Issue 2 | 2023

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE 

WHY NOT YOU? 

DAR VUELTA 

PARA VER 

EN ESPAÑOL 

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR 

THOUGHT LIFE 

GOD 

CAN 

CHANGE 

YOUR 

FUTURE 

A magazine 

on a mission: 

see page 2 

Issue 02 / 2023

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PHOTO BY EDOVO

ISSUE 2, APRIL 2023 

“All these blessings will come on you and accompany you 

if you obey the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:2 NIV 

Publisher & Executive Director 

Kristi Overton Johnson 

Director of Prison Correspondence 

Lauren Everett 

Cover Photography 

Geri Simpkins Photography 

Editor 

Rachel Overton 

Spanish Editorial Team 

Karissa Anderson, Proofreader 

Monica Colangelo, Translator 

Creative Designer 

Lauren Jones 

Creative Content Team 


Christina Kimbrel 

Administrative Director 

Carla Owens 

Production Manager 


Digital Content Manager 

Sheridan Correa 

Roman Randall 

Assistant to Director of Correspondence 

Simone Bryant 

Director of Partner Care & Development 

Pat Avery 

Hispanic Outreach Director 

Denise San Miguel 

Story Contributors 

Patricia Borges 

Roy A. Borges 

Simone Bryant 

Sheridan Correa 

Julie Engstrom 

Chuck Foreman 

Paula Fox 

Mike Jenkins 



Kenny Munds 

Carla Owens 

Photography 

Mike Barber Ministries 

Douglas Boyd 

Daz Photos 

EDOVO 

Joey Meddock Photography 

Parker Rose Overton 

Marissa Parker 

Geri Simpkins Photography 

Artwork 

Jared Emerson 

Victorious Living magazine is a publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, a 501c3 

organization. Copyright © 2023, Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, all rights 

reserved. For permission to reprint or copy any material contained herein, please 

contact us at admin@vlmag.org. 

DISCLAIMER: The articles featured in Victorious Living are designed to inspire and encourage 

our readers by sharing powerful testimonies from people who, we believe, have been transformed 

by God’s grace, love, and power. The articles are focused on each individual’s testimony. 

Although we conduct some independent research, we rely heavily on the information provided 

to us by those we interview. Our articles are not intended to be an endorsement of the views, 

opinions, choices, or activities of the persons whose stories we feature. The statements, views, 

and opinions of those persons whose stories we feature are purely their own, and we do not 

control and are not responsible for any such statements, views, or opinions. 

HOW TO REACH VICTORIOUS LIVING 

General, Subscription, and Partnership Inquiries 

• Victorious Living 

PO Box 2801, Greenville, NC 27836 

• 352-478-2098 

• admin@vlmag.org 

All Prison Inmate Correspondence 

• Victorious Living Correspondence Outreach 

PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836 

• hope@vlmag.org 

Scripture Permissions 

Scripture marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, copyright 

©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. | Scripture marked NLT is taken from the Holy Bible, New 

Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. | All Scripture is 

used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

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NVI®, copyright © 1999, 2015 por Biblica, Inc.® | La escritura marcada NTV es tomada 

de La Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, © Tyndale House Foundation, 2010. 

| Toda la escritura usado con permiso. Reservados todos los derechos en todo el 

mundo. 

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM 

Issue 02 / 2023 

3

THE VICTORIOUS LIVING STORY 

One visit with an incarcerated friend in 2013 opened the eyes 

of Victorious Living founder, Kristi Overton Johnson, to the 

hopelessness of life behind bars. It also birthed in her a desire to 

deliver hope to the souls of incarcerated men and women. 

Soon after, God opened doors for Victorious Living magazine to 

be distributed in the prison system. He then led Kristi and the VL 

team onto prison yards to share His message of hope in person and, 

more recently, digitally through prison tablets. 

Before that prison encounter, Kristi had 

spent 35 years water-skiing competitively 

worldwide, never considering those 

who had lost their freedom. But God 

had a plan for this world champion 

water-skier to go behind bars to 

encourage hearts with God’s love 

and His message of redemption 

and to equip people to get up and 

experience victorious living for 

themselves. 

Since 2013, Victorious Living 

magazine has impacted the lives of 

over one million incarcerated souls... 

and the story is still being written. 

BE A PART OF THE 

VL STORY 

Victorious Living is a great 

way to carry out God’s 

command to remember the 

prisoner (Matthew 25:34–40; 

Hebrews 13:3). Here’s how 

you can help us deliver hope 

to the incarcerated. 

SHARE 

Share VL with your local church, 

chaplain, jail, or prison. VL is a 

great mission to support and a 

good tool to use too! 

SUPPORT 

VL is partner supported. Your taxdeductible 

gift sends copies of 

VLMag into jails and prisons, where 

it saves lives. And when you give, 

we’ll send you a copy too. 

SPONSOR 

Sponsor jails and prisons to receive 

quarterly cases of VL. It costs us 

$500 to supply 1 case of VL to 1 

facility, each quarter, for 1 year. 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Visit our website and social media 

platforms. Like. Follow. Share. 

@victoriouslivingmag 

PHOTO BY MIKE BARBER MINISTRIES PHOTO BY JOEY MEDDOCK PHOTOGRAPHY 

VISIT VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM OR CALL 352-478-2098

ISSUE 2, APRIL 2023 

CONTENTS 

STEPPING FORWARD 

one depends on you and the choices 

you make. 

16 

COVER STORY 

God Can Change Your Future 

PHOTO BY GERI SIMPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY 

8 

9 

15 

21 

25 

10 

Embrace the Thorn 

BY ROY A. BORGES 

God’s Perfect Gifts 

BY KENNY MUNDS 

Time for an Eye Exam 

BY CHRISTINA KIMBREL 

Let Your Revelation Be Your 

Conversation 

BY JULIE ENGSTROM 

God’s Purpose; Your Trials 

BY CARLA OWENS 

TRANSFORMED 

LIVES 

Consider Your Surroundings 

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON 

God sees you as a champion, but living as 

28 

12 

Take Control of Your 

Thought Life 

BY SHERIDAN CORREA 

How many times have you wished your life 

was different, that you were different, that 

you could be all you wanted to be? Well, a 

good place to start is with the things you 

tell yourself. Fill your inner thoughts with 

God’s truth, not Satan’s lies. 

FEATURES 

Will You Trust God? 

THE STORY OF PAULA FOX 

Paula never expected the phone call informing 

her that her son was going to prison, but 

it came. How could God let this happen? 

And how could she make it better? Paula 

soon learned that she couldn’t—but God, in 

His impeccable way, could. She needed only 

to trust Him. 

22 

26 

THE STORY OF MIKE JENKINS 

Mike had never thought of himself as anything 

more than a poor kid from the hood, 

the son of a crack addict. A waste of talent, 

space, and effort. He had given up any hope 

or effort for being more. But God knew who 

He had created Mike to be, and He didn’t let 

up until Mike surrendered. 

Love Like Jesus 

THE STORY OF PASTOR CHUCK 

FOREMAN 

After more than 20 years in ministry, 

both in the US and Taiwan, Pastor Chuck 

thought he knew what serving God with 

an open heart and open mind meant. And 

then God asked him to open his church to 

a group of former prison inmates. Would a 

staid and older congregation accept this 

group of people? 

Use What’s in Your Hand 

THE STORY OF PATRICIA BORGES 

Widowed for a second time and in her 80s, 

Patricia refused to believe that she was too 

ON THE COVER 

Mike Jenkins’s life 

was never easy. 

Addiction ravaged 

his home, and 

anger consumed 

him. But through 

a relationship with 

God, Mike found 

freedom and a 

new life, as did 

his grandmother, 

Glenda (left), and 

his mother, Sandra 

(right). The grace of 

God rewrote their life 

stories and changed 

their family’s legacy. 

30 

old for God to use her. Determined to use 

all that God had given her for His glory, she 

pressed forward—and found blessings she’d 

never expected. 

Why Not You? 

THE STORY OF SIMONE BRYANT 

When the pressures of her job as a social 

worker caused a mental breakdown, Simone 

finally faced the scars that she herself 

carried from her own time as a child in the 

foster-care system. And she learned her true 

identity as a child of God and stepped into 

the destiny He had prepared for her. 

IN EVERY ISSUE 

6 

Publisher’s Note 

The Power of Yes 

33 

Want to Know Jesus? 

I’m Saved...Now What? 

34 

Ministry News/Resources 



5

PUBLISHER’S NOTE 

The Power of Yes 

Would you like to partner with 

our magazine to deliver God’s 

hope and to impact the lives of 

incarcerated men and women? 

Your gift enables us to send 

this magazine into prisons 

around the nation. Each 

magazine impacts many lives 

for years to come. To help, visit 

victoriouslivingmagazine.com. 

The letter began, “Kristi, I’m sorry 

for any harm I caused your ministry.” 

It was from Bill, a friend 

I hadn’t seen or even thought about for 

several years. And he was writing to me 

from prison. 

Bill had been a professional boat driver 

on the water-ski and wakeboard tour, and 

I was a competitor. We’d met at a lakeside 

church service where Bill shared how God 

had saved his life. I even included his faith 

testimony in our ministry’s materials. 

Then Bill was arrested and sent to prison. 

I, like many in our sport, dissociated 

from him. I stopped using those materials 

that contained his testimony and looked 

for better ways to protect the ministry. 

I got busy doing God’s business and soon 

completely forgot about Bill. He was out of 

sight and out of mind. 

Ironically, in my quest for damage control, 

I never considered God’s heart concerning 

Bill or what being busy with God’s 

business might look like to Him. If I had, I 

would have seen alternatives, like drawing 

closer to Bill instead of running from him. 

Jesus always went after the ones who’d lost 

their way (Luke 15:3–7). 

I would have remembered Bill during 

his incarceration, reached out to him, and 

visited him like Hebrews 13:3 and Matthew 

25:34–36 command. I would have 

encouraged my brother in Christ instead 

of abandoning him. 

But I didn’t. My only concerns were protecting 

the ministry...and myself. 

When I received his letter, Bill was halfway 

through his sentence. He told me 

about prison life and how God was helping 

him survive. And he invited me to visit. 

The idea intrigued me, and I prayed 

about Bill’s invitation. I also talked to my 

husband, Tim. It was an interesting conversation. 

“Hey, honey. Can I go visit another 

man in prison?” 

Thank God for a godly husband who 

could see the bigger picture. 

It’s been almost a decade since I walked 

into that Miami Federal Prison reception 

room. On August 17, 2013, God downloaded 

His love for the incarcerated into my 

heart and showed me a place where He 

wanted me to minister. 

The God of another chance gave me another 

opportunity to remember the prisoner. 

I’m grateful for His grace. I’m glad 

I didn’t miss the opportunity that time. 

Saying yes to God changed my life, and it 

brought you and me together! 

That simple visit led to Victorious Living’s 

prison outreach, which includes this bilingual 

magazine. Since 2013, over a million 

inmates have heard the Gospel of Jesus 

through these pages, tens of thousands 

of inmates have been discipled through 

correspondence and digital broadcasts, 

and our team has provided inmates and 

their family members pastoral care and 

reentry support. To God be the glory. 

Have you considered the power of saying 

yes? One yes leads to another, and that leads 

to another, and so on. (Of course, that also 

means one no stops the chain effect.) 

Because Bill said yes to the Holy Spirit’s 

prompting to write to me, I was given 

a unique opportunity to say yes myself, 

and then others were allowed to say yes. 

Some became ministry partners while others 

shared their stories publicly here. And 

many have accepted Jesus as their Savior. 

Is God inviting you to say yes today? 

Whether to a deeper relationship or a new 

ministry, please don’t refuse His invitation. 

That can feel scary, risky, unfamiliar, 

and uncomfortable. I know. Maybe you 

feel unqualified, unable, unequipped, or 

unprepared. It’s okay. All God needs is your 

willingness—your yes. He’ll take care of the 

rest. There are a million copies of Victorious 

Living circulating in prisons nationwide 

to prove it. 

May God put His blessing on your yes 

today! 


Publisher & Executive Director 


6 Issue 02 / 2023 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Through the stories of Victorious Living, 

men and women behind bars 

meet the God of another chance. 

Testimony of Victorious Living 

Impact: Calvin McLeod 

PHOTO BY DAZ PHOTOS 

I became a part of the Victorious Living 

family in 2015 behind the gates of Avon 

Park Correctional Institution. I came across 

your magazine and reached out to the 

correspondence team for fellowship. In the 

same year, my son died in a car accident. 

Hearing that my son had died was 

devasting and especially difficult to 

learn from behind prison walls. But God 

used Victorious Living magazine, its 

correspondence team, and personal visits by 

Kristi to our facility to keep me encouraged. 

The stories in VLMag and letters from 

the VL correspondence team delivered 

joy, peace, and everlasting hope in my 

time of need. There was so much love and 

compassion in every handwritten note and 

hope in every article. The ministry team 

walked this difficult journey with me and ministered to my heart. 

