Debbie Davis Testimony

Hello, my name is Debbie Davis. I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who celebrates recovery from the love of money, physical and sexual abuse.  Today, I struggle with finding balance after being incarcerated for nearly 7 years.  It is an honor and privilege to represent the incarcerated woman of Oklahoma where we have maintained the highest rate of incarceration in the nation for more than a decade. Last month, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy reported that Oklahoma’s female incarceration rate is even the highest in the world.

I have never been proud of my representation of these facts.  I am however proud to represent My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what He has shown me through Celebrate Recovery.  I was one of the first participants at the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center who experienced much emotional freedom and healing as the Celebrate Recovery Inside team lead me and approximately 100 other ladies through the 12-step study.  I then had the privilege of being a co-facilitator for the next group of ladies attending the 2nd Celebrate Recovery Program.  Today, the women from the Turley Residential Center have the privilege of participating in Celebrate Recovery at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma as they are transported by the Inside Team.

Everyone wears T-shirts these days. In prison, we had to wear shirts that said inmate or offender.  In Celebrate Recovery, I learned it doesn’t matter what your T-shirt says, it’s what’s inside that counts.  The number of repeat offenders will continue to increase unless there are genuine heart changes in the lives of the woman of Oklahoma.  Many ladies do not know how to change the learned behavioral survival methods of their addictions that have crippled their lives for so long.

Celebrate Recovery provided for me an alternative by offering genuine love and acceptance as well as a safe place for healing from all the years of hurt and pain that I had carried for nearly all my life.  On my forth letter written to the Oklahoma Parole Board requesting early parole, I included my experience and life change as a participant in Celebrate Recovery.  This year, it was granted and I was released two months ago 3 years early.  I now get to experience life from the inside/out.

The “free” world moves a lot faster than the life prison has to offer. I’m glad I learned while completing the 12 steps how important it is to reach out for help.  Reintegration into society has been overwhelming at times, especially in operating that thing everyone uses called the cell phone.

I am very grateful for the Celebrate Recovery Inside/Out team members who have helped find clothing, safe and affordable housing alternatives, employment opportunity leads, transportation needs, and community support. They have been positive spiritual role models and continue to uphold the highest standard of integrity.

Together as we Celebrate Recovery, we can be part of the team that changes the number one ranking that Oklahoma has held for way too long.  Won’t you please join me with fulfilling my heart’s desire to help those returning to society as I follow the words of Jesus found in Matt. 25: 35-36, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."?

We are often, broken hurting people that so need your acceptance. Many being released have no family left who will support them even emotionally, let alone a place they can call home.  Will you please leave God’s light on for us?

Thank you.