God, hope, failure, faith but most of all success.

Transcription

1 T Ministry of women for women helps jailed drug abusers recover, then encourages them to join CrossTalk s ranks and give back. his is the story of a woman no, hundreds of women, a church, a jail, addiction, recovery, By Raye Deusinger Photos by Susan Giddings and Courtesy of CrossTalk God, hope, failure, faith but most of all success. There are two types of women in this story, both with addictions. One type, addicted to all manner of drugs; the other type, addicted to loving her out of that addiction. Both are grateful for each other, but more, both are grateful to God. Together, they are CrossTalk, a local ministry of women for women, founded by Donna Burk. In 2010, Donna was working with Breakthrough Recovery Services, which helps adults with drug or alcohol problems, anger management and other court-appointed services. Their help includes in-jail counseling. When seeing female clients, the counselor needed to have a woman with him and assigned Donna that position. I sat week after week listening to their stories of addiction, worthlessness and lost hope. I felt God speaking to me, saying, I want you to tell them I love them. Donna enlisted a friend, Kathy Arnold, who said, I had been praying for years for the Lord to lead me to a ministry where I could serve Him. Together they went to the Okeechobee County jail to learn how they could begin. The jail asked Donna the name of her organization, and she said, CrossTalk, because we were going to talk about the Cross. Team members Bobbi Poole, Jamie Cooper, Dolly Young, Kathy Arnold, Donna Burk, Jackie Morales and Julie Reno. Not pictured: Mercedes Holland, Maureen Bradley, Traci Lee, Leah Lamb and Sonja Kelly. September/October

2 Savannah Beckman. Today, after gathering a group of like-minded sisters, they go to the jail regularly to witness to these women who feel as though they have lost everything. They don't just speak platitudes, but reality. They visit, take paper for a journal, envelopes and books to the inmates. The jail has many rules for those who come to witness. Some of those include no click pens, no hardback books and no spiral-bound books. Through these rules, the girls learn that the visitors are under an authority also and must be respected. Donna has often told them, You are in here; if you don't want to play the game, don't come in here again. Savannah Beckman, a mom with five boys from ages eight to 14, learned these lessons the hard way. She said: I've been on and off of drugs since I was 13. I'd be clean for a while, then back again. Savannah spent her affection on drugs, not on her boys, and lost them. She even heard her mother tell her she never wanted to talk to her again. She said, The ladies came into the jail, and through them I have my faith back and am in a relationship with God. July 19 marked a full year clean for her. Today I have my mother and boys back in my life, said Savannah. I have a car, a job and even a Facebook post of my progress. I share that no matter what I have done, I am forgiven and I can live a successful life and be a productive member of society. 58 September/October 2016 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE Personal change starts from within CrossTalk is a catalyst for that, and provides resources for those who want to make a positive change. ~ Sgt. Mark Garland, who runs the visitor program September/October

3 Refrigeration ~ AC ~ Ice Machines Serving the Glades Since 1929 Okeechobee N. Parrott Ave. Okeechobee, FL Clewiston E. Sugarland Hwy. Clewiston, FL LaBelle We also service LaBelle, FL 60 September/October 2016 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE Carrier St. Lic. #CMCO54668 Okeechobee Sheriff Department Sgt. Mark Garland is in charge of the program under which CrossTalk visits prisoners. He said: I'm a firm believer in self-improvement whether one is incarcerated or not. Personal change starts from within; otherwise, all the programs in the world won't work. CrossTalk is a catalyst for that, and provides resources for those who want to make a positive change. He said that sometimes inmates come to the CrossTalk meetings as a way to be out of their cell for a while. But even some of those people, he said, become some of the most committed ones. The visitors from CrossTalk seem like genuine, sincere people. Donna said: Our motto is Hope for the Hurting. God says, Speak the truth in love. We are not rude or disrespectful and find the jail's rules and the Lord's rules blend together. We have three women who were in there who now go back in and talk to the girls because We Can Make Your Camping Dreams Come True! NO Fun! 4300 US Hwy. 441 S It s Your Choice! Okeechobee, FL Fax: Really FUN! September/October