I often shared my letters and VL magazine with my brothers there, and many 

of them reached out to the ministry too. God used my difficult situation for His glory 

and to deliver hope to others. 

I am a free man today and living a victorious life in Christ. I even have a thriving car 

detailing business through which I tell others about God’s goodness. My love for this 

ministry will never be forgotten. Victorious Living was an anchor for my soul while I was in 

prison, and it still is today. 

SPONSOR A PRISON IN YOUR STATE AND IMPACT LIVES TODAY. 


Visit victoriouslivingmagazine.com. 


7


Embrace the Thorn 

BY ROY A. BORGES 

THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD A MYSTERIOUS affliction 

that caused him great discomfort. He called it a thorn in 

his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). And although it made him 

miserable, the Lord allowed the torment to continue. He 

didn’t remove it, even though Paul begged Him for relief. 

Eventually, Paul surrendered to the Lord’s will and 

relied on God’s strength to endure. He knew that God 

had a purpose in the thorn. In fact, he said it kept him 

from becoming prideful about who he was in Christ. 

I was in prison for over three decades. It was a thorn 

that I thought would never be removed. I prayed for God 

to free me from captivity, and I promised Him that, if 

He set me free, I would live out my life doing His will. 

God had a reason for letting me stay locked up. I had 

much to learn about my need for Christ and what it 

means to follow Him. Today I can say that living with 

the grace of God through my trials and weaknesses is 

much greater than being delivered from them. 

In prison, I learned to lean on God for supernatural 

strength. He never failed to help me endure the hardships 

and difficulties of prison life. 

It wasn’t easy, but I turned my focus from having my 

prayers answered to seeking ways to do God’s will and 

be effective behind prison fences. I started using my 

talent for writing and my gift of encouragement to help 

others learn about the Lord. 

Embracing my situation as an opportunity to serve 

helped take my mind off myself and my problems. It 

gave me purpose. 

For 31 years, I continually reminded myself, “When I 

am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV). 

Like Paul, I chose to boast about my weaknesses and 

how God’s strength helped me overcome. 

The Lord used my thorn to mold me into the man I 

am today and to lead others to Him. My time in prison 

developed my character and deepened my worship. I 

had to humble myself before the Lord and admit my 

sins and weaknesses, but when I did, His strength was 

magnified (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

I knew it was unlikely that I would ever be a free man, 

but through Christ, I found contentment being in prison. 

Today, I appreciate my freedom more because of the 

thorn I suffered for so long. 

Maybe there are painful thorns in your life too, 

and you’ve been begging God to take them away. 

Maybe you don’t understand why He hasn’t removed 

them from you yet. Please don’t lose hope. 

Continue to seek God’s will with your whole heart. 

Trust His presence to comfort you through this season 

of suffering. 

The Lord never wastes a thorn. Just like He did for 

me, He will use every thorny experience to reveal 

His love, faithfulness, and power and to prepare 

you for what’s ahead. 

Ask God to give you an attitude of thankfulness 

and a teachable spirit that will help you endure despite 

your trials. Your praise will bring God’s presence 

and power into your situation and strengthen 

you. And it will be a testimony to an onlooking world 

of the goodness of God. 

ROY A. BORGES 

served 31 years in the 

Florida Department 

of Corrections, where 

he realized his need 

for a Savior. While 

incarcerated, Roy 

ministered to others 

through his writings, 

over 300 of which have 

been published. He is 

also the author of 101 

Short Stories: From the 

Prison Cell. 



GOD’S 

PERFECT 

GIFTS 

BY KENNY MUNDS 

PICKING OUT JUST THE RIGHT GIFT 

for a child can be challenging. Sometimes 

it’s rewarding, and sometimes not so 

much. 

I recently visited a friend who was 

babysitting her granddaughter for the day. 

On my way, I thought it would be nice to 

stop to get something special for the fouryear-old. 

When shopping for a child, I try to think 

like a child, but this felt a bit more complicated. 

I wasn’t sure I knew what a little girl 

might want. Finally, I decided that any toy 

that stimulates a young mind and helps it 

grow would be appropriate. 

I strolled through Walmart’s toy section, 

almost dizzy from the endless variety and 

choices. The toys were arranged in sections 

by age group: puzzles, Play-Doh, 

dolls, action figures, dart guns...on and on 

they went. I walked up and down the aisles 

until I’d finally picked out a few things I 

thought she might like. Satisfied with my 

selections, I hurried off to visit my friend 

and deliver the gifts. 

Things went well initially, and the young 

missy seemed to like what I got her. Watching 

her piece together the wooden puzzles 

and draw the animals on the art pad was a 

real treat. She enjoyed blowing some bubbles 

and turning Play-Doh into a flower for 

me. But soon, she turned to me and asked, 

“What else did you bring me?” 

Some might think that was a presumptuous 

or even rude question, but I saw her 

as Jesus must see us. 

Interestingly, Jesus tells us to posture 

our hearts like a child to receive His gifts. 

In Mark 10:13–16, we see some children 

who approached Jesus, looking for His attention. 

The disciples, however, tried to 

shoo the children away. Hmm. I wonder 

if they thought maybe the children were 

being presumptuous or rude. 

But how did Jesus react? He welcomed 

them with open arms—the same way He 

receives us. Jesus rebuked the disciples, 

saying, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will 

not receive the kingdom of God like a little 

child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15 NIV). 

He wants us to come to Him with open 

arms and open hearts. 

God offers us the most incredible gifts 

anyone could hope for, and according to 

James 1:17, they are good and perfect. 

Jesus gives us forgiveness for our sins, 

redemption, unconditional love, the gift 

of the Holy Spirit, and so much more. 

But to receive His gifts, we must have a 

child’s attitude. We must be trusting, meek, 

curious, and have a never-ending appetite 

for more. 

“Come to me,” Jesus says. “I have much 

to show and give you!” 

Children don’t feel powerful, perfectly 

righteous, or self-sufficient like most 

adults do. They realize their need for protection 

and provision. They aren’t afraid 

to ask questions and eagerly accept what 

is being given. 

And that’s how we should be. We must 

shed the cloaks of self-sufficiency that 

arise from our life experiences. God wants 

us to realize our need for His gifts. He invites 

us to come to Him so He can touch 

and bless us. 

May God give us the never-ceasing energy 

and curiosity of a child in our relationship 

with Jesus. May we search constantly 

for new and exciting things to satisfy our 

hunger to know Him more. When we come 

to Him with that childlike attitude, He’ll 

continue to offer gifts that will stimulate 

our spiritual growth. 

So go ahead—embrace the beautiful 

blessings your heavenly Father has in 

store for you. Don’t be afraid to ask Him, 

“Lord, what else do You have for me?” 

KENNY MUNDS takes the good news of 

God’s love and forgiveness into prisons across 

America. To learn more about his ministry, go to 

kennymundsministry.org. 



9

TRANSFORMED LIVES 

Consider Your 

Surroundings 

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON 

I’VE OFTEN SHARED HOW BECOMING 

a champion starts with seeing yourself as 

one. And why not? That’s how God sees you. 

Experiencing victory, however, depends 

on you. It takes commitment, courage, determination, 

sacrifice, and surrender. You 

must move out of your comfort zone and 

do the work. Nobody else can do it for you. 

As you move toward victory, it’s essential 

to consider your surroundings. Here’s 

a practical example from my water-ski 

career. After graduating from high school, 

I moved from North Carolina to Florida to 

train year-round in warmer weather. 

Moving, however, required me to leave 

my familiar surroundings. No longer would 

I have my parents to coach me or my brother 

to drive the boat. Plus, I was leaving our 

private facility, Lake Kristi, that my parents 

had built for me. It was a perfect training 

site. Nonetheless, I knew moving was necessary 

if I wanted to train with the best in 

the world. 

So, with the help of my parents, I sought 

out a healthy support system in Florida. I 

found an elite coach who would push me 

out of my comfort zone, and I made sure 

his lake was challenging. Training in calm, 

easy conditions wasn’t going to help me 

win against the world’s best on the rough 

rivers of the pro circuit. I needed to do 

some tough training if I wanted to climb 

the championship podium. 

I also needed to surround myself with 

people of excellence. That meant finding 

training partners who would push me beyond 

my current abilities—and boy, did 

they! Those four guys didn’t cut this girl 

any slack, and I wouldn’t have wanted it 

any other way. 

For years, I had trained with people at or 

below my level, and I had grown mentally 

and physically stagnant. I needed a push 

from a fresh crew and a new training regimen. 

Those top male athletes were just 

the ones to do it. 

Their performances were much higher 

than mine, which was initially intimidating. 

But once I embraced the challenge, I 

found I could do so much more, on and off 

the water. It was time to grow as an athlete. 

These guys trained in unbelievably 

tough conditions—wind, rain, and rough 

water. And they trained just as hard off the 

water, in the gym. Seeing their commitment, 

courage, and success led me to get 

off the dock when otherwise, I would have 

stayed in the lake cabin eating Pop-Tarts. 

Being surrounded by greatness fueled a 

fire in me, and I started emulating how they 

trained. As a result, I became the numberone-ranked 

female water-skier in the world 

and posted performances that ranked with 

the top male skiers. 

I say all that to say this: to be a champion, 

you must place yourself in surroundings 

conducive to greatness. And you must put 

yourself in the company of winners—this 

is true in every area of your life. 



Right: Leaving her supportive parents, Parker 

and Becky Overton, and the comfort of her private 

training facility in North Carolina to train in Florida 

with professional skiers was a difficult decision. 

But the move provided the training and coaching 

Kristi needed to become a world record holder in 

waterskiing for 18 years. 

Far right: Careful choosing of her training partners 

and practice location paid off. Pictured here with 

the US team at the 1999 Pan Am Games. 

You become what and who you hang 

around with. First Corinthians 15:33 says, 

“Bad company corrupts good character” 

(NLT). If you hang around with chumps in 

chumpy places (spiritually or physically 

speaking), you will also become a chump. 

But a chump is not who you were created 

to become. You were made in the image 

of Almighty God, and He doesn’t make 

chumps. He makes champions, and it’s 

never too late to become one. 

Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has 

plans for victory for you, but whether you 

experience them or not is determined in 

part by your circle of influence. 

King David, a shepherd boy who defeated 

a giant and became a king, made 

daily choices regarding his surroundings. 

His choices led him to God’s winner circle. 

Let’s read Psalm 101 (NLT). 

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I 

will praise you with songs. I will be careful 

to live a blameless life—when will 

you come to help me? I will lead a life of 

integrity in my own home. I will refuse 

to look at anything vile and vulgar. I 

hate all who deal crookedly; I will have 

nothing to do with them. I will reject 

perverse ideas and stay away from every 

evil. I will not tolerate people who 

slander their neighbors. I will not endure 

conceit and pride. I will search for 

faithful people to be my companions. 

Only those who are above reproach will 

be allowed to serve me. I will not allow 

deceivers to serve in my house, and liars 

will not stay in my presence. My daily 

task will be to ferret out the wicked and 

free the city of the Lord from their grip. 

In this psalm, we see David praising God, 

but we also see the daily choices he made 

to live a life worthy of a child of God. (See 

also Philippians 1:27; 4:4–9.) While he was 

not a perfect man, David was a champion 

in both public and private places. 

He made choices behind closed doors to 

keep his heart and mind pure. He also protected 

his eyes (the gateway to the soul) by 

refusing to look at anything vile and vulgar. 

(See also Matthew 6:22–24.) David ensured 

his surroundings were conducive to a godly 

lifestyle—the life of a true champion. 

But also notice that David surrounded 

himself with other champions. He 

had nothing to do with people who dealt 

crookedly with others, and he didn’t tolerate 

prideful and hurtful people. Instead, 

he found faithful people who were full of 

integrity to be his companions and only 

allowed people above reproach (those with 

good reputations) to serve him. 

David protected his surroundings and 

kept himself away from liars and deceivers. 

He exposed wicked people and pushed 

them out of his presence and the city. 

Like David, we must be proactive in how 

we live and who we live among. 

Of course, you could say, “But, Kristi, evil 

people are around every corner. There’s 

nothing I can do about that.” 

I wouldn’t argue with you. Evil does surround 

us. You might even be in prison or 

a workplace where being a believer puts 

you in the minority. That doesn’t mean you 

should lose hope. 

Ask the Lord to show you godly people 

and new places you can go. Proverbs 3:6 

says if you seek God’s will, He will show you 

which path to take. God will show you what 

to do and who to be around. He promises 

He will help you. 

Just as there are evil people, there are 

godly people near you too who are determined 

to live above reproach. They are full 

of integrity and have a good reputation. 

They are serious about changing and committed 

to growing in faith. Search for them 

and join them. 

When you do, bring something to the 

group. Don’t just be a taker; be a giver of 

what you have. Bring enthusiasm, eagerness, 

integrity, commitment, and faithfulness. 

