage to finish high school.  I have been in prison eight times due to drugs, robbery and prostitution.

The last time in prison, I met Cindi Wagner . I was attending her class for abuse. After hearing her story I began to think there might be hope for me. When I got out I went to Tabitha House. I cannot put into words how the ministry changed my life. For the first time I felt I could “unpack” my duffel bag. I had never done that . I always kept it packed and close by in case I would have to run or leave quickly.

I stayed for 18 months. While at Tabitha they helped me get a job. I have been there 3 years and have been made manager over 2 departments. Me….the girl who used to wander for days not knowing where I was going to sleep or what I would have to do to eat, now I am a real citizen. But the best news is that I have been approved by Bank Of America to buy my own home…. Tabitha House helps women to believe in themselves and gives them support every step of the way. I now can respect myself and that’s a huge change in my life.
 

For 30 years, I've been good at being what other people wanted me to be.  Through the Patience of Tabitha's volunteers, I'm beginning to find out who I am in Christ.  Knowing that someone love me regardless has given me hope.  When we see that you love us for who we are, it helps us get through our struggles to create a new life for ourselves.  I still have a hard time seeing good things about myself, but you are telling me that you see me growing and becoming a godly woman.  It takes longer than 6 months to change my ways, but I'm off to a good start - learning to crawl again, so that I can walk in a new life.  I am learning what love truly is - God's love and the love of Christians.

This is from Angel.

For me, Tabitha was an opportunity to take down my walls and release the anger that had pushed me for my whole life.  Learning to love God (and love myself in the process) has been a whole new life.  I've been to seminary and I've been around church, but I'm learning that relationship with God is the most important thing.  I'm growing up all over again, with God's direction and order, and I'm excite at the new me!

I really thank God for sending people in our lives like Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.  They've really been like angels to us.  We got married and moved to High Point.   I was pregnant with twins, but I was put out of work 3 months into my pregnancy.  Then, my husband was laid off.  So now our income was nothing.  He worked temporary jobs just to put a little food on the table and buy diapers.  Now God has blessed us with a 2-bedroom house.  We moved in with nothing.  In the transition, we let someone hold our clothes, important papers and other stuff - but when we went back for it, everything was gone.  So, we were in desperate shape.

Then I was referred to Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.  I spoke to Mrs. Wagner about our situation, and she said they could help.  She's bringing us dishes, a bed, a crib, living room furniture, and a dinette.  We thank God that there are people out there that are willing to help us.  I don't know what we would have done without the help of Tabitha Ministry.  When we're able, we would love to give back to this ministry.  God answered our prayers, and we want to help answer someone else's prayers in thris times of need.  Again, thank you for everything you've done!

When I was 12 years old, I accepted God into my life.  What you must understand is that I came from a good Christian home.  I got married at the age of 16.  No, I wasn't pregnant.  But, I had 2 children by the time I turned 19.  A year later, I was separated and lost custody of my 2 children.  I guess you are thinking that I was on drugs -- that is the wrong answer.  My problems were with men.  Also I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it, and I was not willing to wait for anything.  Therefore, in 1991, I was 22 years old and in prison for forgery.  I only pulled 32 days of jail time.  But, since then, I have found myself in and out of jail.  I got married again in 1995, but I couldn't handle the peace of that great marriage.  I created drama.  I had another child in 1996 at the age of 27.  But, 2 years later, I lost custody of that child, too. 

That's when I found crack.  I entered into a path of destruction.  I found myself back in prison in 2000.  I got out in April 2001 and went back in February 2002.  Wow!  What a roller coaster ride.  I sat down and thought to myself, "God don't make any junk."  I met this inspiring lady by the name of Cindi.  She helped me realize that I could cross the boundaries I had made a part of my life.  So, I am recreating my life with a whole new set of rules.  My God comes first.  Finally, at the age of 33, it is all coming together.  I got baptized again, and I am a new creature in Christ!  Praise the Lord!

