I was born into a strict Christian (Church of God) home and called to the mission field at age 12 while attending a revival – and again the summer before my senior year. Being raised in a home where the answer was always “NO” and “You can’t”, I wanted to be like other young people and just have a good time. I wanted to do things my own way, so I ran from God until I was 43 years old and I couldn’t run any further. After going through a traumatic experience in my life, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior while watching PTL and the 700 Club. My eight year old son had begun getting up at 6AM and watching the Christian station until it went off at 1:30 PM and I began to watch a little each morning with him. One morning I watched it with him from 6 to 1:30 and the next morning he didn’t come in to watch with me – he said he wanted to watch cartoons in his own room – but I was hooked. I saw in the 700 Club and PTL something I wanted in my life.

For 30 years I have worked with Sherry Wright and Bill Logsdon (and countless others), sharing the Word of God in the jails, prisons, youth centers and halfway houses. In 1988, Pastor Bob Rodgers asked Bill and me to begin a prison ministry here at Evangel. Again, the Lord spoke to me and said, “I want you to build a prison ministry for Evangel.” We started with nothing except a call from God and a worn out car with our office in the trunk, and with His help have built the ministry into what it is today. Praise God!

I gave my heart to God when I was 9 years old. A short time later my family stopped going to church, so of course, I didn’t want to go anymore either. Even as early as 9 years old I started doing things that were wrong. I began taking things that did not belong to me. All of those things I did wrong started me on a life of criminal behavior and a lot of bad choices, especially with men. After many years of living in darkness and misery, God touched my life and brought me to a point of decision for Him - I was 30 years old and I’ve never looked back. God has been so faithful to me and my children. Now, my work in the prison ministry is reaching out to others and letting them know that Jesus loves them and that He has a great plan for their lives even though their life may have been a mess.

I was raised in church, but I didn’t really have a relationship with Jesus until I was in my thirties. In 1992, the pastor of the church we attended challenged the congregation to read the Bible through that year. I had never read the Bible for myself so I sat down one day and started with Genesis. By the time I got to the Gospels, I was in love with Jesus – But I knew there was something missing. I needed more of God and I began searching for all of Him. During that time, God led me to watch the 700 Club and I saw on there something I craved. They truly believed in the Power of God and God was answering their prayers! One night while watching it and praying along with Ben Kincheloe and Pat Robertson – Ben had a word of knowledge about a woman being healed of migraines. That was me! I received it for myself. I had suffered with migraines for six years and after that night, I was free! After this, the small denominational church we attended just did not satisfy me any more. He eventually led us to join Evangel. That was ten years ago.

After about a year, God began dealing with me about volunteering in the prison ministry. Like many people, I just did not want to check into it – though if asked why, I could not have given you a valid reason. Looking back over the years, I can now see where God was directing everything in my life to get me ready for this particular ministry! I always loved typing and office work. I had been a home school mom and had my own typing business for 14 years. In 1999, God orchestrated things so that I began helping Nadine Daugherty, the Director, with letters and other typing needs at home. Then in early 2000, I began working in the office to help out and I became a pen pal with the ministry. The office had one computer, two volunteers, one correspondence course, and a small pen pal ministry. We’ve come a long way since then! I’m so glad I obeyed God’s direction and volunteered to help. There is no place I’d rather serve than the prison ministry!

Since age 23, I have been living for the Lord. I ministered in teaching and am a prayer warrior (an intercessor). Four years ago, the Lord called me to the Prison Ministry. Since that time, I have seen many inmates saved and lives changed. I have also seen many healings, deliverances, and the restoration of families. I continue to receive letters from inmates who have turned their lives around. Although the wait list for a pen pal is very long, Christian literature is sent to them on a monthly basis.

God will bless you abundantly for ministering to those in prison. “Remember those in prison as though bound with them.” Hebrews 13:3.

I was raised in a Christian home by parents who taught me that the Bible is the way of life. At eight years old, I accepted the Lord into my heart in a Baptist church we attended as a family. I graduated from Central High School and attended a business school that prepared me for my years in the work force.

