Raised in Southern California, Nancy grew up going to church, but her home life was not always stable. During her adolescence, her parents separated. Nancy forged her own path as a teen, acting out and seeking independence. Her behavior led to being kicked out of school and spending time in juvenile hall. Eventually, she turned to drugs.

Nancy had her first child, a daughter, at age 15. When this child was 2, her grandmother stepped in to help Nancy raise her. By 21, Nancy was a mother of three. As a young single mom, Nancy juggled two or three jobs at a time, doing drugs to stay awake. Though she would start to seek treatment at times, she never followed through. It steadily became more difficult to keep a job. Once her addiction spiraled out of control, Nancy chose for her children to stay with family and a close friend.

After 14 years of addiction, Nancy had no home and no hope. Though she had found a new partner, she felt an emptiness she couldn’t shake. Then she robbed a gas station and landed in prison with a six-year sentence for second-degree robbery and coercion, along with drug possession.

By the time she arrived at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility near Portland, Oregon, she had lost her partner to a drug overdose. She mourned the loss of her own life, too, due to all her destructive choices and wasted years. She was ready to try anything if it might help her change.

At Coffee Creek, Nancy attended church services led by Prison Fellowship^® volunteers. They praised God together in worship and read His Word. Over time, Nancy noticed many of the same volunteers returned every week to share Jesus’ love with her and pray over her.

That’s where Nancy says everything changed.

“Nobody wanted anything to do with me before I went to prison, because I was so far out there on drugs,” says Nancy. “I wanted to have a new life and be a new creation. That’s why I wanted to start going to church, and I wanted to be in the presence of others who were following Him. I just wanted to know Him.”

In prison, Nancy began a close relationship with Jesus. For the first time, she found a faith that was all her own. And because she was surrounded by a loving community of believers, she didn’t feel alone in her journey.

Before long, Nancy had a reputation for being joyful. She started wearing makeup sometimes, just for fun, though she had nowhere to go. Her brown eyes, once dull and empty, now sparkled at everyone she met.

“You are way too happy to be in prison,” people told her.

She would say, “I’m happy I’m alive. I made it out of almost death, and I’m the Lord’s child now. I’m His daughter.”

Whenever Nancy saw a chance, she shared her story with others. She also looked for opportunities to share love with her family, even though they were separated by prison walls.

Nancy signed up for Prison Fellowship Angel Tree^®, which enables incarcerated parents to strengthen their relationships with their children. Through Angel Tree, a local church delivered Christmas presents to her children on her behalf. She would never forget the feeling of giving to her children in that way, and she hoped that someday, she could give back to the program that gave her the opportunity to feel like a mother behind bars.

Nancy was released in 2010 after serving three years. Her brother Joseph came to pick her up. She walked out of prison with $250 and a flip phone.

First, Nancy went to live in a faith-based halfway house. Then she moved to another reentry home closer to a bus stop in town. An employment agency helped her create a resume, but her work history was sparse. Nobody wanted to hire her due to her criminal record. Though she had become a new creation in Christ, her past crimes cast a shadow over her future job prospects.

“When I actually saw my name on there as ‘franchise owner,’ that became surreal, like, ‘Wow, I get this second chance.’”
—Nancy

“I was able to have that start inside of the walls because of Prison Fellowship, and I am forever grateful.”
—Nancy