Update: Cheryl has successfully maintained her sobriety and has been reunited with her son who is now studying to be a youth pastor. This is a direct result of seeing God’s restorative power in his mother's life!

"My Helper"

Ten iron bars lock me in,

A cell of stone and steel,

Forty-eight square feet of room,

    Fear is what I feel.

I see the hurt and all the pain,

In this place each day.

So, why can I smile?

What took my fear away?

Yes, I'm a prisoner in this jail,

But not in my heart -- You see,

Because there's someone special

Who's always here with me.

So don't feel bad because I'm here,

You see there's a good part,

I have my Bible and my Faith,

And Jesus in my heart.

He gives me strength to hang on.

Hope, to face each day.

When things get rough

I close my eyes,

And see him when I pray.

My father left before I was born and my mother married when I was six.  At first I liked my step-dad, but he started making my Mom smoke crack.  After that my whole life went bad.  One of his friends had sex with me when I was ten. Nobody believed me when I told. I started selling and doing drugs at fifteen and that's how I got in prison. I am now 22 and have two babies: little girls 2 and 3 years old.  They are in foster care.

Thank you for telling me about Jesus and counseling me.  I read my Bible every day, and I come to all the Bible studies.  For the first time in my whole life, I feel happy and I have hope for the future.  Jesus will always be there for me.  I have given my life over to Christ.  It's like you say, Ms. Cindi... I am a new creature, a new person!

In my mid-twenties, I felt the need for God, but I never did anything about it.  I was a drug dealer and user.  On May 16th 1997, God changed my life forever.  Around 7:00 that morning, I was shot in the face with an automatic, an inch from my temple, entering in on my left side and exiting out on my right jaw - cracking all the bones in my jaw into little pieces.  My tongue was split in half and there were pieces of me falling all over the floor.

I never fainted, fell, or passed out from the shooting -- I didn't even know I was shot until I was told.  I never felt a thing!  I heard the gunshot, even saw the blue flame from the gun - but I didn't realize that I was the one who had been shot.  After 3 or 4 minutes, I walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror to see how much damage was done to my face.  My husband stayed with me until the rescue squad arrived.  I was standing in the doorway waiting on them, but walked past me to get the person who was shot...! not realizing it was me.  I was flown to Charlotte, and I went unconscious because of the loss of blood.  When I reached the emergency room in Charlotte, I was paralyzed from the neck down.  I could hear, but I couldn't open my eyes.  They couldn't get any vital signs, so I was pronounced dead.  I was able to hear the doctor and nurse talking.  After they gave up on me, the Lord gave me His sight to see my pastor come and pray for me.  My mom and sisters came in, and the Lord made one of my fingers move!  The nurse saw it and told the doctor, but he thought she was just imagining things.  Then, the Lord made 2 fingers move, and the doctor saw that himself.  Three days later, I woke up after surgery.  My mouth was wired shut for 4 months, with screws on each side of my face ad an iron bar holding my jaw together.

God had to let me die to bring me back again.  His grace and mercy kept me from 15 operations - I've only had 5 and just 1 more to go!  The reason for my testimony is because of Jesus.  Today I live for Him with my whole heart!  I died and was brought back to life - I was resurrected - thanks to God's grace and mercy.  This is why there's nothing or no one that can keep me from living for the Lord. I'm in prison not just because of my crime, but to stand firm in the Lord.  Nothing is too big or too small for my God, the awesome God I serve.  

Tabitha Ministry ● PO Box 514 ● Summerfield, NC  27358 ● 336.643.0223  ●  E-mail

Lord, the wounds of the world are too deep for us to heal.

We have to bring men and women to You and ask You to look after them . . .

     the sick in body and mind, the withered in spirit, the victims of greed and injustice, the prisoners of grief.

And yet, our Father, do not let our prayers excuse us from paying the price of compassion.

Make us generous with the resources you have entrusted to us.

Let Your work of rescue be done in us and through us all.