Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Owens.
Judy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2011, my husband, Charlie received a phone call from Banning Liebscher, the director of Jesus Culture, located at that time in Redding, CA. Banning had received a letter from an inmate at the Wynne Prison Unit in Huntsville. The inmate, Paul Lin, had read an article about Banning and the revival culture he was leading in California. One of the core values of a revival culture is the restoration of spiritual fathering/mentoring in the church. Paul asked Banning if he knew of anyone with the core values of a revivalist who would mentor him as a spiritual father. Charlie answered that call and began mentoring Paul on a bimonthly basis as allowed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
They met for about 18 mos. visiting through wire mesh and plate glass. Charlie and Paul began to dream of what it might look like to have a school of supernatural ministry in a prison unit. Charlie and I already led a school in our home using the DVD curriculum from the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding. The Warden of the Wynne Unit was in favor of the school and gave his approval. He was acquainted with Charlie through our business, Five Loaves Deli, in Huntsville. The school was launched with five students at one unit. I then trained as a volunteer, created our program proposal and began designing curriculum that would work in a prison setting. We now have around 160 students in five different units. I’m not sure how many men have touched our school. Many times they come and go quickly. Our mission is to raise up spiritual fathers in the units to mentor each other. We are only there a few hours a week. They live there.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all, we have felt like pioneers, creating a path in a forest of obstacles. The greatest struggle is to instill worth in men who have been told their whole lives that they are worthless. It is difficult for them to believe that they can be leaders or spiritual fathers for each other. It is difficult for them to believe that their heavenly Father doesn’t just tolerate them as His children but treasures them. For the first two years of our school we focus heavily on their identity as sons of a good Father.
My advice to other women is the same I have for the men in prison. You have to believe in your own worth. As a young woman, I was a good performer, a perfectionist. I thought I needed to be perfect to be valued. I performed for love instead of from love. When I came to have a very intimate relationship with a God who adored me and did not base His love on my performance, I was freed to love myself and others around me without judging their performances. I used to walk into a room and fearfully begin to measure myself against everyone there, Now I walk into a room and want everyone to know that they are loved without measure. I always remind myself that I cannot give away what I don’t have. If I do not believe and know that I am completely and unconditionally loved, I cannot give that away. Do not base your identity and worth on the world or your history. You can waste a lot of time and energy trying to be someone you were never intended to be.
Please tell us about The Joseph Company Prison Ministry.
I go into the prison weekly to direct the ministry school. I meet for two hours a week with the inmate facilitators whom we call revival group pastors to develop them into spiritual fathers. We are currently studying Steve Backlund’s book titled The Culture of Empowerment. We believe that you can only influence people if they have value for you and that people value those who champion them. We are teaching the men to change the culture common to prison. We are teaching them to champion each other and to believe in each other’s worth. We encourage them to love and trust each other as the body of Christ. It is so encouraging to see them rise to the expectations of the new culture they are creating.
I am most proud of seeing the worth of every person, the hidden gems, the buried treasure. I am most proud when I see someone realize their true identity as a son of God and begin to walk in love. I am so proud when I hear one of them say when they are provoked or falsely accused, “The old me, would’ve………., but that’s not me anymore.” I think what sets us apart is that we run towards those that the world runs away from. We see the gold and not the dirt.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I love Brene Brown’s books. I am reading Dare to Lead right now. I also like to read Kris Vallotton, Banning Liebscher, Steve Backlund, Wendy Backlund, Danny Silk, Lana Vawser and Bill Johnson. I am an avid C.S. Lewis and Tolkien fan. I have read nearly all their books. The Passion Translation of the Bible is my favorite book. I read that daily. My best and greatest resource is Holy Spirit. I begin my day with spending time meditating in my Bible, journaling, and reading.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jcprisonministry.com
- Email: jcprisonministry@gmail.com
- Facebook: The Joseph Company Prison Ministry or Leadership School of Transformation
Image Credit:
Amy Barton (photo 1); John Walt (photo 2)
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