Janell Fleet drove 436 miles from Amarillo to Gatesville last month. She came with a deep desire to minister to her sisters in white. She has been set free and is passionate to see others liberated. She shared her story and gave out hygiene products with our team.
Reunion with Terry and Jean in Amarillo! Jeanette and Janell were in Faith Dorm together.
Janell shares her story:
I was arrested for a white-collar crime at the age of 34 and thought they would never send me to jail. But I was wrong. I was sent to prison and my life was transformed.
Though I have ministers in my big family, I didn’t ask God to be my Savior until I was 34. I asked God to be my savior three months after I was arrested. I was transferred Woodman in August of 2011 and it was there that I first connected with the Discipleship Unlimited Family. I participated in Celebrate Recovery with Terry and Jean Strom. I realized I was addicted to money and toxic relationships and had been codependent since childhood. I needed to work a 12-step program. But when I was sent to a work release program two years later, I set my recovery aside and relapsed, ending my privileged program and causing my return to prison, racked with guilt and shame.
Janell’s Graduation with Dennis and Ruth Ready, inside coordinators.
In July of 2015, Discipleship Unlimited opened a Faith Based Dorm at the Hilltop Trusty Camp, and it was through the relationships that I built there that my real change of heart began. Through the constant Bible studies and the unconditional love of the many volunteers, I began to open my eyes and my heart to the love of Jesus Christ. I was set free from shame and my relationship deepened both with Jesus and his followers.
I was released on the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s resurrection weekend in 2018. It was my resurrection weekend too. I left prison as a new person. It was and still is scary to return to my old stomping grounds and to the scene of my crimes. But I immediately began to connect with Discipleship Unlimited Re-Entry programs. They gave me confidence, helped me to remember my triggers, to seek the Lord, to set boundaries, and to live within a budget. On May 10th of 2019, I graduated from Amarillo College with a Legal Studies Certification as a member of Lambda Epsilon Chi, AC’s Legal Studies Honor Society. I now work for 2-1-1 and am able to help others by connecting them with resources in their communities.
Freedom from Shame seminar.
I am not alone. I have this new family in Christ and an awesome support system that I continue to build through my connection with Discipleship Unlimited. I am a member of MORE church where I was welcomed with open arms. It is a recovery church with a 12-step program. I have a healthy relationship with my children, my parents, and my immediate family that is slowly being restored by our heavenly father. I am a new creation in Christ: the old is gone, the new has come. My desire is to live the rest of my life totally dependent on Jesus and sharing the good news.
Janell also drove to Waco this year to participate in our Reentry DVD project. She knows the challenges women face and has willingly shared her story to help others. Thank you for supporting this work. Our staff and volunteers are filled with gratitude! We are watching lives being changed. Your gifts enable us to support our existing inside programs and move into new uncharted waters.
To God be the glory!
Discipleship Staff and Volunteer Team