I’m sure that when I was training, my 

desire to learn, my steady improvement, 

and loyalty to my mentors pushed them to 

new levels on the water too. 

Take a moment to consider your peer 

group. Is who you hang around with who 

you want to become? If not, then it’s time 

to make a change. 

How about your surroundings? Will the 

places you hang out and the people you 

hang out with fuel the champion in you and 

lead you to victory? Or will they cause you 

to remain stagnant or pull you into defeat? 

Your surroundings and your peer group 

are vital for success, especially for those 

reentering society. Victory never just happens; 

you must plan for it. Take time to 

consider where you should live and who 

you should live among. Pray and ask God 

to direct your steps. 

With His help, the right environment, 

and a good support system, victory will 

be yours. 

KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON encourages and 

equips people for victory through her writings, 

speaking engagements, and prison ministry. To 

learn more, go to kojministries.org. 



11

Will You 

Trust God? 

THE STORY OF 

PAULA FOX 

C 

ertain events stay 

fresh in our memories 

forever, like the 

birth of a child and 

taking them home 

for the first time. Even now, I can vividly 

recall the sleeper my youngest son, Brett, 

wore when I brought him home from the 

hadn’t spoken in months, and our previous 

call had ended in an argument. Sadly, that 

was the norm between us. 

But this call would be different. I answered 

and immediately heard sobs on 

the other end of the line. It was a crying 

that came from a place of absolute fear 

and panic. 

The days and weeks that followed are 

a blur. My mother’s heart attempted to 

reconcile terms like “suicide watch” and 

“no release on bail.” I was drowning in 

an overwhelming mix of emotions: fear, 

sadness, shame, guilt, and helplessness. I 

cried a lifetime of tears. 

I sat alone in my closet and rifled 

PHOTO BY PARKER ROSE OVERTON 

hospital—his “froggie.” I loved to cuddle 

My son attempted to catch his breath 

through my Bible, desperately seeking a 

him in that soft outfit. Memories like that 

as he told me a warrant was out for his 

way to escape my sorrow. I didn’t under- 

are precious. 

arrest. He was on his way to turn himself 

stand the depth of God’s love for my son 

But then there are the memories I wish I 

in to the police. 

and me then, so I was scared to death. 

could forget, like the day I learned that same 

Trust me—no parent is prepared for that 

One day as I was begging God to take 

son was going to jail. That life-changing 

conversation. 

away my pain, He led me to the story of 

phone call came four days before Christ- 

As his mom, I searched frantically for 

Paul and his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corin- 

mas in 2015. I remember every detail. 

the right words to comfort him, to assure 

thians 12:7–9). Like me, Paul had begged 

I was heading out the door to finish 

him that everything would be okay. But 

the Lord to take some hardship from his 

some last-minute holiday shopping when 

all I could do was cry with him and say, 

life. But the Lord answered, “My grace 

my phone rang. I wasn’t going to answer it, 

“I love you.” I was terrified and alone as I 

is all you need. My power works best in 

but then I noticed it was Brett calling. We 

hung up the phone. 

weakness” (NLT). 


I couldn’t move past this verse. I read it 

again. And again. Each time, a different part 

of it jumped out at me. 

“His power is made perfect in my weakness.” 



God illuminated my heart and mind as I 

meditated on this verse, and I noticed the 

contrast between my weakness and God’s 

power. Being in that weakened state positioned 

me to experience the fullness of God’s 

power. It allowed me to witness God’s power 

in action, and I realized that hardship wasn’t 

my enemy. It wasn’t something to pray away 

immediately. 

Still, I didn’t appreciate feeling helpless or 

weak. I’ve always been a take-control person, 

as self-reliant as they come. And yet…I never 

seemed to achieve the desired outcome. Honestly, 

I often made things worse. And that led 

to feelings of self-pity and bitterness. 

I was a living example of God’s Word in 

Jere miah 17:5, “Cursed are those who put 

their trust in mere humans, who rely on human 

strength and turn their hearts away from 

the Lord” (NLT). 

The Lord showed me that self-reliance had 

prevented me from having a deep personal 

relationship with Him. I was a spiritually 

dead Christian who foolishly believed I was 

in control. 

My son’s arrest presented a situation over 

which I had zero control. My child was facing 

serious prison time, and there was no amount 

of action or self-reliance that would change 

the outcome. For the first time in my life, I was 

desperate for God. Without His intervention 

and help, I would have drowned in my sea 

of troubles. 

And that’s when I started to discern God’s 

presence in my life. He kept nudging me and 

asking, “Do you trust Me?” 

I wish I could say I immediately surrendered 

and said yes, but it wasn’t that easy. 

After all, this was my son. How could I trust 

anyone else to care for and love him more 

than I did? 

I wrestled with God for months, until my 

brother sent me a copy of an article about a 

desperate mother with a prodigal son. 

This woman talked about a dream 

where she’d recited a prayer for her son, 

touched him with the blood of Jesus, and 

then asked God, “What now?” God told 

her to leave her son with Him. She then 

shared how she laid her son at the foot 

of the cross and trusted the love of God. 

By the time I finished reading the article, 

I was sobbing, overcome by tears of joy 

and relief as God spoke to my heart. He 

invited me to leave my son with Him and 

trust His love. No, I couldn’t be with Brett. 

I couldn’t help him. 

But God could, and He would. 

I surrendered my son that day into my 

heavenly Father’s loving arms. I found 

immediate relief as He lifted that heavy 

burden from my shoulders. 

After that, my prayers became more 

confident. I began coming boldly to God’s 

throne of grace to find the help I needed 

(Hebrews 4:16). I asked God to send the 

Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen my 

son (John 14:16) and to place Christians in 

his path to guide him and share the love 

of Jesus with him. God’s Spirit comforted 

me too. 

A few years into Brett’s prison sentence, 

I learned of a prison ministry called Kairos. 

I attended an orientation meeting for 

a local group of volunteers who hosted 

weekends inside a women’s prison with 

the intent of building a Christian community 

there. 

I felt drawn to the ministry as I heard 

stories of how lives were being transformed. 

God had led me to this place and 

prepared me for this moment. 

I thought back to when I’d asked God 

to place believers in Brett’s path in his 

prison. Now the Lord was calling me to 

step into the path of someone else’s child 

behind bars and be a living example of 

Christ’s love. 

Those Kairos weekends were a blessing 

for me; I felt so at home! I had come full 

circle from wallowing as the cursed one in 

Jeremiah 17:5 to being a living testimony 

of Romans 8:28. Because I loved the Lord 

The Lord was calling me to step into the 

path of someone else’s child behind bars 

and be a living example of Christ’s love. 

Paula and Brett pictured 

at her college graduation, 

then later at his high school 

graduation. 



13

I am grateful for my son’s incarceration. 

We both needed to get to the end of 

ourselves to find Jesus sitting beside us. 

and was living out His purposes, He was 

working the most challenging trial of my 

life for my good and the good of others. 

The greatest blessing on this journey 

has been reconciling with my son and 

growing in our faith together. Quite frankly, 

it’s more than a blessing; it’s a miracle. 

Before Brett’s arrest, our relationship 

was defined by conflict and separation. 

With every year that passed, I lost more of 

him. The thread that bound us was steadily 

unraveling in my grasp. But I had been 

praying that God would save my son, and 

He heard my prayers (1 Thessalonians 

5:16–18). 

While Brett’s story is his to share, he 

would freely tell you that he was walking 

down a dark path of destruction until 

Christ intervened. The Lord has done 

a mighty work in his life. Of course, his 

transformation didn’t happen overnight; 

no one’s does. But God never gave up on 

him, and neither did I. 

Paula and Brett’s visits in prison 

have encouraged both of them 

greatly. Pictured here in 2019. 

In 2019, I attended a family day at the 

prison, where my son gave his testimony. 

Toward the end of his talk, he turned 

and thanked me for refusing to give up 

on him. He apologized for the pain he had 

caused, and then he shared the foundation 

of faith that I had instilled in him. I cannot 

describe the joy I experienced that day. 

I never thought I would say this, but I 

am grateful for my son’s incarceration. We 

both needed to get to the end of ourselves 

so we could see that Jesus had been sitting 

beside us the whole time. 

Jesus is the only One who could free us 

from the grip of the enemy. Only He could 

show us the path to redemption and love 

us enough to forgive our past mistakes. 

And then He taught us how to forgive ourselves 

and each other, so we could love one 

another as He loves us. 

I won’t lie; Brett and I still have difficult 

days. It’s been a long and arduous journey 

with many challenges. In seven years, he 

has been housed in seven different prisons 

and moved farther away from home each 

time. We’ve survived a pandemic that resulted 

in our inability to see each other for 

more than a year. And I can’t even begin 

to tell you the injustices he has endured 

to survive. 

God’s Word consistently encourages and 

uplifts us. Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and 

courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

For the Lord your God is with you 

wherever you go” (NLT). I recall this verse 

whenever I need to be reminded that God 

is with me. 

While I am grateful for all God has 

done for us over the past several years, 

I look forward to concluding this chapter 

of our lives. Brett will be released in 

a few months, and I’m eagerly awaiting 

his homecoming and being able to embrace 

him. No longer will I have to leave 

him behind. I look forward to long walks 

and enjoying our favorite meals together. 

At the same time, I’m well aware that 

adjusting to life outside of prison will be 

a challenge on its own. Brett will have to 

deal with the collateral consequences of 

his felony conviction. I’m sometimes overwhelmed 

by the reality of the challenges 

he’ll be facing. I’ve even asked God, “How 

much more can we endure?” 

But God was prompt with His answer 

and led me to Matthew 16:9: “Don’t you 

understand even yet? Don’t you remember 

the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the 

baskets of leftovers you picked up?” (NLT). 

Jesus had to remind His disciples about 

the miracles of the past, and now, God was 

reminding me too. I must never forget His 

mercies and all He has done for my son 

and for me; doing so would allow the enemy 

to sneak in and overwhelm me with 

his lies. 

No situation is too hard for God (Jeremiah 

32:17). In fact, the bigger the challenge, 

the greater the opportunity for us 

to experience God’s power. We can face 

anything with Christ (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 

4:13). There is no darkness that 

we will encounter that the light of Jesus 

has not already conquered (John 1:5). 

Maybe you’re fighting doubts and whatif 

scenarios too. It’s hard to face the unknown. 

Let me encourage you to remember 

God’s faithfulness and His promise found 

in Joshua 1:9. You are not facing the darkness 

alone. God is with you. Always. 

He will show up and work in your situation 

in amazing ways. Will you trust Him? 

I hope my story helps you answer with 

a resounding yes and amen. 

PAULA FOX loves the Lord and serving His 

children behind bars. She volunteers her time at 

Kairos Prison Ministry and Victorious Living. 



TIME FOR AN EYE EXAM 

BY CHRISTINA KIMBREL 

MY STRUGGLE WITH IMPAIRED VISION 

began in elementary school. Thankfully, 

a teacher noticed that I was straining to 

see the chalkboard. I was also regularly 

complaining of headaches. She called my 

parents with her concerns. 

A trip to the optometrist determined that 

I was severely nearsighted. I got my first 

pair of eyeglasses in the fifth grade, and I 

instantly enjoyed the crisp and clear sight 

they provided. But the relief was shortlived 

as my vision soon deteriorated again 

and I needed new glasses. 

Over the last four decades, I’ve made 

dozens of trips to the eye doctor. I can always 

tell when it’s time to go back because 

my eyesight starts to get blurry again. Despite 

the need for regular readjustments, 

however, I am grateful for the technological 

developments in optometry that continue 

to effectively correct my vision. 

It’s important to take care of our spiritual 

eyes as well. In fact, regular visits with the 

Great Physician are essential for keeping 

our spiritual eyesight crisp and clear. 

In Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus said, “If your 

eyes are healthy, your whole body will 

be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, 

your whole body will be full of 

darkness” (NIV). 

Of course, He was not talking about the 

eyes in our head but those in our spirit. 

We view every person and circumstance 

in our lives through a spiritual lens; therefore, 

we must be diligent in how we care 

for that vision. If our sight is out of whack, 

we cannot view life from an eternal perspective. 

Nor can we look at others with 

the same loving eyes that Jesus has. 

Before we know Him, we are spiritually 

blind and cannot see the things that reveal 

God’s glory, like creation and the truth of 

scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14). But with the 

help of the Holy Spirit, our eyes miraculously 

open to our need for the salvation 

that comes only from Jesus. 

Once He lives in our hearts, we begin to 

see things about ourselves, our sins, and 

the world around us in new ways. The apostle 

Paul prayed for all of us who become 

believers to have the eyes of our hearts 

enlightened so we can know the hope He 

brings (Ephesians 1:18). 

Just like with my physical eyesight, I 

can tell when my spiritual vision is getting 

blurry. I know when I need an adjustment. 

If I’m paying attention, I’ll realize that 

my discontent comes from not looking at 

my life with gratitude. My judgmental or 

impatient attitude is evidence that I’m for- 

getting to offer others the same grace and 

mercy that God gives me every day. When 

I’m consumed by the need for approval 

from those around me, then I know my 

eyes are fixed on everything else but Jesus. 

