The concept for MOM, Mothers On Mission, a support group for mothers and family members of incarcerated sons and daughters, was birthed from my own personal need of encouragement and support. In much grief and pain of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and injustice in the case of my son, I sought for counsel and emotional support to strengthen me in the journey ahead for myself and my son. The only counsel I was able to find was the suggestion to go online and join with a support group. The counselor had said he was unable to relate to my situation. At that time, I searched online but could not locate such a group in my location. However, the Lord heard my cry, and led my Sunday School teacher, Dr. Rhonda Morgan, to give me a book that was to turn my search around.
Dr. Morgan shared with me the book, When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances by Carol Kent. In sharing her story, Carol highlights the transforming truths of forgiveness and faith. Struggling with her anger, grief, and shame, Carol tells a highly personal, heartbreaking, and inspiring story that bolstered my faith for how God can work though my son's incarceration to restore faith and hope for my son and myself. This book is a strongly recommended resource for all those facing a similar journey with their Loved Ones. Both the book and its Study Guide are available on Amazon.
Through reading Carol Kent and her Husband, Gene's story and my own needs, I became aware that there other mothers feeling alone with the same trauma of an incarcerated son or daughter, needing the same encouragement and support as myself. I discussed the need with Dr. Morgan, and as we prayed the Lord confirmed to us both that this support group for moms of incarcerated children was to be birthed with the mission of reaching out to these mothers and families with the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
Red Clay MOM "sisters" all agree that as we journey with our sons, our vision and mission objectives dovetail into our passionate desire: to come alongside other mothers of incarcerated children or family members with Bible-based encouragement and prayerful support; to address one another's individual needs; to encourage and support our incarcerated loved ones corporately, as well as individually; to establish a network of communication with faith-based community resources; and through corporate and consistent prayer, to pray for reformative and restorative strategies through changes in the correctional system.
In Christ, Sandy Jones Ministry Leader, Red Clay M.O.M.
