True Freedom

Attending the “True Woman 12” conference in Indianapolis turned out to be 3 productive days of discovery and challenge. One of the most impacting moments happened on the first day when a parade of conference volunteers entered the expansive convention center floor carrying something unusual: a paper chain, nearly half a mile long.

As we watched over 100 women snake their way down the aisles and around the perimeter carrying the colorful construction-paper chain, we were told that the name of each person attending the conference was written on one of the links, along with a prayer specifically written for them. Those prayers had been prayed over us during the last month by 150 women who hoped we would be nourished and uplifted by “True Woman 12.”

Since there were 8200 of us at the conference, that meant each of those women who made the links, wrote the names, recorded the prayers, and prayed them, did so for over 50 women apiece. But most significant was that these women were praying from their prison cells at a correctional facility in Arkansas.

As we took in the magnitude of their gift, those 150 women wanted to connect with the 8200 of us in one more way, too. Some of them recorded prayers for us on video, and we watched as they passionately asked God to bless those of us sitting at the convention center. I was so bowled over by their kindness toward a mega-crowd of strangers I can’t even remember what they said. But God heard and began acting on their requests well ahead of our arrival to Indianapolis.

We had one more gripping surprise, a real-time greeting from these same women. As the video screens clicked on, suddenly we saw them and they saw us. These sisters in Christ, who would have loved to attend the conference in person themselves, didn’t let that “not” get in the way of blessing all of us, waving their arms wildly in a greeting.

Making that chain and praying those prayers wasn’t rational and, by the world’s standards, made no sense. But 1 John 5:1 says, “Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” Because of that, these prisoners reached out to us with the love of the Father, which was absolutely spilling out of them. We were delighted, and surely God was, too.

Humbled and stunned by their depth of caring, we were amazed at what happened next. Two women came on stage with gladness and joy written all over their faces, telling us they had both been prisoners with the incarcerated women on the screen. Taking the mic, the first woman said something I’ll never forget. “I was in prison for 12½ years…. the best years of my life.”

She could say that for only one reason: while she was behind bars, she met Jesus Christ. From that moment on, no chains could bind her, and by her own testimony, he had made her a free woman.

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

6 thoughts on “True Freedom

  1. I was crying and had chills during that moment too. I loved the whole thing, basically! Wish I could have seen you there 🙂

  2. From now on, I will always look at paper chains, in several new ways. Celebration Chains Thanks, for the photographs and praises.

  3. This was one of my favorite moments from the conference. I was moved by these women’s faithfulness to pray. Not only that, I moved by the thought that I am so special to God that He had someone pray over me. He knows my needs more than anyone else.

  4. Wow… I am so glad there is a video record of the prayer chain and the women prisoners. I cried thru the whole thing.. .awesome so humbled..
    In one of the posts on line it is a photo of the ladies on stage 2 of them who prayed with Nancy.
    on first look. she has dark slacks and top with a stripe down teh middle. when you first look.. really because her hands are across her body. it appears to be a cross. wow. I am amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit to keep giving from that conference. I have a new cut out .. lazer like Lord’s prayer.. for your study on it Nancy. a new picture of two eagles soaring on the updrafts of wind from the currents from snow covered mountains.. and now getting out my white Surrender hankie..
    putting scripture on my doorposts.. as for me and my house.. we will serve the Lord..?