Is your outlook on life currently distorted 

and unhealthy? Are you noticing the 

faults and shortcomings of others more 

frequently? Is a positive outcome to a tough 

situation difficult for you to envision? 

If you answered yes to any of those 

questions, it might be time to get your 

eyes checked. 

Spend some quiet time with the Lord 

and ask Him to show you why your spiritual 

vision is declining. Only He can help 

you see again clearly. Allow Him to search 

your heart for the sin or distractions that 

have clouded your perspective. Invite Him 

to restore your sight so you can again see 

the light in the darkness and blessings 

amid trials. 

If you visit Him regularly and willingly 

allow Him to adjust your lenses, your vision 

will always be sharp. 

CHRISTINA KIMBREL serves as VL’s production 

manager. Once incarcerated, she now ministers 

hope to those held captive by their past and current 

circumstances while sharing the message of 

healing she found in Jesus. 



15

GOD CAN 

CHANGE 

YOUR 

FUTURE 

H 

THE STORY OF 

MIKE JENKINS 

ow you feelin’, Mike?” 

Grandma asked me this question every time 

we were alone in her car. My behavior had grown 

increasingly dark, and she was convinced it was 

only a matter of time before I hurt myself or maybe 

someone else. 

“It ain’t good to keep all those emotions bottled 

up inside you,” she’d warn. 

But even if I’d wanted to answer her, I couldn’t. I 

didn’t feel anything. I wasn’t always that way. As a 

kid, I’d had lots of emotions…but few felt good. So 

I stuffed them deep inside and kept going. 

My mom was 15 when she gave birth to me. 

She was young, single, poor, and severely addicted 

to crack cocaine. Our home was chaotic, and 

I didn’t have a safe space to express how I felt. 

Mom wasn’t emotionally, mentally, or physically 

able to hear me, much less help me sort through 

my pain. 

If I told anyone else how I felt, I’d have to reveal 

the root of the problem, and that would break an 

unwritten code between Mom and me. Whatever 

happened in our house, stayed in our house. 

16 Issue 02 / 2023 

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


Mom’s addiction and our life in the projects exposed 

me to many evils. Our neighborhood was full 

of evil, drugs, and crime. When I was five years old, 

I witnessed a drive-by shooting. Not long after, my 

best friend was shot and killed. Those traumatic 

experiences hurt my young heart. Mom ran with 

a tough crowd, and sometimes terrible things 

happened to her. 

I was the most afraid and vulnerable at night. I 

would lie on my bed and listen to the noises from 

the street, neighboring apartments, and sometimes, 

my own home. Yelling. Screaming. Gunfire. 

When Mom gave birth to my sister, I was the 

one who changed my sister’s diapers, warmed 

her bottle, and fed her in the middle of the night 

because Mom was incapacitated. And I was only 

seven years old. 

Eventually, Mom moved us from the projects of 

Virginia to North Carolina to be near family. But 

her addiction and poverty moved with us. 

Please understand: I love my mother. Today she 

is free from her addiction, and we have a good 

relationship. I share these details only to lay the 

foundation for my story and to testify to the goodness 

of God. He rescued my grandmother, mother, 

and me from destructive generational patterns 

and choices. But we went through a lot to get there. 

With time, fear and loneliness turned into 

disappointment. Every time Mom chose crack 

over me, I felt let down. Her addiction resulted 

in countless broken promises and a lack of basic 

necessities. Disappointment eventually turned 

to resentment. 

I was angry with Mom for not providing for 

us. I resented her because I had to care for my 

siblings, even though I loved them. While that 

responsibility probably saved my life by keeping 

me busy and off the streets, at the time, it felt my 

childhood had been stolen from me. 

Mom’s addiction and eventual incarceration 

meant my siblings and I were bounced around 

between relatives in North and South Carolina. 

I’m thankful for the intervening love and security 

Grandma and her sister, Aunt Sarah, gave us, but 

moving meant new neighborhoods and schools. It 

seemed I was always the new kid and people were 

always sizing me up. My self-esteem was almost 

nonexistent. Mostly, I stayed to myself and kept 

my mouth closed. 

Going from Mom’s house, where there were no 

rules, to Aunt Sarah’s, where there were rules and 

consequences, was not easy. I didn’t like being 

told what to do and became rebellious. My new 

elementary school had to develop an in-school 

suspension program just for me. 

About that time, movies glorifying gang life 

became popular. Suddenly, my life experiences 

were right there on the big screen, and I realized 

how much power someone from the hood—like 

me—could have over others. Dark thoughts and 

ideas swirled through my head as I imagined what 

it’d be like to be a killer. Maybe I’d be a hitman. 

By seventh grade, I was carrying knives, threatening 

classmates, and smoking weed. I liked being 

high. I owned my first handgun by eighth grade, 

and in ninth, I swung a machete at a man’s head. 

Right: Young Mike 

was exposed 

to many evils 

growing up that 

often turned 

playgrounds into 

places of violence. 

Far right: Mike 

filled a parental 

role with his 

younger siblings. 

Pictured here 

with his younger 

brother. 



17

Sports provided 

a great escape 

for Mike from his 

trauma-filled life. 

Pictured above 

as a senior in high 

school and below 

as a member of 

the Kinston High 

School basketball 

team. 

In my defense, he was trying to sexually assault me, 

but it’s only by God’s grace that I didn’t kill him or hurt 

others. 

On a positive note, I joined the football team in junior 

high. I’d always been athletic but had never played organized 

sports because of my responsibilities at home. I 

did well, and the coach told me if I worked hard, I could 

attend college on a football scholarship. That was a foreign 

concept to me; I’d never considered the idea of me 

having a future. 

It felt great to be a part of an organized team and to be 

good at something, but it was short-lived. Mom made me 

a grand promise of a summer vacation that turned into 

my having to care for my siblings long-term. Football 

practice was off the table. I resented her even more. 

In eleventh grade, I moved to a relative’s house in 

Kinston, North Carolina, and made the football team. 

Amazingly, I was soon ranked number two in the state 

for sacks. I went from being a nobody to a somebody. The local 

“big homie” bought me expensive shoes; girls chased me; and 

people I didn’t even know talked to me. 

I made plans to attend NC State University and crushed the 

football camp—but my confidence quickly became embarrassment 

when my grades didn’t make the cut. I walked on at Fayetteville 

State University instead. Still, I played well and worked hard, and 

the coach said I had what it took to make it to the pros. 

I hadn’t been at school one month when my girlfriend told me 

she was pregnant. I didn’t take it well. I’d just gotten free from 

raising my siblings, and now I was supposed to raise another 

child? No. 

I ran. Dropped out of school, abandoned the gridiron, and 

moved back to Aunt Sarah’s in South Carolina. I needed space to 

figure things out and more drugs to silence the confusing voices 

screaming in my head. 

I took a miserable job in masonry that paid a lousy wage. My 

coworkers sat around and smoked their crack pipes every day 

after work. Was this my future? It didn’t look much different from 

growing up, and I resented Mom even more. I was still holding 

her responsible for my wretched life. 

Sure, Mom’s lifestyle had impacted me and my siblings, but 

what about the things I’d done? I’d wielded guns and knives and 

sold drugs. I’d rebelled against authority and planned robberies. 

I’d gotten my girlfriend pregnant and then abandoned her and a 

potential future in football. None of that was on Mom, but I was 

harboring hate and unforgiveness in my heart. 

Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) says, “Watch out that no poisonous root of 

bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” For years, I 

had allowed a poisonous root of bitterness to grow unchecked in 

my heart and mind, and now, I was eating the fruit of it. 

I soon left my brickmason job to be a drug dealer and bodyguard. 

I made $3,000 my first day and was hooked. But selling 

those drugs often filled me with guilt. I was destroying kids’ lives 

with the very drug that had destroyed my mother’s. It began to 

wear heavy on me. 

There was a lot of tension between me and the guys who worked 

for my boss too. They had been with him longer than me, yet I 

was his righthand man. 

I became so worried that someone would take me out that I 

actually had a nervous breakdown. I was at a bar doing a drug 

deal, and I started crying uncontrollably. I went to the bathroom 

to get myself together, but I couldn’t. So I called Grandma and 

told her what was happening. 

“Mike, you need to get in church, and you need to see a mental 

health professional.” It was only the hundredth time she’d said 

it. Instead, I moved back to North Carolina. Grandma kept telling 

me to get help, but I wasn’t about to have my head examined by 

a doctor; I knew I had issues! 

Finally, I decided I’d go to church, walk to the altar, and pretend 

to give my life to Jesus. I’d only have to go once, and then I could 

tell Grandma her plan didn’t work. Then I’d hit the streets with 


a vengeance. I’d learned much over the years; I was ready to run 

my own crew. 

Sunday came, and I waited on the back pew for the pastor to 

do an altar call. I stepped into the aisle and took a step toward 

the front—but suddenly, tears flooded my eyes. The closer I got 

to the pastor, the harder I cried. 

I had my plan. God had a different one. 

After that day, I started going to church more consistently. It 

was the only place I could find peace from my dark thoughts. 

Sometimes, I’d walk out of church and light up a joint. The guys 

would tease me, “Mike, you ain’t even out of your suit, and you’re 

smoking weed!” I still had much to overcome, but I was headed 

in the right direction. 

Since I was in North Carolina, I began spending more time 

with my son. I’d never experienced a healthy parent-child 

relationship myself, but I was trying. And God would use that kid 

to melt my hardened heart. 

I’d take him to the park and tell him to go play while I sat in 

the car smoking weed. Over time, I noticed how other parents 

interacted with their kids. They played and talked with them. I 

wanted a relationship like that with my son. The day I saw some 

other kid’s father play with my son on the slide was the day I put 

out the weed and got out of the car. That was my son! 

During this time, I was in and out of a relationship with his 

mother, Tanya. I ended up getting her pregnant again. I wish I 

could say I was trying to be good to her like I was our son, but I 

wasn’t. Seeing fear in her eyes gave me such a rush. It sickens 

me to think of the hell I put her through. 

But when our daughter was stillborn, everything changed. The 

doctor said prenatal stress had caused her death. Tanya and I both 

knew I was the source of that stress. In her grief, she cut me out 

of her life, and I can’t blame her. I hated me too. 

How ironic: for years I’d wanted to be a killer, and now I was one. 

I’m grateful that God doesn’t waste anything, not even our sin. 

Through this experience, I came to a point of true surrender and 

got serious about my faith. I no longer attended church to feel 

better; I was there for God to teach, change, and use me. 

Scripture began speaking directly to my heart, revealing the 

depths of God’s love for me (Ephesians 3:18) and declaring my 

identity as a child of God (1 John 3:1). It brought correction (2 

Timothy 3:16–17) and showed me that to become a new person, 

I had to change the way I thought (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 

10:5, Colossians 3:1–3). 

Retraining my thoughts was a full-time job. I had never thought 

of myself as anything more than a poor kid from the hood. An 

outcast. A son of a crack addict. A waster of talent. A destroyer of 

lives. But the Bible told me otherwise. In Christ, I was loved and 

accepted, and God had great plans for me. 

Tanya noticed the change but didn’t believe it. Over time, however, 

she saw that it was real. We got back together, and I got her 

pregnant again. I hadn’t lined up my sex life with God’s Word yet. 

After our son was born, Tanya gave her life to Jesus, and we were 

married. I worked as a janitor at a local church, served 

in the youth ministry, and tried to imitate the pastor—all 

the way down to his clothes! Tanya worked hard too. 

A year later, Tanya and I had a daughter. Raising three 

kids was tough, but it got harder when family members 

descended on our home. Ten people were sharing a 

three-bedroom house with one bathroom! 

I was about at my wit’s end when I heard a voice say, 

“Go to Rhema” (a Bible training college in Oklahoma). I 

was alone at work that day, and I knew it was the Lord 

speaking. I shared the experience with Tanya, and we 

obeyed God’s direction, even though everyone else 

thought we’d lost our minds. 

God began a good work in us at Rhema that He continues 

to fulfill to this day (Philippians 1:6)—but I must 

admit, I often doubted Him. 

Every week, I’d run to the altar and cry out to Him 

for provision. “Where are you God? Can’t You see our 

YOU CAN’T CHANGE 

THE PAST—NO ONE 

CAN. BUT WITH GOD, 

YOU CAN CHANGE 

YOUR FUTURE. 

needs?” I’d make quite a scene praying, worshipping, 

dancing, and declaring His promises. I pointed out Mark 

11:24 to Him so many times, but nothing got better. One 

day, I refused to go forward anymore. 

“God, I’ve been ‘believing to receive’ for weeks. I’ve 

done everything I know to do, and it ain’t working! We 

obeyed You and came to Rhema, and now we’re about 

to be evicted from our home. We can’t even afford gas 

for our car.” I threw up my hands in the spiritual realm 

and told God if He wanted us to stay, then He would just 

have to provide. I was done worrying about it. 

