• Home
  • About
    • Our team
    • Find a Spiritual Director
  • Services
    • Classes
    • Retreats
    • Certificate Programs
    • Workshops & Presentations
  • Areas of Focus
    • Spiritual Formation
      • Certificate in Spiritual Direction
      • Contemplative Journey: A Year in the Christian Spiritual Disciplines
    • Ministerial Support
    • Body Spirituality and Wellness
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Course Catalog
    • Art and Spirituality
    • Benedictine Spirituality, Part 1
    • Benedictine Spirituality, Part 2
    • Contemplative Prayer Practices
    • Communal Spirituality
    • Cultivating Creativity: Art as a Contemplative Practice
    • Held and Loved: On Parenting with God
    • Sacred Dust: Exploring the Relationship between the Body and Faith
    • Silence and Solitude
    • Simplicity: Making Room for God
    • Spirituality of the Body
    • Transformation through Scripture
  • Contact
  • Home »
  • About »
    • Our team »
    • Find a Spiritual Director »
  • Services »
    • Classes »
    • Retreats »
    • Certificate Programs »
    • Workshops & Presentations »
  • Areas of Focus »
    • Spiritual Formation »
      • Certificate in Spiritual Direction »
      • Contemplative Journey: A Year in the Christian Spiritual Disciplines »
    • Ministerial Support »
    • Body Spirituality and Wellness »
  • Events »
  • Blog »
  • Course Catalog »
    • Art and Spirituality »
    • Benedictine Spirituality, Part 1 »
    • Benedictine Spirituality, Part 2 »
    • Contemplative Prayer Practices »
    • Communal Spirituality »
    • Cultivating Creativity: Art as a Contemplative Practice »
    • Held and Loved: On Parenting with God »
    • Sacred Dust: Exploring the Relationship between the Body and Faith »
    • Silence and Solitude »
    • Simplicity: Making Room for God »
    • Spirituality of the Body »
    • Transformation through Scripture »
  • Contact »
 
 
Selah: Center for Spiritual Formation

Center for Spiritual Formation

  • Recent Posts

    • Peace, by Kelli Randolph
    • Spiritual Nourishment
    • Graces Remembered
    • 30-Day Silent Retreat, Part 2 
    • Silent Retreat, Part I
  • Archives

    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • September 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • October 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • November 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • May 2020
    • March 2020
    • December 2019
    • October 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • April 2015
  • Categories

    • Body Spirituality and Wellness
    • Course Previews
    • Millennial Spirituality
    • Spiritual Formation
    • Spirituality of Aging
    • TPW
    • Uncategorized

Spiritual Support

Sign up to receive our newsletter

We promise to keep your email safe

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Tonya’s Story

Posted by Jackie Halstead | June 14, 2016

Note: This is the second installment of a new series of posts. Once a week, we will hear from one of our friends in maximum security prison. These women were students of mine in one of two classes I taught at the Tennessee Prison for Women, Disciplines for Christian Living and Faith and Culture. They are part of the Lipscomb LIFE program, an educational program that enables women who are admitted to earn an associate of arts degree in seven years. Today we introduce Tonya, and look forward to sharing more of her story in upcoming posts.

TonyaMeet my friend, Tonya. Tonya currently resides at the Tennessee Prison for Women. She is a volunteer tutor for the education department giving instruction for career management and the adult basic education program. She also gives back to both the inside and outside community by donating items including hats for the homeless. Tonya’s greatest joy in life is her two teenage daughters, whom she assists in the care and guidance of alongside her family. Tonya is working on an Associates Degree with Lipscomb University through their LIFE program. She is a certified facilitator with the theotherapy project promoting emotional healing and has been involved with the program since 2007.

Tonya continues to seek stability, security, and community within the institution. In addition, she attempts to find kinship and support from those outside the complex. She is an inspiration as she parents from the inside—no easy task–but she is committed to raising her girls. She does so through phone conversations, prison visits from them, and through her family. Following is a recent journal entry that she chose to share with us:

“This past week has been a much welcomed blessing of God’s grace extended through forgiveness. As my relationship with my sister begins to be renewed, I am reminded of the healing power of forgiveness. This healing and wholeness comes about through reconciliation with God, with self, with family, and with community.

It is difficult for me to put into words the effect this healing has had in my life, other than it has been transformative in not only my life but in my family’s and those I am surrounded by. Through this process, I am in a continual state of growth and maturity. The healing that God has already provided me with has been the most significant aspect of my spiritual formation.”

This entry was posted in TPW. Bookmark the permalink.
← Previous Post Next Post →
  • Home
  • About Selah
  • Services
  • Areas of Focus
    • Contemplative Journey: A Year in the Christian Spiritual Disciplines
  • Contact Selah
  • Donate

© 2015. Selah: Center for Spiritual Foundation. All rights reserved.

WordPress website theme design and installation by the MightyLittleWebShop.com