A missionary, a prostitute and a murderer walk into a bowling alley…
That sounds like the start of a terrible joke that I would immediately walk away from because it is likely offensive in some way. But, it is not a joke at all! I was recently able to travel with another missionary friend to Denver, Colorado, and did indeed bowl with two amazing women that have prostitution and murder in their past. We laughed, we bowled, we high-fived – it was a fun weekend!
The purpose for my trip was to film Jennie’s testimony for our Regional Women’s Retreats. Jennie is a part of our Denver TUMI team after having spent 24 years behind bars for murder. Through this terrible tragedy, she came to know Christ as her Lord and Savior and though imprisoned, she experienced true freedom. God released her from her guilt and shame and healed wounds from her past. In her testimony, she shares this journey so that the ladies at the retreat may know that God can and will free them from whatever has them in bondage.
Our theme this year is RELEASED: Empowered to Live Free and we are using Psalm 107:14 as our key verse – “He broke them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.” This year, our team of three, in partnership with The Urban Ministry Institute, has created everything from graphics to theme, and workbooks to session outlines, for a retreat that will occur four times this month – two in Texas and two in Kansas; two in English and two in Spanish. The Dallas retreat started us off on the second weekend of April, and around 75 women celebrated freedom in Christ. Last weekend, April 15-17, 140 women gathered to worship together and seek to be released from any chains holding them back. Our prayer is that over 250 women over the four weekends hear this message of freedom and hope in Christ.
Click here to learn more about our women's retreats and see testimonies and videos from last year.