Linda Strom
Linda co-founded Discipleship Unlimited (D.U.) with her late husband, Dallas, in 1974. Together, they conducted in-prison marriage seminars for inmates and their wives. In 1987, Linda was invited to do a seminar at the Mountain View Women’s Unit in Gatesville, Texas.
On that weekend, Linda was introduced to death row inmate Karla Faye Tucker. They were friends for eleven years, and Karla was a vital contributor to the ministry of D. U. When Karla received her execution date, she asked Linda to be her spiritual advisor. Karla’s final days were spent working on a plan for Faith Based Dorms for women. Linda wrote a book about their journey entitled Karla Faye Tucker Set Free.
In 2005, D. U. collaborated with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to start the first Faith Based Dorm in Central Texas. Now with eight dorms operating, thousands of incarcerated women have completed the program. D.U. began having Reignite and Refuel Retreats for Dorm graduates who were released from prison. Some of these graduates have now been filmed to create Reentry material for those soon to be released from the dorms. The state of Texas has endorsed this material and is using it in their reentry program.
In May of 2021, D.U. opened a transitional ranch for women just released from incarceration. It has become a gathering place for volunteers, the previously incarcerated and their families.
Linda says, “I’ve loved the journey. It’s always been an adventure. I am so glad the Lord invited me to join Him.”