Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

How One Costly Decision Changed Pamela’s Life Forever

April 18, 2018 by Emily Harris Greene

For four years, Pamela Strey had been trapped in an abusive relationship. Her partner was controlling and refused to let her have a life outside of their home. To care for her family, she relied on a very slim weekly allowance her partner allowed her.

"That particular week was $60," Pamela recalls. "That had to feed a family of four, and my youngest was still in diapers."

Having depleted her funds for the week, Pamela was faced with a difficult decision—she could ask her partner for more money, or she could find some extra cash on her own.

Pamela chose to act on an impulse that would change her life forever: "I made a split decision to steal a purse."

"I made a split decision to steal a purse."

A COSTLY DECISION

Pamela robbed a woman in a parking lot. When she was caught, Pamela's petty theft became something more serious after the police searched her car. A Leatherman multi-tool was found in her glovebox.

"Even though it wasn't actually used in the crime, it was considered on my person," Pamela explains. "That's considered armed [robbery]."

Pamela's decision would cost her. She was sentenced to 5-20 years in prison and forced to leave her children behind.

BEHIND BARS

Without her children, Pamela became depressed. "I wanted to literally die," she says.

Once inside, she made another costly decision that ended with her being severely beaten by another prisoner. The next thing she knew, she was in a hospital bed and in need of some serious recovery.

But something happened during her recovery—Pamela regained interest in life. She took up running. She also started looking for programs and things to do. One day, a fellow prisoner signed Pamela up for a class with Prison Fellowship®.

"I almost wanted to choke her," Pamela remembers. "I didn't have any faith or religion."

But for all her grumblings, she found herself attending … and becoming interested.

When Pamela completed the program, her life had completely changed. She had faith in a God who loved her, and she had a passion for helping others. She became a mentor for the other women attending the Prison Fellowship classes.

"Everybody—everybody—makes mistakes, and everybody can be forgiven."

GETTING BACK ON HER FEET

Prison Fellowship has continued to stand with Pamela since her release. Through Prison Fellowship, Pamela found a church and mentors who helped guide her through reentry.

"They welcome me like a family," Pamela says of her church.

Today, Pamela shares her testimony with others—especially other parolees. Pamela's progress has impressed her parole officers, who partner with her now as well. With their approval, she helps women like herself find the resources they need to get back on their feet.

When she looks back on her life, Pamela wishes she knew God years ago. She lived over 35 years of her life without knowing Jesus Christ, but today she says that her faith is her life.

"I believe God saved my life by putting me in prison," Pamela says. She used to be angry at God for her incarceration, but now, "I trust that good is going to come out of this. Good has come out of this. And my faith is growing so much stronger."

Pamela plans to share the hope and love she has found in Christ with others. "Everybody—everybody—makes mistakes," she says. "And everybody can be forgiven."

OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

DAVID'S DOWNFALL

"I was the king of my world," David says, but "once I felt my world was coming down around me, I needed to escape somewhere."

SOWING WHAT YOU REAP: HOW ANGEL TREE RESTORES FAMILIES

For too long, Deborah had sewn pain and destruction into her family. Could they finally find healing and restoration in Angel Tree?

Filed Under: Prison & Prisoners, Advocacy & Reentry, Prison Fellowship News & Updates, Reentry, Video Tagged With: Women's Ministry

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The Powerful Love of Moms Behind Bars

May 7, 2025

How Camp Can Change the Life of a Prisoner’s Child

April 30, 2025

Prison Fellowship’s Statement After United States Senate Declares April 2025 as Second Chance Month

April 29, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.