With the conclusion of those words, a rush of peace 

came over me. Turns out, my trust was all He wanted. 

God was calling me to believe, not perform; to be still and 

know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). From that moment 

on, God has shown up in the most unbelievable ways; 

He hasn’t failed us yet. 

At Rhema, I began a journey of unravelling the pain 

of my childhood. I learned about grace, and God helped 

me forgive both my mother and myself. He revealed how 

He’d always been there for me. Saving me. Protecting me. 



19

Right: God has 

restored Mike’s 

relationship with 

his grandmother, 

Glenda, and 

mother, Sandra, 

and healed their 

lives. 

Far right: Mike 

serves as FCA’s 

character coach 

for the ECU 

football team. 

I HAD MY PLAN. 

GOD HAD A 

DIFFERENT ONE. 

Guiding me. Drawing 

me to Himself. 

My faith grew by 

leaps and bounds. 

We knew God was 

with us as we prepared 

for yet another 

child. We’d planned to move back to North Carolina 

immediately after graduation, but Tanya went into labor 

twelve weeks early. 

Our son was born dead. I’ll never forget his blue face 

and the panic on the faces of the nurses. Thank God, 

he was resuscitated, but he would spend the next two 

months in an incubator. 

Tanya and I visited him every day, as did prayer teams 

from Rhema. God answered our prayers and healed our 

son, but our bank account was depleted. This was a true 

test of faith, and I was failing. 

By the time we got back to North Carolina, we were 

not only broke, we were in a deep financial hole. We 

had nothing to our name, and I felt like a failure as 

we moved in with Tanya’s mother. 

No matter how hard I worked, we consistently fell 

short. Depression overtook me, and I considered returning 

to the streets. I knew how to make money there—I 

could get us out of this mess! My friend Travis talked 

me down. He and I had run together in junior high until 

he was sent to prison for robbery. 

“Mike,” he said, “I’m doing enough time for the both of 

us. Get another job. Don’t go back to the streets.” Travis 

had always been there for me. 

I took his advice and picked up extra jobs. I worked at 

Chick-fil-A, coached football, was a teacher’s assistant, 

and drove the bus. But we still struggled. 

“Where are You, God?” He seemed lost. Or maybe I 

was lost or had missed some direction from Him. 

At Rhema, I had learned that when you feel you’ve 

lost connection to God, think back to the spot you left 

Him. God doesn’t go anywhere; He doesn’t abandon His children 

(Deuteronomy 31:6). 

The last time I’d heard clearly from God was when He told me to 

go to Rhema. I wondered if I’d made a mistake coming back here. 

Maybe we should go back to Oklahoma. I asked God to forgive me 

and to give me direction. Not long after, a friend told me about a 

local position at Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). 

“Man, they ain’t gonna hire someone like me.” I was a guy from 

the hood who knew nothing about nonprofits or raising financial 

support. I didn’t have connections with successful and respectable 

business leaders in the community. My only connections were 

on the street, and those guys weren’t looking for a tax write-off! 

But God showed me that I only needed Him. I didn’t need connections 

or special qualifications; I just needed a willing heart. 

He blessed me with a position as the FCA area rep. Within two 

years, I was overseeing more than a thousand kids who were 

drawn to the authenticity of my message and could identify with 

my upbringing and experiences. 

In 2022, the Lord allowed me to return to the gridiron at East 

Carolina University, not as a player, but as a character coach for 

the ECU football team under the umbrella of FCA. Today, I am 

connecting with young men who are looking for hope, stability, 

and a father figure, just as I was at their age. What a privilege I 

have, sharing what I’ve learned (and am still learning) as I help 

them navigate their emotions. 

Right now, God is teaching me about humility and serving others. 

Before, I had freedom to do things my way. Now, I’m working 

under the authority of other coaches and leaders, and it’s a new 

experience. God is helping me lay down my pride. 

A never-ending growth is part of the Christian journey. It’s not 

always easy or comfortable, but it’s worth it. If you’re willing to 

do the work with God, He will bless your life in ways you never 

dreamed (Ephesians 3:20). 

You can’t change the past—no one can. But with God, you can 

change your future. 

MIKE JENKINS is the FCA character coach at East Carolina University. He is 

passionate about helping young men find their identity in Christ. 

PHOTOS BY GERI SIMPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY 



Let Your Revelation 

Be Your Conversation 

BY JULIE ENGSTROM 

I’VE MOVED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 

past 40 years, but every time I arrive in a 

new place, I wonder how safe it is to share 

my heart. How much of my past should I 

allow into a conversation? 

I’m blessed today with a husband of 30 

years, but I have faced my share of battles. 

Long before I met the Lord or my husband, 

I was in an abusive relationship with a drug 

addict. 

Amid the instability and danger that 

come with addiction and domestic violence, 

I became codependent and an 

enabler. I stayed in the relationship even 

after he held a gun to my head and threatened 

my life. When I did eventually leave, 

it was because I’d finally realized that I 

couldn’t save him. 

It has taken many years to heal from all 

that trauma, and I still have triggers that 

I have to work through during my prayer 

time with Jesus. 

I couldn’t talk about that part of my life for 

many years afterward. I was afraid of being 

rejected or judged. Now that I’ve met Jesus 

and experienced His forgiveness and 

grace, I’m not so worried about explaining 

who I was in the past because my focus is 

on who—and whose—I am now. 

Having the freedom to be real with people 

is incredible. The transparency I’ve 

gained has released me from shame and 

guilt. It liberates others to share their experiences 

as well. 

I love the story of the Samaritan woman. 

She felt so isolated and estranged from her 

community that she went to great lengths 

to avoid people. Yet Jesus went to greater 

lengths—extraordinary ones—to meet her 

in her loneliness. (See John 4.) 

As they began to speak, her shame was 

evident: “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan 

woman. Why are you asking me for a 

drink?” (John 4:9 NLT). I relate to this because, 

for a long time, I couldn’t wrap my 

I’m not so 

worried 

about 

explaining 

who I was 

in the past 

because my 

focus is on 

who—and 

whose—I 

am now. 

head around why Jesus would want anything to do with 

me either. 

Jesus already knew all about this woman’s past. His 

point in asking her about it was to open her eyes to the 

forgiveness and salvation He was offering. 

And when she saw His gift, the narrative of her conversation 

changed. Now instead of being defined by her 

reputation, she could talk about her revelation. 

She ran back to all those people she usually hid from 

and proclaimed, “Come and see a man who told me 

every thing I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 

(John 4:29 NLT). 

I was just like the Samaritan woman when I first met 

Jesus. It’s much easier now to talk about where I have 

been in life because the story ultimately points to Him, 

but I pray that I will always be excited to talk about Him. 

He saved my life, healed my wounds, and mended all 

that was broken inside me, and I want you and everyone 

to know that. 

I found freedom in Christ, and it changed my conversation. 

Knowing Him will change yours too. 

JULIE ENGSTROM is a wife and mother who uses her gifts of 

teaching and encouragement to help others find and embrace their 

identity in Christ. 



21

Love Like Jesus 

THE STORY OF PASTOR CHUCK FOREMAN 

I have always been passionate about sharing 

the gospel and helping people who have 

never heard about Jesus to become His 

followers. I even planned to carry out Jesus’s 

Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) as a 

missionary in a faraway land. 

My dream was to travel to the deepest 

jungles of Central America and live in a hut 

complete with anacondas hanging from 

the ceiling. The Lord seemed to confirm 

this plan when He sent me a beautiful wife 

who shared my passion for mission work. 

She was even on board with hut-dwelling. 

I imagined us going to unreached people 

groups. I would translate the Bible, she 

would teach, and we would live happily 

ever after, serving the Lord. 

Sounds like a fantastic plan, right? We 

thought so, too, but God had other plans 

for us first (Proverbs 19:21). After our wedding, 

Kathy joined me in Topeka, Kansas, 

where I had begun pastoring a church. 

God, in His wisdom, postponed our desire 

to serve Him overseas. We still knew 

we’d get there someday, but not yet. God 

placed us in Kansas because He knew we 

needed a little experience under our young 

belts and a good sending church before 

we sailed off to the other side of the world. 

After five long years, the Lord finally 

gave us the desire of our hearts. He and 

our church in Kansas sent us to Taiwan. 

It would be our home for the next twenty 

years. We learned to speak Chinese and 

planted a church. It was a challenging task, 

but God helped us. 

It was another five years before a single 

person responded to the Good News, but 

when they did, God moved mightily. Kathy 

and I were amazed at how the Lord melted 

the hearts of people who had been so far 

from believing in Him. Lives all around us 

were transformed. The Lord used those 

precious people to teach us how to live 

and love like Jesus. 

In 2006, we felt the Lord leading us back 

to the United States, and I settled into a 

new position as the teaching and missions 

pastor at First Christian Church (FCC) in 

PHOTO BY MARISSA PARKER 


Phoenix, Arizona. I would need everything 

I had learned in Taiwan, as God was about 

to do a new thing in our congregation 

(Isaiah 43:19). And He would use formerly 

incarcerated people to do it. 

Ministering to former inmates was 

the one thing that had not made it into 

my busy schedule. Yes, I had known exoffenders 

over the years and had heard 

their powerful redemption stories. I’d even 

visited the county jail with my brother who 

is a police chaplain and student pastor. 

I admired my brother’s work and his 

special relationship with former gangsters, 

but I’d never imagined myself in that 

role. Nor had I ever been in a Christian 

community with a significant constituency 

of ex-cons. That was about to change, 

however, after an unexpected visit from 

two men—Collis, the founder and director 

of Alongside Ministries (ASM), and Austin, 

the men’s director there. 

ASM is a dynamic local prison ministry 

that matches men and women behind bars 

with Christian mentors before they are 

released and provides residential discipleship 

training for nine more months after 

their release from prison. 

Collis and Austin had discovered a missing 

piece to the intricate puzzle of rehabilitation 

and reentry, and they were on a 

mission to put this piece in place within 

their ministry. That’s what brought them 

through FCC’s doors. 

They wanted a church home for the men 

and women in their program and all future 

ASM programmers. They met with me and 

my coworker, Jon, to discuss their idea. 

“Pastor Chuck,” Collis began, “our men 

and women need to experience what it 

means to be part of a church family. We’ve 

hopped around Sunday after Sunday, visiting 

various congregations that support our 

ministry. We need to find a church home 

so our men and women can experience 

life in the body of Christ. 

“We recently polled our folks to find out 

where they would want to settle down, and 

it was unanimous. They like the biblical 

focus of FCC’s teaching and always feel 

welcomed. So what do you think? Can we 

make this our home?” 

I was glad the men and women had 

WE WOULD 

LOVE LIKE JESUS, 

NO MATTER 

HOW MESSY OR 

UNCOMFORTABLE 

IT GOT. 

chosen FCC over all the other churches 

in town, but I was also wary of an influx of 

ex-cons into our membership. How would 

our people react? Then I remembered the 

heart of God for this group of people. 

There was no question about what He’d 

have us do. He loves formerly incarcerated 

people the same as He does anyone else. 

His love had redeemed them from a deep, 

Chuck’s wife, 

Kathy, shares his 

passion for overseas 

missions and his 

heart for all God’s 

children. 

dark pit. How could we as a body of believers 

refuse them a place in God’s family? 

So there was only one answer. We would 

love like Jesus, no matter how messy or 

uncomfortable it got. 

Jon and I had no idea the massive evolution 

our church was about to undergo, but 

we sensed God was orchestrating something 

big. Our part in His plan was to say 

yes to the opportunity and trust God with 

the results. We could do that. 

But then, Collis presented another 

request that caught us a bit off-guard. 

“Guys,” he said, “not only do our men and 

women want to attend the main service, 

but they want to spend their entire Sunday 

mornings at FCC. Is there a class they 

could join?” 

I began to sweat a little. 

We offered small groups through the 

week at FCC and around the city but had 

eliminated our Sunday classes. Well, except 

for one attended by the congregation’s 

most senior crowd. 

Faithful grandmas and grandpas who 

had led our church through challenging 

brush fires and storms comprised this 

class. Still, we weren’t sure they would be 

excited about 30 formerly incarcerated 

men and women descending upon their 

classroom. I wasn’t sure they could handle 

the culture shock. 

We informed Collis and Austin that we 

would check with our church elders and 

get back to them. 

We met with three of the church’s patriarchs 

and recounted our meeting with 

Collis and Austin. I smiled as I spoke, 

hoping to soften the impact of the news 

that FCC would now be the home church 

of a community of former inmates. Then 

I dropped the big news: “And they want to 

join your Sunday School class!” 

I held my breath, expecting a negative 

response, but the men simply said they 

would ask the class. The following Sunday, 

after their group met, the men said, 

“The class thinks it sounds like something 

Jesus would want us to do.” I’d never been 

prouder to be their pastor. 

