Midland County Jail is designed as one of the newer jails that exists across the state. This means there are no more bars like one would typically think of when they think of a jail setting. It’s obvious that it’s a locked down facility as there are no windows, but the hallways are quiet, clean, almost pristine. There are many heavy steel doors that align the hallway and behind the doors live groups of inmates. This jail can hold up to 270 men and women on any given day. Chaplain Steve Scott serves this jail as he leads volunteers in providing programming for these individuals.
On average, women make up about 20% of the jail population. One of our dedicated female volunteers, Darlene, faithfully serves these women. She provides services like taking in the book cart, which serves as a mobile library where women can choose reading materials. This is a way for Darlene to make conversation and build relationships with these women. As she builds that relationship, she invites them to participate in classes like Healing the Wounded Heart, or to sit down for a one-to-one conversation.
In early spring, we were able to observe Darlene in action as she worked with a group of women who went through the Healing the Wounded Heart program. Darlene openly shared that she comes from a background full of trauma that she has had to work through herself, inviting God into the process of healing her wounded heart. As she openly shares, it opens doors for the women participating in the class to openly share, as well.
These women hold titles such as angry, addicted, failure, convict. More importantly, they hold titles such as sisters, daughters, mothers. Time together with this program allows them to shed off labels they’ve learned to identify with and put on labels that align with their God-given identity: forgiven, redeemed, whole.
A few of the women – Mia, Angelina, and Mindy, share the importance of this program. Especially as a closed-group with laid out ground rules, they are able to open up, be empathetic witnesses to one another, and as Mindy says, “take what they learn back to their cells as they understand themselves and God better.”
Healing doesn’t happen overnight, but this program creates a place to start. First, identifying what trauma they have faced over their lifetimes, or even simply understanding what the definition of trauma is. Mia shared that she never knew what trauma meant and the impact that her past can have on her present. Knowing more now, she’s able to grow in her self-awareness.
Mia shared that it was when Darlene was pushing the book cart that she learned about the opportunity to take this class. It’s beautiful to witness how interconnected the RTF programs are within the jail setting. This ministry of presence opens doors for conversations that lead men and women across the state to know that life can be different on the other side.
Angelina made it clear: “If I can change, anyone can.”