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Easter brings out stories of personal redemption for some women ex-offenders in Fredericksburg Date published: 3/22/2008
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Tomorrow, Christians celebrate new life. In area churches, sermons will retell a familiar story: On Good Friday, Jesus died. Three days later, he came back to life. Most Christians believe his death and resurrection follow a heavenly plan to redeem, or save, mankind. Christian Scriptures say everyone is trapped by sin and death. They believe Christ's crucifixion atones for those sins. This redemption, many say, brings two types of new life: a chance at heaven and peace of mind while on Earth. On Easter, Christians remember these forms of resurrection. For those who carry the redemption message to area jail inmates, Easter is a time to reflect on an idea that salvation is available to everyone. "There is no amount of sin we can do that God gives up on us. We've just got to keep repenting," said Jack Richards, one of two chaplains at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County. He said redemption takes sincerity, humility, and meeting God one-on-one. LISA THOMAS: 'PLANS But seeking redemption can be hard, said Lisa Thomas, who runs New Vision, a residential program for women ex-offenders in Fredericksburg. Some people have to get to the point where their choices are change or death, she said. Thomas said she discovered redemption 17 years ago as a drug addict and ex-convict. Since then, she has watched countless women turn their lives around. She finds the Easter story both universal and particularly personal. Thomas and a woman who recently came to New Vision were willing to share their redemption stories. Thomas always believed God made two kinds of people: good and bad. And she knew exactly which kind she was. She started drinking in middle school and soon worked her way to pot and then crack cocaine. "You exist just to get that next hit or that next fix," she said. And 18 years ago, Thomas lived on the streets of Washington and road the Metro to keep warm. She sold her body and wrote bad checks to get the money for drugs. She attempted both suicide and rehab. And then she got arrested for forgery.
Date published: 3/22/2008
Since inception, NV has assisted 750 women and 1200 children with a variety of programs. The residential house opened iofficially in Jan 08 and will house up to 6 women. Currently there are two residents with 2 coming on board within the next week. The daily cost to house a woman behind bars is $52 a day....do the math. Over 80% of these women are mothers, change a woman, change the children, the family and the community. For more information www.newvisva.org. This is a re-entry program, not drug rehb
I am a little familiar with this ministry outreach. Only the transition house is new & serving few. They help many, many women in other capacities, such as visiting them in jail, job assistance, clothing for job interviews, and I'm not sure what else. Anytime a new ministry home is opened, it fills slowly, because you choose residents who will benefit and adhere to the rules as you build your home's rules and relationships for the 1st time. They're funded by donations, so cost-eff. is high & not from tax $$
I am a little familiar with this ministry outreach. Only the transition house is new & serving few. They help many, many women in other capacities, such as visiting them in jail, job assistance, clothing for job interviews, and I'm not sure what else. Anytime a new ministry home is opened, it fills slowly, because you choose residents who will benefit and adhere to the rules as you build your home's rules and relationships for the 1st time. They're funded by donations, so cost-eff. is high & not from tax $$
What is the cost of a human life? Have we gotten to the point as a society that everything has to be measured in dollars and cents? I agree that the war on drugs has failed. However, that is a subject for a much different kind of article. This program helps some people, and that is better than not helping any. Getting the discipline and structure in one's life to enable one to stay clean and sober is not easy, and this program appears to do that.
The program appears to address the needs of two or three women at most, when thousands have been incarcerated in the "War on Drugs." The story is so bent on evangelizing that the issue is never addressed. Yet the issue is important because if we will never have the programs necessary to address the rehabilitation needs of thousands of these men and women, then maybe we need to start questioning our current drug laws.
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