It’s been 12 years since that first group of 

pierced and tattooed wonders descended 



23

Chuck had never considered 

prison ministry, but God had 

other plans. Today, discipling 

incarcerated and formerly 

incarcerated men and women 

in their faith is a significant 

part of Chuck’s ministry. 

Pictured here with his 

discipleship group. 

PHOTO BY MARISSA PARKER 

on the Kingdom Seekers Sunday School The irony in the way God works makes 

class. I have to smile when I think back me chuckle. 

to that first Sunday. I can still hear Glen’s Some people have difficulty believing 

voice (one of those elders) calling me. there’s a church who will love them like a 

“Chuck, come quick. You have to see family and help them reenter society. Many 

what’s happened to our class!” At first, respond with, “Yeah, right. No church will 

I didn’t know how to respond, but then want someone like me around.” 

his face broke into a bright smile. “These But after they come, I usually hear, “I’ve 

people have doubled our attendance and never felt loved and accepted like this.” 

reduced our average age by one-third!” That makes my day like nothing else. 

That day was a happy, pivotal moment, These folks don’t realize what it means 

WHO KNEW GOD COULD USE TRANSFORMED 

MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE INSIDE TO BRING 

TRANSFORMATION TO PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE? 

both in the life of First Christian Church to us to be loved and accepted by them. 

and in those of the men and women who On any given Sunday, I can look into the 

desperately needed to experience the love congregation and see the faces of people I 

of a family. We’ve all been changed for have met in prison. It has been a privilege 

the better. 

to continue to teach and disciple them; 

Austin soon persuaded me to accompany 

him into the men’s prison in Florence, times, they teach me how to follow Jesus 

many have become close friends. Some- 

Arizona. I was apprehensive, but my fear and reflect Him in our broken world. 

dissipated when those men welcomed me God is moving powerfully from the inside 

out. Who knew He could use trans- 

into their family. I have been a religious 

volunteer for the Arizona Department of formed men and women from the inside 

Corrections ever since. Now I do what I to bring transformation to people on the 

used to watch my little brother do—teach outside? I’m glad to have a front-row seat. 

men about Jesus and the Word of God in God refashioned what was once a very 

prison. Talk about a foreign mission field! traditional, upper-middle-class church 

into a diverse community where incredible 

stories of redemption abound and 

where people from every tribe, tongue, 

and nation live in harmony, worshipping 

their Savior together. 

It’s a beautiful sight—and I imagine 

heaven will be much like it. 

You know, not everyone appreciated our 

saying yes to God and welcoming these 

folks. Love and grace are messy. Many 

people left our church because they didn’t 

want to sit next to an ex-con. 

But that’s okay. Life isn’t about making 

everyone comfortable; it’s about obeying 

the Lord. It’s about loving others and welcoming 

them into God’s family. It’s about 

moving over and making room for people 

who are different from us. 

Making disciples is a journey of ongoing 

healing and growth. It’s deliberate, 

intentional, and often challenging. 

Is it easy? No. It requires God’s wisdom 

and strength and patience (Philippians 

4:13). But it’s worth the effort. 

And in the process, you’ll grow. You’ll 

make new friends. And you’ll experience 

God doing something incredible in and 

through you. 

Don’t miss it! Open the door. Scoot over 

and make room for others today. 

CHUCK FOREMAN and his wife, Kathy, have 

established deep roots at First Christian Church 

of Phoenix, Arizona, a church known for humbly 

serving its community. In addition to being proud 

parents and grandparents, Chuck and Kathy 

consider dozens of men and women part of their 

beloved family of disciples. 



fulfill his purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing 

those who hound me. My God will send 

forth his unfailing love and faithfulness” (NLT). 

David was on the run, hiding in a cave from 

King Saul, when he wrote this psalm. The king 

was trying to kill him! Surely, David was confused. 

He had loved this man who was attacking him. 

So how did he maintain hope and not become 

discouraged? He drew close to the Lord in prayer. 

He remembered God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. 

He trusted in the promise that God would 

fulfill His purpose in David’s life. 

We need to do the same during our times of 

attack. It’s how we emerge from the battle victorious. 

But if we forget, how do we overcome 

hopelessness and get back on track with God? 

Here are some tips I learned from David. 

God’s Purpose; 

Your Trials 

BY CARLA OWENS 

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT GOD’S PURPOSE is for your life? 

According to Webster’s, the definition of purpose is “something set up as an 

object or end to be attained.” 

I desire God’s purpose in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 promises He has good 

plans for me, and I have a future and hope. I’ve heard this verse my entire life. 

But hearing it and resting on that promise are two different things. 

I struggle with knowing God’s purpose for my life, especially when trouble 

comes at me from different directions at the same time. That’s when I have to 

draw close to God. Only He can help me withstand those fiery darts. If I forget 

that, I quickly become hopeless and start questioning everything. 

Am I making the right decisions? I wonder. Is everyone against me? Is this 

what I’m supposed to be doing? Am I following God’s will? Have I disappointed 

Him? Am I being punished? Stress gathers and grows. 

But then I remember Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything 

to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to 

his purpose for them” (NLT). God is always working every circumstance 

together for good for His children. 

The psalms written by David bring me great comfort. It’s incredible that 

even a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) faced opposition and felt 

discouraged at times. It shows me that I can be in the center of God’s will for 

my life, actively pursuing Him, and still have trials. 

David teaches me how to fight and how to overcome discouragement during 

attacks. He says in Psalm 57:2–3, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will 

PRAY. Cry out to God. Tell Him what you need 

and leave your situation with Him (Philippians 

4:6–8). His peace will overcome your hopelessness 

and keep you moving forward. Prayer is 

powerful. 

READ HIS WORD. As we search the scriptures, 

we gain understanding and wisdom. The Bible 

isn’t something to be read and checked off a 

spiritual to-do list. It’s life to us. Study it intentionally 

and with a hungry heart, and you’ll find 

the strength you need for the battle. (See Psalm 

119:114; 2 Timothy 3:16–17.) 

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH FAITH-FILLED 

PEOPLE. God designed us to do life together. 

Ecclesiastes 4:10 says two are better than one 

because “if either of them falls down, one can 

help the other up” (NIV). Ask God to send godly 

people who will support and encourage you. 

Likewise, be that person for someone else. 

TRUST GOD. God will never leave you or 

forsake you. He gave the ultimate sacrifice— 

Jesus—for you, and He will provide you with 

everything you need (Romans 8:32). No battle 

is too difficult for Him. 

God will fulfill His purpose for you. The battle 

you’re facing doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that 

He is absent. Do the above and trust that He will 

send His help from heaven and rescue you. 

CARLA OWENS loves the Lord and seeks daily to know 

Him more intimately. She serves as Victorious Living’s 

administrative director. 



25

I was born in 1938, 

just before 

the start of World War II. I’ve been on this 

earth for over eight decades, and, believe 

me, I have seen a lot. 

King Solomon knew what he was talking 

about when he shared his wisdom for life. 

Change is never-ending, and everything 

has its season (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8). And 

sometimes, God assigns our lives the most 

unexpected purpose and meaning during 

the most challenging seasons. 

THE STORY OF 

PATRICIA BORGES 

I have experienced joy, sorrow, suffering, 

and contentment, sometimes all at 

once. Circumstances have fluctuated for 

me over the years, but there’s one thing 

I’ve always known: God’s presence will be 

with me no matter what comes my way. 

I had loving parents and a normal 

childhood, but we were not Christians. My 

grandmother sang beautiful hymns and 

taught us to pray before meals, but I didn’t 

learn anything that helped me grasp the 

importance of a relationship with Jesus. 

My first husband and I spent 45 years 

together and raised five beautiful children. 

Frank was the first to ask the Lord into his 

heart. A friend had been telling him about 

Jesus, and the Holy Spirit was doing a work 

in his heart, prepar ing him to lead our family 

in the Christian faith. 

Two weeks later, Frank took me to see 

King of Kings, a movie about the life of Jesus 

Christ. I was less than enthusiastic 

and sat outside during most of the movie, 

smoking cigarettes. I wandered back inside 

just in time to see the crucifixion of Jesus. 

I watched Him being nailed to the cross, 

and something inside my 23-year-old heart 

broke wide open and gave way to Jesus. I 

cried and asked for forgiveness of my sins, 

giving Him total reign over my life. 

That night the Holy Spirit ignited a fire 

inside me to win souls. I wanted to go door 

to door, telling everyone about the love and 

grace of Christ. My husband and I served 

together in church and purposed to learn 

the Word of God and raise our children in 

a home that honored Him (Deuteronomy 

6:6–7). Our marriage was not without challenges, 

but with God’s guidance, we weathered 

every storm together until Frank went 

home to be with the Lord in 2000. 

The Lord was gracious not to leave me 

alone for too long. My path soon crossed 

that of a wonderful man of God. Lester was 

a retired pastor who loved the Lord and my 

enthusiasm to serve others and spread the 

Gospel. We made a great team for Jesus 

until he became sick. I was privileged to 

care for him until he lost his battle with 

Alzheimer’s. I was a widow again, after just 

sixteen short years. 

With the death of my second husband, a 

heavy loneliness settled over my life. I had 

never been so completely alone as I was at 

that point. I had no idea how to survive on 

my own. I’d been married so young, and all 

I knew was how to be a wife and a mom. 

By now, I was a great-great-grandmother 

and had certainly lived a full life. 

Fear took root. I did not want to sit and 

become useless to God or anyone else. “Father,” 

I prayed, “I still have life left in me. 

Please don’t put me on a shelf. I want to 

be used by You. Where do You want me?” 

The enemy laughed in my ear. “Now, 

what could God possibly do with someone 

your age?” 

I had no problem reminding Satan that 

he was a liar and a loser. God still had an 

assignment for me. I just didn’t know what 

it was yet. 

I cried out to my Good Shepherd a lot 

during that dark valley season. He was the 

only One who could lead me out (Psalm 23), 

so I clung to Him for help. 

Determined not to slip into the pit of despair 

and depression, I kept knocking and 

asking and seeking for God to tell me what 

to do next (Matthew 7:7). I didn’t know how, 

but I knew He would answer my prayers. 

God reminded me that Moses was in his 

80s too, but He still called him to lead the 

Israel ites out of captivity. And when Moses 

expressed his doubts, God sent him 

on his way, promising that He’d be there 

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BOYD 


for every step. In fact, God told Moses that 

he already had everything in his hand that 

he needed to do the job God had for him. 

(See Exodus 4.) 

So I decided that I would trust too, that I 

would have what I needed to answer God’s 

call when it came. And then it hit me—there 

were people all around who could use encouragement, 

a kind note, a visit, a hug, 

or a prayer partner. My age would be no 

barrier to meeting those needs. 

From then on, I started using whatever 

I had in my hand to serve God and others. 

The loneliness didn’t go away completely, 

but focusing on others more than on 

myself brought renewed joy into my heart. 

I was leaving Bible study one day when 

I noticed a man sitting alone outside the 

church. He looked sad, but when I approached 

him, his face lit up with a smile. 

I introduced myself, and he told me his 

name was Roy and that he was new to our 

church family. 

I didn’t know what was troubling him or 

how I could help, but I knew God wanted 

me to show him kindness. 

Just use what’s in your hand, Patricia, I reminded 

myself. I went home that afternoon 

and wrote him a note of encouragement, 

hoping to cheer up my new friend. 

Roy was an unexpected gift from God to 

Patricia, as was Patricia to Roy. Today, 

these newlyweds faithfully serve the Lord 

together in their home church. 

The next time I saw Roy, I gave him the 

card. His face brightened as if I had handed 

him a million dollars. My heart was overjoyed 

to see how such a simple gesture 

could bless someone. 

I was intrigued by Roy’s infectious smile. 

Whatever his troubles, this was a man who 

was on fire for Jesus. When he invited me 

for dinner one evening, I agreed, happy to 

learn more about him. He was easy to talk 

to, and over the course of the evening, we 

shared stories about our lives. I learned 

that Roy was in his 70s and had endured 

a lifetime of struggles, including spending 

over three decades in prison! 

I wondered how on earth someone who 

had endured that kind of trial could be so 

content. 

Roy shared with me how God had 

brought purpose to his suffering by giving 

him a passion for helping others through 

writing. I was inspired and moved with 

compassion. I felt convicted for the many 

times I had lamented to the Lord about 

circumstances that weren’t comfortable 

in my life. 

We talked for hours, and when the evening 

ended, we both felt like we had known 

each other for a lifetime. It was nice to have 

a friend, and I was grateful that the Lord 

had crossed our paths. 

It came as quite a shock when Roy asked 

me to marry him. I had to go away for three 

weeks to seek direction from the Lord. The 

idea of Roy and me getting married would 

surely raise some eyebrows. I particularly 

worried that it might upset my children. 

But no matter what doubts and worries 

I presented to God, I received not even a 

hint that it would displease Him. 

