“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1
When I applied for tenure in 2012, I mentioned that opportunities for community service in Abilene were not clear for Dwain and me. There were many needs. However, we had not found clear direction from God in this area. I continued to ask, wanting to ensure that our time and resources were directed by God and not just good things to do.
Our answer came when the police targeted both of our sons with false criminal charges. In 2011, I unintentionally became aware of the activities of a campus police officer who was trying to hide his abusive history from public view. His daughter told me what had happened in her life, and I attempted to talk with the family. They would not, but instead developed their own story and reported my son to the police. When I brought outcomes of his life before the eldership of the Church, he became enraged and said that someone needed to “put me in my place”. As a result, he used his police connections to turn the legal system against us. God freed our youngest son through His grace and mercy, knowing that a mother’s heart can only take so much. However, our older son was not spared, and we have spent the past several years learning more about the justice and the legal system than we ever wanted to know.
What my husband and I and both our sons have learned is that life is much bigger than who we area as individuals or our reputations. Although we have been scorned in many ways, God has a purpose for each of us according to his plan. And His plan is to save the lost. In both situations, we met people in the justice system who walked with God, and those who did not. The public servants of God helped us understand the system in place and how to make the best decisions considering the power of God in a fallen world. Those not of the mind to follow God came face to face with the realities of the truth despite their falsehoods and came to know the power of God to confirm His truth.
In this experience, I learned the meaning of Isaiah 55:11:
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
I lived by Isaiah 33:22:
“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.”
I believe everyone involved including our family was convicted by God’s Word and changed for the better.
I learned through these experiences that the stories of Joseph, Job and Sampson have meaning in our lives in the 21st century. We learned that God is sovereign in the affairs of mankind, and that Jesus works to save the lost, even from themselves. We sent our youngest son to finish high school at Fork Union Military Academy near Richmond, VA. We did not send him because of disobedience, as our attorney relayed to the DA, saying that he had “paid the price” for his actions. My son had done nothing. The officer’s report was all lies, and everyone knew it. However, we learned that a system saves face at the expense of the individual, and this story worked for them “in the name of justice.” We decided years ago that my youngest son needed a different learning structure and environment. In 2007 we began looking for a Christian school with 7 week blocks covering one topic at a time, because, dyslexics, like my son, learn better in shorter, single blocks of instruction to help them avoid triggers that create confusion while in the class environment. We found one in January of 2012. When the police officer in Sweetwater wanted to make a name for himself in May of that year, Brian was already on his way to a better environment. This incident occurred less than one week before he was scheduled to leave for Virginia. The attorney we found only convinced them to let Brian go to a haven God had already chosen for him. It took almost two years for the DA to release our son, deciding there was no basis to the charge. She shared with us that, in her over 30-year tenure in the justice department, this was only the second time she had made such a decision.
The details around my older son were not as straightforward and unfortunately are still being worked out. However, because of this situation, he was forced to leave school at Iowa State University and return to Abilene. Although my initial thought was total despair, he chose to continue his education here in Abilene, marry a wonderful young lady he met while at ACU, and now they have given us our first grandson. As Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God’s ways are truly a mystery, from beginning to end.
What we learned – how we typically serve:
We attend meetings with community groups involving AISD and work with parents to save their children from the school-to-prison pipeline that has developed as part of police officers now residing in schools, elementary through high school. We have worked with parents of students from 10 to 16 years of age to help them find legal resources and to negotiate with school officials on behalf of these young students.
We realized that a number of people are homeless because they cannot recover from the burden of the legal system. I am not saying that the system itself is a burden. The emphasis is that the system often places location restrictions and financial requirements on individuals that they cannot bear alone. Unless someone intervenes, many families suffer trying to support their sons, daughters and others. One example at ACU is the Star Investment team. Over time, this group of young Christians has intervened by recommending that ACU’s investment group (ACIMCO) should not invest in pharmaceutical companies that use unethical profiteering at the expense of those in need of life saving drugs. The team has also made the recommendation to not invest in for-profit prison systems that benefit from the increased incidence of incarceration among overrepresented populations in prison.
We also converted two properties we own here in Abilene to take care of those recently released from incarceration. One supports women and is operated by a local non-profit organization. The second is newer and is modeled as a spiritual community similar to what is called in Africa as a mission house. This location is managed by a graduate Bible student from Africa and currently supports one previously incarcerated person in a 3 person environment. We prayed for God to bring a third person appropriate for the need. In His power, he brought a student who is interested in helping others since his parents ran a half-way house while he was in their care.
We are involved in the ministries of the IJM (International Justice Mission) and financially and spiritually supported one of their representatives on the mission field. We ministered to him for a number of years before his departure and will continue in our relationship when he returns.
God is perfect in His provision. The challenge is we have to ask Him to allow us to walk with Him and trust the miracle of His unlikely provision. We have and continue to learn of God’s grace and provision as He works in the lives of people to do only what He can do through the saving power of Jesus. We have been humbled and are in a different spiritual place because of these experiences.
List of Involvement:
United by Faith group. We met with this group regularly over a period of 5 years and have come to know many people who share an interest in creating a more diverse assembly of the saints here in Abilene.
Racial Unity group (RULS) with Jerry Taylor and Doug Foster. We have attended several of the national conferences and provide support when requested. I was able to work with Alisha Winn, the anthropologist on the Christian Scholars program, to present truth around scientific findings related to the book “Erectus Amongst Us.”
New Beginnings, managed by Missy Denard. Provides housing and support for women recently released from incarceration who, as new Christians, want to learn how to live a better life. We manage the property as a non-profit operation and financially underwrite an annual fundraising luncheon.
Environ4Christ Mission Friends Network, managed by Eric Aizenofe, a graduate student from Africa as part of the biblical studies program. The property operates as a mission house to support the housing needs of people brought together by God to prevent homelessness and provide opportunities for ministry.
Abilene Independent School District. I have attended numerous meetings around individual students as well as leadership and program selection to support decisions to improve operations to support a diverse student population.
Board member for the Robertson’s Sports Academy.
Member of the Advisory Board to establish the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action.
Unlike in 2012, when I wrote, “I am sure we could do more to serve the Abilene community…we have just had trouble acclimating to the West Texas culture,” we are now truly supporting Abilene as God would have us do, to His glory.