4 Ashley Rippoll. addicts listen to someone whose life has been transformed, and that gives them hope. Okeechobee Undersheriff Noel Stephen said: I have been undersheriff for 11 1/2 years. During that time, we have supported numerous programs to help work on recidivism and for inmates to develop a mind-set to make them successful when they get out of jail. CrossTalk is one of those programs. In my opinion, both personal and professional, it has been one of the most successful that has come through the jail. The ladies establish relationships with these individuals that extend beyond their time within the jail. They've been here long enough now that their group is comprised of several of their success stories. Successful does not apply only to the program, but to the individual as well. Ashley Rippoll began drinking as a teen in high school, feeling something was missing in her life; drugs became her comfort. When I was in too deep, she said, I'd cry out to God to take the pain away, to fill the void. He did. He sent me to jail. There, God sent CrossTalk, and I learned that I could find a way out through God. It worked for me for a while, but I'd fall back into the cycle again, spending about seven years in and out of jail. Ashley finally faced charges, which resulted in an 18-month prison sentence. Donna and Kathy kept coming in, she said. I knew I had to hear the Word, to stay in the Word. Today, Ashley is a secretary, who, with her boss, has opened a nonprofit emergency response team to help out when natural disasters strike. She is mending her relationship with her 12-year-old daughter, who was only four when Ashley's life fell apart. She is doing online classes with hopes of becoming a drug addiction counselor. Two years clean, she said: CrossTalk never gave up on me. Over the years, I found that every time they came, they had the specific word I needed at that moment. Professional Quality with a Personal Touch Diane Conway & Gary Burks or DGCaters101@yahoo.com APPLIANCES Sales / Service / Parts Family Owned and Operated for 25 Years Precision Hair Cut Designs Balayaga Hand Painting Brazilian Blowout Waxing Manicures Nail Enhancements Spa Pedicures (863) SW Park Street Okeechobee Monday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-3 Gift Certificates Available AFTER HOURS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE Traci Lee is now clean. A former addict, she now leads her own CrossTalk group every other Sunday. To do that, a girl must be out for a year, clean and approved and licensed by the jail to do so. CrossTalk never gave up on me. Over the years, I found that every time they came, they had the specific word I needed at that moment. HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8am-5:30pm 317 SW Park Street Okeechobee, FL ~ Ashley Rippoll, who got help getting clean 62 September/October 2016 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE and went on to found a nonprofit September/October

5 Today, CrossTalk corresponds with 53 women in prison. Donna has six three-ring notebooks, two to three inches thick, packed with letters from prisoners filled with not only words of praise and hope but pictures they have drawn that show their souls. CrossTalk members personally answer every letter sent to them. You can access CrossTalkMinistries.org and see many of these letters. I was baptized in June and see God opening doors for me everywhere. I know now to always pray with trust. ~ Joanna Kemp, who found aid with CrossTalk Donna knows the battle is always out there. In partnership with More 2 Life Ministries, the girls are welcomed at services. When she gets out of jail, More 2 Life Ministries gives each girl a huge bag with toiletries, a nail file, socks, body spray, things to make them feel girly, a journal, a pen and a Bible, and invite not require them to come. METALWORKS, LLC SALES FABRICATION DESIGN Joanna Kemp. When they come through the door, the whole church welcomes them. Recently, 15 girls were invited to a special reception, and received from the congregation a standing ovation. They were loved and accepted. Pastor John Garner said: These ladies of CrossTalk are reaching women for the Lord. There are many women in our congregation whose lives are completely different from what they were. This is a very positive ministry, and the women of CrossTalk continue with aftercare when the girls get out. I have been out for nine months and am serving three years probation. I am waitressing in a job I love. I was baptized in June and see God opening doors for me everywhere. I know now to always pray with trust. CrossTalk is entering its seventh year of ministry with hopes and prayers of one day having a transition house where women can stay for a month while learning how to move into society. Here they will learn how to dress, apply for a job, write a resume, use makeup and give back to the community. The CrossTalk organizers tell them: You've taken from the system long enough; society is not responsible for taking care of you. Do something to give back. PENROD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Commercial Residential Industrial Agricultural Custom Etching Available! millironmetal@gmail.com US 98 NORTH OKEECHOBEE, FL September/October 2016 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE One of those girls is Joanna Kemp, who grew up with amazing parents. She had a child at a young age and quit going to church. Her world fell apart when her father died of cancer. Depression led her into alcohol, then pills, then jail. When invited, in jail, to meet the ladies of CrossTalk, she was afraid, but she went. They gave me a Bible; they cared, prayed and gave me Scriptures of hope. They brought me back to the Father, who will never leave me. Though they separated for a time, Joanna, her husband and son are now back together. She said the honest answers she gave her son have shown him that there are consequences for a person s actions. Crosstalk, a 501(c)(3) ministry, welcomes those who would like to aid in this effort to change lives. You can contact them at crosstalk4life@gmail.com. Kathy Arnold and Donna Burk. I felt God speaking to me, saying, I want you to tell them I love them. ~ Donna Burk, founder Committed to Quality, Excellence and Customer Satisfaction! Located at: 210 NE 3rd Ave. Okeechobee, FL CGC Call today! PenrodConstructionCompany.comnComp September/October