My first job was at Quarter Master Depot in Indiana where I worked until V-J Day. After which I went to Mammoth Insurance Co. and worked for 7 ½ years. In leaving Mammoth, I believed it was time to move on, so I applied and was accepted at the Police Headquarters for the City of Louisville. While working at Police Headquarters, I had an opportunity to attend the Jerry B. Walker 17 week revival at Evangel. I never went back to the Baptist church. I have been at Evangel ever since and have truly grown spiritually.

After retirement from the Police Headquarters, I became a Chaplain for a nursing home program for 2 ½ years after which I went to work for the Lord’s Kitchen for 14 years. During that time, I began to work in the Prison Ministry and went to the Correctional Center and worked with Pam Wilhite at Metro for 14 years. Every morning beginning twelve years ago, I began praying with Nadine Daugherty on the phone from 5:30 to 6:30 A.M. Sherry Wright began praying with us about 11 years ago. Since then, Pam Wilhite and Paula Pearson have joined us. We have never missed one morning of prayer in these 14 years. If one of us is gone on vacation, etc, the others still pray. We have seen miracle after miracle and prayer after prayer answered.

“To God Be the Glory! We plan on occupying until He comes!!!”

Join the Prayer Line Ministry, (download an application) get a partner, begin to pray and see the hand of God move in your life and your family.

Born again in April 1974, God opened many doors for Ministry. 15 years ago, I got involved in doing Bible studies in the Prison Ministry. I shared the Gospel with many prison inmates. Presently, I am active at KCIW (Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women) and with the help of Debra Huff studies are held every Tuesday night in the Psychological Care Unit. We, recently, did our first women’s encounter last May and are preparing to do our first crusade out on the yard of the prison in June. We have bible studies each year during the fall in September that are held in the chapel at the prison. We also have a Christmas program in December for the prison women with special music and a guest speaker. The anointing of God is present and powerful in ministering life and healing to the women as the Gospel is presented to them. Many women have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as a result of these meetings and lives have been changed for the glory of God.

I was the seventh of eight children. Our parents took us to church or we went with neighbors. I was saved in my early teens and attended church regularly. I have worked in different capacities in church, but never felt “called” to a particular ministry. I wanted to serve God, but didn’t know what I could do.

I enjoy office work, so I volunteered to help in the office at church, but was not contacted. After seeing a request in the bulletin for help in the office of the Prison Ministry, I decided to check it out. I really enjoy being with the people in this ministry. There is such love and peace that permeates the office, and I thank God that I am able to be a part of going into prisons through the outreaches of this ministry and feel I am doing what God wants me to do.

Monica Edmonds

Writer - Teacher

Heb 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.

I grew up having a church home but had no idea what having a relationship with God meant. I was born again about 10 years ago which was close to the same time my family joined Evangel and I attended the first Women's Encounter. My life, at that point, was changed. I learned so much about me and so much about God. Leaving that encounter I then knew what it truly meant to say "I Have a Relationship with God." For about the next year I did'nt do much in the church other than just attend. God was using that time to develop me as a christian and little did I know He developed me to work in the ministry. I used most of my time just reading my bible and learning as much as I could about the word of God.

In the middle of my third year at Evangel, God started using me in ministry. All of which was a total surprise to me but that's what led me to be a part of the Prison Ministry. My career in Corrections led me to believe that I was unsure of the direction God was calling me, simply because I worked with inmates and offenders for many years. During those times when God was developing me spiritually, he showed me the compassion that I have for the Prison Ministry. I could no longer deny the calling God had on my life and began faithfully working in Evangel's Prison Ministry.

Over the years God has been faithful in opening doors for me to minister and it has truly been a spiritual fulfillment. My areas in ministry: the Prison Ministry, the Women of Excellence ministry, the Prayer Line, the Daycare ministry, the Blanton House Ministry (Lamp Life) and I am a contributing writer for the Christian Country Gospel News. It is such a blessing to work with sister Nadine, volunteers and other staff members who also have a compassion for the Prison Ministry as well. God Bless!