In fact, God kept bringing me back to a 

place of comfort in His Word, a place that 

had always been my lifeline. Proverbs 

3:5–6 reassured me: “Trust in the Lord 

with all your heart and lean not on your 

own understanding; in all your ways submit 

to him, and he will make your path 

straight” (NIV). 

I returned home from my trip convinced 

that marrying Roy would be God’s will. I 

knew in my heart that by doing so, I would 

be answering the call from God on my life 

that I had so desperately needed. The answer 

to my prayers had come in such an 

unexpected and unpredictable way that 

only God could get the glory for it. 

I said yes to God and then to Roy, and we 

were married on August 27, 2022. All my 

children were in attendance and embraced 

Roy into our family during the ceremony. I 

will treasure the memories of that day for 

the rest of my years. 

And that is how God called Roy and me 

into the ministry of marriage. God had a 

purpose for both of us. We were to be obedient 

and trust Him with the details. Today, 

He uses Roy to bring meaning and companionship 

to my life, and Roy says that 

God brought me into his life to be the best 

friend he has ever had. We challenge each 

other to grow in our relationship with the 

Lord, which only serves to strengthen our 

bond. We truly keep each other sharp and 

make each other better (Proverbs 27:17). 

We are now ministry partners, in our 

home and to each other. We use whatever 

is in our hands as a team to point others 

to Jesus. 

Roy continues to use his writing to help 

others learn about the Savior, and I encourage 

whoever God puts in front of me when 

I see the need. Between the two of us, we 

have more hands than we did alone, so we 

can get a lot more done. 

God is always faithful. If you are going 

through a difficult season, don’t lose heart. 

Remember that God has a purpose for you 

in every season. Pray and ask Him to give 

you direction. Then, while you are waiting 

for your answer, start using whatever is in 

your hand to serve God and others. 

You might not think you have anything 

much to offer, but let God decide how He’ll 

use your obedience. You might just be 

walking along and end up crossing paths 

with your destiny. 

God did it for Roy and me, and He can 

do it for you too. 

PATRICIA BORGES and her husband, Roy, share 

the hope of Jesus every chance they get and with 

anyone who will listen. Grateful for finding love in 

this season of life, they plan to live out the rest of 

their lives loving and serving others. 



27


TAKE 

CONTROL OF 

YOUR 

Thought Life 

“WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT 

to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 

10:5 NIV). 

Life transformation lies in the thought 

life. I know that now, but for a long time, my 

mind was filled with loud, toxic thoughts 

that taunted me daily. They told me I was 

a hopeless loser, a failure, and unwanted. 

And I believed them. 

For years those thoughts ran wild and 

demanded my attention. I’m telling you, 

between my ears was one scary place. Sadly, 

I thought the noise was normal. No one 

had ever taught me about my true identity 

in Christ. 

I tried to drown out the voices and the 

shame with drugs and other things. I was 

so desperate to silence the madness that I 

attempted suicide several times. Each time 

I failed, the chaos in my mind grew louder. 

For three decades, I wrestled with anxiety 

and depression. I was a miserable 

person with a bipolar diagnosis and on a 

frustrating journey of psych prescriptions. 

But then I encountered Jesus, and He 

set me free from my mental and emotional 

chaos. 

I still remember the sudden calm in 

my mind as I bowed my heart to Him. It 

was how I’d imagine the stillness of the 

first morning after a long, violent war. For 

years, I’d been surrounded by chaos and 

fear and ruled by an evil enemy—and then, 

suddenly, I had peace and freedom. I could 

breathe in the fresh air and take in the 

beauty of the sunrise, the dew adorning 

the fields, the light fog hanging in the air. 

Jesus had silenced the tormenting voices 

that spoke endless, demeaning words 

of hate and destruction. He had muzzled 

those mocking voices that called me 

names and outright lied to me about who 

I was. And in the stillness, I could hear the 

tender voice of my heavenly Father, telling 

me He loved me, approved of me, and 

wanted me. In the light of His truth, I knew 

I wasn’t a failure or a waste—I was enough. 

Ironically, I found this freedom while 

I was locked up in jail. Jesus brought His 

light of truth and hope to that hopeless, 

terrifying place and shined it into the 

darkness of my mind. Who knew Jesus 

would hang out in places like that, ready 

and willing to free people? 

That was six years ago, and I’m still 

being transformed into His image. It’s a 

journey that will continue until I meet my 

Savior face to face. It’s not an easy road. In 

fact, it often feels like a battle. 

Satan knows he’s lost me for eternity, 

but he still attacks my mind by reminding 

me of my past and telling me what a failure 

I am. He seeks to destroy the image of God 

within me. But God’s Word and His Holy 

Spirit have taught me how to fight the war 

over toxic thoughts. 

BY SHERIDAN CORREA 

Romans 12:2 says we are transformed 

into new people by renewing our minds. 

Where we focus our thought life is critical 

for spiritual, emotional, and mental 

health. Scripture is saturated with this 

truth. It’s where we find what renews us. 

There’s no way to get around it—if we 

want a new life, we have to change our 

thinking. The battle is won or lost in our 

minds. 

We need a special weapon to win the 

battle—and that’s God’s truth. When we 

expose our thoughts to God’s truth, strongholds 

are blown up by His divine power. 

It’s like spiritual TNT. 

Second Corinthians 10:3–5 tells us how 

we can have victory: “For though we live 

in the world, we do not wage war as the 

world does. The weapons we fight with 

are not the weapons of the world. On the 

contrary, they have divine power to demolish 

strongholds. We demolish arguments 

and every pretension that sets itself up 

against the knowledge of God, and we take 

captive every thought to make it obedient 

to Christ” (NIV). 

Let’s look closer at this passage. A 

stronghold is a fortress that holds something. 

It can protect us, or it can imprison 

us. Our thoughts can function as a prison, 

holding us captive, or they can be the place 

where we know we are safe and loved. 

That’s why Satan does his best to distort 

our thinking through the negative 

comments of others and difficult circumstances. 

He brings whispers of shame and 

guilt. He wants words, experiences, and 

feelings to impact our inner dialogue, 

so we don’t realize our true identities as 

victors in Christ (Romans 8:37). 

Paul teaches that if we take our thoughts 

captive and make them obedient to God’s 

truth, then Satan loses the battle. I envision 

it as a game of Capture the Flag—we 

chase down our thoughts, capture them, 

and bring them to God’s territory. 

Let me give you an example. Recently, 

someone shared how my past choices had 

deeply hurt them and the lingering pain 

that still impacted other areas of their life. 

Knowing that I had hurt someone I love, 

that I had caused them problems, made 

me lose sight of God’s truth. Satan began 

telling his lies. “You’re a failure, Sheridan. 

All you do is hurt people. No one wants you 

in their life. You’ll never be good enough.” 

For a day, I let those lies swirl around 



I ENVISION IT AS A GAME OF CAPTURE THE FLAG— 

WE CHASE DOWN OUR THOUGHTS, CAPTURE THEM, 

AND BRING THEM TO GOD’S TERRITORY. 

in my head, and I became confused about 

who I was. I went into protection mode. I 

shut down, withdrew from others, and became 

sullen and silent. When I did speak, 

my words were critical and negative and 

hurt those around me. 

Finally, after nearly 24 hours, I came to 

my senses and realized I was being held 

captive by my thoughts. I was agreeing 

with Satan’s lies and rejecting God’s truth. 

It was like I was saying to Jesus, “No! You’re 

wrong about who I am. Your Word isn’t 

true.” Wow! 

I had to decide—would I continue to 

agree with Satan and let his lies consume 

me, or would I apply 2 Corin thians 10:3–5 

to my thought life and bring the battle to a 

victorious end? I chose the latter. 

I took out a journal and began to write. 

I reminded myself that God does not give 

me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and 

a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). There was 

no way my fearful and confusing thoughts 

were from God. 

Next, I wrote down each thought and 

analyzed it to see if it was a lie or the truth. 

For example, I penned, “I am rejected.” 

Then I searched the Bible and wrote 

down what God says: “I am accepted by 

Christ and belong to Him.” (See Ephesians 

1:6.) Then I took the thoughts that didn’t 

line up with God’s truth and rejected them. 

It wasn’t long before this exercise pulled 

me out of my stinkin’ thinkin’. God’s neverchanging 

truth always brings me to a place 

of freedom. 

Of course, Satan has brought other 

attacks since then. He won’t stop until 

Jesus comes with perfection and eternal 

peace. But that’s okay, because I’m winning 

the war. With the Holy Spirit’s help, 

I more quickly recognize when I’m being 

attacked. And since I’m fighting with godly 

weapons, Satan’s strongholds don’t stand 

a chance. 

You don’t have to live in mental torture. 

It’s time to silence that condemning internal 

dialogue. It is not from God. 

Start analyzing the thoughts in your 

head. Ask, “What is the story I’m telling 

myself?” Break it down and determine if 

it is based on a lie or the truth. 

The better you know God’s Word, the 

more quickly you’ll be able to recognize 

the truth. That comes through diving into 

God’s Word and applying it to your thought 

life every day. 

It takes time, but it’s the best investment 

you can make for yourself. Truth holds 

the key to your freedom, and according 

to John 14:6, Jesus Christ is the way, the 

truth, and the life. Get to know Him, and 

you’ll find everything you’ve ever needed 

or desired. 

Satan won’t stop trying to defeat you. 

But as you continually capture the misbeliefs 

and make them obedient to Christ, 

you won’t be imprisoned anymore. 

Stop calling yourself names like failure, 

dummy, stupid, idiot, and loser. Every time 

you do, it’s a slap in Truth’s face, and it impacts 

your life. Choose to no longer think 

of yourself as a sinner, prisoner, addict, 

or terrible person. You are a child of God. 

Romans 6:16–18 teaches that we are enslaved 

to whatever we listen to and obey. 

If you believe and act on the lies of Satan, 

then you are his captive. Trust me; he is 

not a kind taskmaster. 

But if you’ll submit your thoughts to 

God’s truth, you will find freedom (John 

8:32), and you will experience God’s will 

for your life, which is good and pleasing 

and perfect (Romans 12:2). 

SHERIDAN CORREA is a biblical counselor who 

is trained in trauma-informed care. She’s a wife, 

mother of two teenage boys, singer, and avid runner 

who has been radically changed by Jesus. She 

joined the Victorious Living family in 2022 as digital 

content manager. 



29

WHY 

NOT 

YOU? 

THE STORY OF 

SIMONE BRYANT 

I recognized the presence of God 

early in my life. I remember being 

at church as young as four, 

dancing around the sanctuary 

and praising God. Joy and 

peace filled my little frame as I 

jumped up and down, shouting 

His name. 

I loved being at church and 

around God’s people, and I 

loved God. Even so, I couldn’t 

imagine that God could love 

me. He was so big, and I felt so 

small. What did I possibly have 

to offer God? I was a nobody. 

I don’t remember a time 

when I wasn’t insecure. My 

low self-esteem was a byproduct 

of childhood events. I 

was six when my older brother, 

Simon, and I were taken from 

our mother’s care and placed 

in a foster home. My father has 

never been in my life. 

Mom had a mental disease 

that prevented her from properly 

caring for her seven kids. 

My other three older brothers 

and two younger sisters were 

also removed but placed in different 

homes. The foster-care 

system wasn’t kind to any of us. 

The absence of parents and 

siblings wounded my heart and 

mind. I felt abandoned, alone, 

rejected, and unwanted. I remember 

looking out the window 

of my foster home and 

wondering what my life would 

be like. Who would I become? 

Would my life always be this 

way? Would I ever get to be a 

somebody in this world? 

These were heavy concerns 

for a six-year-old, but I knew 

my future was bleak even at 

that age. I was a poor little girl 

without a family—what hope 

did I have? 

I would watch parents picking 

up their kids after school 

and imagine their lives. I envisioned 

them talking about 

school and then stopping for 

an afternoon treat before heading 

home. 

I longed for a family and a 

place to call home. As a foster 

child, my time in any one place 

was temporary. It always felt 

like I was borrowing someone 

else’s family because there always 

came a day when I had to 

give it all back. 

When I was nine, the Massachusetts 

Department of Social 

Services decided to separate Simon 

and me, but a kind social 

worker named Mrs. Edna made 

it her mission to keep us together. 

She located an aunt and 

uncle in North Carolina and 

told them our situation; they 

welcomed us into their home. 



In North Carolina, I continued 

to attend church. I gave 

my life to the Lord; God was my 

best friend. I shared everything 

with Him. 

My aunt and uncle provided 

well for my brother and me. But 

even in a home with relatives, I 

still felt like a stranger. I imagined 

I was a burden. 

“Nobody wants you, Si mone. 

You’re weird.” That theme 

played constantly through my 

mind. Satan had convinced me 

that I didn’t belong anywhere. 

I felt disconnected from 

people and assumed those 

around me merely tolerated 

my presence. Satan used every 

rejection, especially by peers in 

the church, to cement the idea 

that I was an outcast, that I had 

nothing of value to say or give 

to this world. 

For most of my teenage 

years, I cycled in and out of depression. 

