JaCo REC 2 - Women's' Weekend

Review from Jane Fletcher - Women's' Lay Director

Jackson County Women’s REC # 2

What a privilege it was to have a front row seat to watch our awesome God doing what He does best, loving and saving people!  Our LORD provided this opportunity to each of the women who served on the Jackson County Women’s Rec # 2 team.  The residents arrived on Friday afternoon with a sense of joy and anticipation. The team was prayed up and ready to welcome them with the love of Christ.

We knew that God had moved mightily during the Men’s REC the previous weekend, transforming the male residents into worshiping members of the House of Freedom.  This news encouraged the women’s team and we were eager to see what God was going to do with these female residents.

Those of us at the Table of Concern were well positioned to observe how the residents were responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their midst.  The ladies were receptive, but at the same time tentative. It was apparent that many of these women bore the scars of suffering and abuse, and the protective walls they had built up around their hearts were firmly in place. 

As the weekend progressed we likened it to a journey.  Clearly, God was mapping it out, and the women were en route, but they were traveling at a safe speed.  We observed their nods of agreement to points made in the talks, and the gradual joining in with an attitude of worship.  Most women were participating in the table discussions, and yet there were some who refrained.  It was difficult to gauge how much the REC was impacting the women.  We likened their responses to a slow thaw.  Little by little, they were warming up to what was happening. 

Many of the team had experienced attacks from the enemy in the weeks leading up to, and even during, the REC…deaths, illnesses, breakdowns in communication, breakdowns of transportation, accidents…just to name a few.  So we knew that we were in for a strong spiritual battle this weekend.  Satan wanted to keep these women in bondage…BUT GOD!  Indeed, but God.  We knew that the enemy was no match for the VICTOR!  So as we observed the women on this slow journey, undergoing a slow thaw, we knew that God had big plans for these ladies.  We continued to pray, trust God and wait.

God gave us a glimpse of what He was accomplishing in the lives of these residents during the poster presentation.  It was as if He drew back the curtain to give us a peek at the work He was doing in the hearts of these women.  Their posters and accompanying comments revealed how deeply they were being affected by what they were experiencing over the weekend.  Our God was doing what only He can do, all praise, honor, and glory to Him.

The poster party was the turning point in our weekend.  From that moment on, we could see that more and more women were responding to the love of their heavenly Father.  The hearts were thawing, the walls were beginning to tumble down, and a genuine joy began to radiate on the faces of these precious ladies.  The attitude of worship grew exponentially.

Following the Means of Grace talk, many said “Yes” to Christ’s invitation to be Lord and Savior of their lives, and many others rededicated their lives to Him. They were awed by the candlelight, and many went to bed that night transformed.

There were others who still held back, but God continued to work in their hearts through the remainder of the weekend.  At closing there were a handful of women who asked to see our clergy team so they could be led to Christ.  God is so good!  We couldn’t have scripted a better way to conclude our weekend! 

Thanks to the community, to the team members and their families, and to the jail staff for pouring your hearts out for the female residents Jackson County Jail.  Although we didn’t rename ourselves as the men did, there are now many women who are residents of the House of Freedom, too!  God, and God alone, is worthy of the praise, honor, and glory for the success of this REC.  Our LORD formed an awesome team, provided excellent community support, led us every step of the way…and, most importantly, loved and saved His children.  The Kingdom of Heaven is growing!  It is an honor and a privilege to be able to serve God in the REC ministry. Thank you, Jesus!