At 18 years old, Sara had a tooth pulled, and it sent her down a destructive path. She was prescribed opiates for the pain and became addicted. When her addiction got worse, she started getting drugs illegally. At 21, while going through withdrawals, she robbed a convenience store. Her downward spiral culminated in a prison sentence.
Prison only made her addiction worse.
Then she remembered something her mom used to tell her: “If you find yourself in trouble, cry out to Jesus.”
So, she did.
At the time, she didn’t have the greatest reputation in prison, but God was moving in her life.
The woman Sara shared a cell with taught her how to pray, and they would talk about the Bible together. Sara trusted her, and she was there for Sara when she needed it most—she was her sister in Christ behind bars.
After Sara was released from prison, God continued to work through her friend to bring Sara closer to Him. Sara cared deeply about prison reform and wanted to use her story to help others and change laws throughout the country. So when she received a call from her sister in Christ asking if she wanted to begin the process of becoming a Prison Fellowship® Justice Ambassador, Sara said yes!
Now, Sara advocates for criminal justice reform and spreads awareness in her community about the need for second chances. Her story and the stories of many others led to Congress passing and President Biden signing the Federal Prison Oversight Act into law last year!
You can join our community of Justice Ambassadors, too! Everyone has a unique story. Whether it comes from your life experience or your desire to seek justice, it’s one that can make a difference. We encourage individuals to leverage their stories—whether they are formerly incarcerated or not—by becoming Justice Ambassadors. Don’t delay; take the first step today to become a Justice Ambassador!