Mental health wasn’t 

discussed like it is today, so I 

didn’t know how to manage 

those dark seasons. 

My survival instinct was to 

isolate. Year after year, I put 

a smile on my face and went 

through the motions of life. I 

hid my wounds and told no one 

how I felt. Who would want to 

listen to me anyway? 

I didn’t know that those 

childhood events—being taken 

from my mother and siblings, 

growing up without a father, being 

shifted around and seeing 

vile things in the foster-care 

system—had created wounds 

that needed to be addressed. 

Nor did I know that God wanted 

to heal my broken heart. 

In 2013, I graduated high 

school and began my studies 

at Campbell University. I wanted 

to become a social worker 

and help children in the foster- 

care system like Mrs. Edna had 

helped Simon and me. 

A year later, I transferred to 

East Carolina University, where 

I eventually graduated with a 

bachelor of arts and a master’s 

degree in social work. I became 

a licensed clinical social worker 

and started working with children 

in crisis. 

But I was not prepared for 

what providing intervention 

services would do to my heart. 

Seeing kids being removed 

from their homes and shuffled 

around in the system took 

me on an unexpected collision 

course with my past. 

The wounds and emotions 

that I had suppressed for years 

were dredged to the surface. 

I attempted to push through 

those dark emotions as I’d always 

done, but the weight of the 

pain took me down. 

I had a nervous breakdown 

and had to leave my job. It was 

the best thing that could have 

happened, though, because I finally 

realized my need for help. 

With support from my husband, 

I started seeing a Christian 

counselor to confront the 

scars of my past. Three years 

later, I met Ms. Renee, a powerful 

woman of God, and I asked 

her to be my mentor. 

She helped me wade through 

my pain. Together, we uncovered 

why I felt so unwanted, 

I AM ENOUGH IN GOD’S EYES, 

AND ACCORDING TO THE 

BIBLE, NOTHING I CAN DO 

WILL CHANGE HIS MIND. 

Right: As a child, 

Simone hid her pain 

behind a big smile. 

Far right: Simone 

and her brother, 

Simon, grew up 

together through 

the generosity of 

family members. 

unworthy, anxious, and depressed. 

She also helped me 

discover the truth about how 

God thinks about me. That was 

a game-changer. 

It turns out that God is particularly 

close to the brokenhearted 

and crushed in spirit 

(Psalm 34:18). David, in Psalm 

68:5–6, tells us God is a father 

to the fatherless, a defender of 

widows, that He sets the lonely 

in families, and leads prisoners 

out of their captivity. 

God knew every disappointment 

I had ever faced, and He 

cared about how each one had 

impacted me. He sent His Son, 

Jesus, to bind my wounds and 

set me free from the effects of 

my sin and the world’s sin. (See 

Isaiah 53:4–6.) He cares for you 

in the same way. 

God never intended me to 

experience painful events like 

growing up without a father or 

having a mentally ill mother. 

Those were Satan’s desires. 

Satan’s purpose has always 

been to kill, steal, and destroy 

me and to cause me to see myself 

through the lying lens of 

“I’m not enough.” But Satan is 

a liar (John 8:44). 

With time, I have discovered 

and accepted my identity as the 

daughter of the King. I know 

that I am enough in God’s eyes, 

and according to the Bible, 

nothing I can do will change 

His mind about that. My acceptance 

into His family does not 

depend on my performance. 

No amount of worldly accolades, 

degrees, or titles will 

bring additional value to me 

because I have been valued by 

God since the day I was born. I 

am God’s daughter, forever. He 

has chosen me and adopted me 

into His family, and everything 



31

GOD KNEW EVERY 

that is my Father’s is now mine 

(Ephesians 1:5–8). 

Not having an earthly father 

or mother makes God’s role as 

a heavenly Father even more 

special to me. He fills the void 

in my heart created by the absence 

of my parents. Over the 

years, Psalm 27:10 (NLT) has 

comforted me. It says, “Even 

if my father and mother abandon 

me, the Lord will hold 

me close.” 

Unlike my earthly parents 

and other people, God continually 

holds me close. He never 

pushes me away or fails me, 

even if I fail Him. God doesn’t 

abandon His children or cause 

them to be disappointed 

(Romans 10:11). 

I still encounter depression, 

but when I do, God’s Holy Spirit 

comforts me. He jumps into 

those sad pits with me, reminds 

me of who He is and who I am 

in Him, and helps me get back 

on my feet. My circle of godly 

friends helps me out of those 

pits too. Their love and encouragement 

are vital to my mental 

health. 

For years, Satan tried to silence 

my voice by tricking me 

into believing I had no value 

and nothing to say. Satan knew 

how much I loved the Lord and 

that if I told others about God’s 

goodness, they’d want to know 

Him too. He also knew he would 

be defeated (Revelation 12:11). 

I remember one of the first 

times I sensed God wanting to 

use me. I couldn’t imagine how 

it could be true. 

“Me, Lord?” I asked, sure I 

had heard wrong. 

Simone’s husband, 

Kam, has supported 

her through her 

journey of freedom. 

DISAPPOINTMENT I HAD EVER 

FACED, AND HE CARED ABOUT HOW 

EACH ONE HAD IMPACTED ME. 

“Yes, you.” And then He added 

the most profound question. 

“Why not you, Simone?” 

Why not me? I’d never considered 

that question. 

instead of his brothers as the 

called Samuel to anoint him 

But then I remembered that future king of Israel (1 Samuel 

the Bible is filled with examples 16:7–12). God can use any 

of God choosing and using people 

who felt unworthy and who purpose and to bring Him glo- 

willing person for a greater 

the world had discounted. The ry. He takes care of everything, 

Lord uses the foolish things of including drawing people to 

this world to confound the wise Himself. 

(1 Corinthians 1:27). 

Since that moment in Nica ragua, 

God has used my voice as 

I’ll never forget the first time 

I experienced Him using me a source of hope at my church, 

publicly. I was on a mission trip a local pregnancy center, and 

to Nicaragua, and the leaders through the correspondence 

had called on me to speak to a program of Victorious Living. 

group of students. I was scared Every day, I have the joy and 

to death and begged God to lead privilege of helping people 

them to choose someone else. overcome past traumas and 

And then, like Moses in Exodus 

4, I reminded God of my they are as children of God. 

wounds as they discover who 

inadequacies. 

There’s nothing like being 

used by God. And there’s 

“I can’t speak, Lord,” I said. 

“I have a weak voice!” 

nothing like resting in the truth 

But the Lord didn’t accept my that I am loved, accepted, and 

excuse. He replied, “Trust Me, enough. I hope you’ve realized 

Simone.” 

that truth too. 

The surge of power and boldness 

that came upon me when I any longer into viewing your 

Don’t let Satan trick you 

stepped in front of those young worth through his lying lens of 

people and opened my mouth “you’re not enough.” God gave 

to speak was overwhelming. His Son’s life for you—yes, you! 

God met me on the other side That should prove how much 

of my faith and filled my heart He values you, once and for all. 

with His words. They flowed effortlessly 

from my lips. Many cide today to exchange Satan’s 

So go ahead, right now. De- 

students came to know the lies for God’s truth and step into 

Lord that day, but I learned a your identity as a son or daughter 

of God. Discover His love 

lesson too. 

My shortcomings and my and faithfulness and all that is 

past don’t matter. All God yours through Him. And then, 

needs is a willing vessel to work be willing to be used however 

through. And what I’m seeing He desires. 

now is that the people God There’s so much God wants 

chooses to make a difference to do through you. There’s so 

for Him are the people society much purpose for your life that 

labels unlikely or unfit to do so! He wants to show you through 

King David was once just a the plans He has for you. 

shepherd boy, until the Lord Seriously. Why not you? 

SIMONE BRYANT is a daughter of God, as well as a wife, writer, and mental 

health advocate with a degree in social work. She serves to deliver hope with 

the Victorious Living inmate correspondence team. 


WANT TO KNOW JESUS? 

“Come to me, all you who are 

weary and burdened, and I will 

give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28 NIV 

Jared Emerson, Artist, jaredemerson.com 

Do you need rest? Peace? Freedom? Forgiveness? Restoration? 

Call out to Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and be made whole. 

Pray: “Jesus, I invite You into my life. I confess that I am a sinner in 

need of a Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sins and making 

me whole. Thank You for laying down Your life for me so that I can 

have a new life in You. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. Take 

my life—my past and my future. Guide my steps and speak to my 

heart, Lord. Use me, God. Amen.” 

Let us know of your decision so we can help you grow in your faith. 

Write to: VL Correspondence, PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836. 

PERHAPS AFTER READING the stories in this magazine, you’ve surrendered your life to 

Jesus. Congratulations—it’s the most important decision you will ever make! But you might 

be wondering, now what? Here are five ways to ensure spiritual growth. Remember, the 

Christian life is a journey that brings lifelong transformation. 

1. PRAY. Talk to God about everything and listen for His response. You don’t need 

fancy words, just a sincere heart. 

2. STUDY THE BIBLE. God’s Word contains all the instructions we need for life. Get 

into a Bible study and discover new revelations daily. Free resources are on page 34. 

3. GET BAPTIZED. Although baptism is not a requirement of salvation, the Bible 

clearly tells us that we are to be water baptized after salvation. Baptism symbolizes 

our dying to sin and being raised to a new life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4). Prison 

restrictions may make immersion by water difficult, so get creative and let the Holy 

Spirit reveal how you can take this step of obedience until immersion is possible. 

4. FIND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. Join a local congregation of Christ-followers. If 

incarceration makes attending church difficult, fellowship with other believers the 

best you can. They will help you stand strong and keep you accountable. 

5. TELL SOMEONE. Share your decision to follow Christ and tell them what He has 

done for you. And then, tell us! We’d love to hear from you. 

WHAT NOW? 

I’ve Accepted God’s Salvation. 

Now What? 



33

MINISTRY NEWS/RESOURCES 

Victorious Living Prison 

Outreach Update 

• Family members of our incarcerated family and our ministry 

partners can enjoy our free resources through pandoapp.tv 

and VL’s online platforms like vlmag.org, Facebook, Instagram, 

and YouTube. 

Because of the Lord, generous financial partners, 

and new digital opportunities, Victorious Living’s 

ministries continue to expand across America. 

• Last quarter, VLMag delivered hope to inmates in the Republic of 

Panama with the help of missionaries, Miguel Núñez and Mayra 

Ramos, and the Panama Baptist Church. We added 60 new 

facilities across the country to our shipping manifest and held 

prison tours in Florida and Arizona. 

• Prison inmates can write to us at PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 

27836, or email us through their tablet at hope@vlmag.org. We 

cannot communicate through our phone line; please use the 

email system or write to us. We read and pray over every letter 

we receive. We cannot receive COD emails or phone calls, nor 

do we accept unsolicited stories for publication, photographs, 

or legal documents. If sent, these items cannot be returned to 

the sender. Please note: some emails may be responded to via 

traditional mail. We do our best to respond in a timely manner. 

• High transitional rates of inmates and DOC restrictions prevent 

us from mailing individual subscriptions of VLMag to inmates. 

However, bulk copies are provided free to prisons, jails, recovery, 

and reentry programs, with or without staples, at the request of 

chaplains and program directors. 

• Did you know that VLMag is available on both sides of prison 

walls? It is a gift to our ministry partners and can be delivered 

to anyone in free society. Call 352-478-2098 or visit vlmag.org 

and click the “give now” tab. A gift of any amount is 

appreciated. 

RESOURCES 

Below are opportunities for free Christian-based 

resources for both English- and Spanish-speaking 

inmates and chaplains. When you contact the 

addresses below, tell our partners VL referred you. 


Personal correspondence available in English and Spanish. 

Bulk copies of VLMag are available for jail and prison libraries 

at chaplain’s request. 

PO Box 2751 

Email: hope@vlmag.org 

Greenville, NC 27836 

2ND OPPORTUNITY 

Reentry and 

employmentreadiness 

programming; job/ 

housing referrals upon 

request. 

PO Box 3411 

Peachtree City, GA 

30269 

CLI PRISON 

ALLIANCE 

Discipleship studies 

by mail; free Christian 

books and Bibles for 

libraries at request of 

authorized personnel. 

PO Box 97095 

Raleigh, NC 27624 

RESCUED NOT 

ARRESTED 

Free NIV Bibles, Bible 

study correspondence 

course, and NIV Life 

Application Study Bible 

upon completion of 

study. 

PO Box 90606 

Phoenix, AZ 85066 

CROSSROADS PRISON 

MINISTRIES 

Correspondence Bible 

studies and mentoring 

letters with completed 

lessons. Free Bibles for 

CRM students upon 

request. 

PO Box 900 

Grand Rapids, MI 49509 

HOPE IS ALIVE 

Nationally-based sober 

living homes, faith-based 

support groups, and grief 

support groups for those 

impacted by addiction. 

14400 Bogert Parkway 

Suite 200 

Oklahoma City, OK 

73134 

34 

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