Deanna Evans

I was raised in church and there were not too many services we missed. But I never had a personal
relationship with God. Without realizing, I lived off of my parent’s church-related coat tails. As an adult, I played the church game off and on for years. At my low points I’d start going back to church and everything would start going good. Then I’d do my own thing. Then I started to desire the things of God. I wanted to get closer to Him but I didn’t know what or how. Then the Holy Spirit started dealing with me. I did not realize that all Jesus wanted from me was a relationship with him. In 2018 I got serious with Jesus and started seeking his face. Slowly, but surely I committed myself to Jesus Christ and his ways. Now I have a deep intimate relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the peace that passes all understanding that comes from being a daughter of the Most High King.

In 2019 I volunteered to teach a group of women how to sew. These women were in a faith based program for drug and alcohol addiction which was very exciting for me. I knew nothing about addiction – all I wanted to do was love those women and teach what I love to do. By March/April 2020 I was asked to be part of the ministry leadership team. It was a big responsibility, but I knew that God would supernaturally guide and teach me. At about that time, we started to attend Cartersville Outreach Ministry. I learned a lot through my time there but things change and my time with them abruptly ended in November 2020.

In July 2020 Pastor David invited me to join the group that goes to the Bartow County Jail on Thursday evenings. I also meet with female inmates on Friday afternoons to pray, study, and talk. I know there is a new life and freedom for them through Jesus Christ and that is what I teach them. It is up to them to grab hold of what Jesus has for them.

For years I longed to have my husband sit with me in church because he wanted to and II firmly believe that because of my obedience to Christ, I was granted the desire of my heart. January 2021 was the beginning of a new life for the two of us together with Christ front and center in our lives. In the 33 years we have been together our relationship has NEVER been as sweet as it is right now. I truly believe with Christ, it will only get better.
Psalm 37:4 –“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

I am proud to be part of Cartersville Outreach Ministry and on September 18, 2022 I was licensed as a Minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there. Glory to God! But more importantly, I am proud that I am a part of the family of God. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for the Women’s Center. With the team we have assembled and Christ front and center of every move, we will be successful in everything we do.
Deuteronomy 29:9 – “So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”

John 15:4-11 – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Makenna Brown

February 22^nd 2021 is the day the Lord said “no more”. Little did I know, He had been pursuing me my whole life, but so had the enemy. On this day, two separate counties did a bust and I was arrested and charged with – possession of a firearm or knife during commission or attempt to commit certain felonies; possession of a sawed-off shotgun or rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon or silencer; possession and use of drug-related objects; possession of a Schedule V controlled substance; possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of methamphetamine; possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; aggravated assault; and aggravated battery.

Some wonder how a 24-year-old girl that grew up in a Christian school and never lacked a thing could wind up so deep in the street life. I am proof that the devil does not discriminate. I let him convince me that I had no purpose; that God didn’t even exist. The devil indeed comes to kill, steal and destroy… But Jesus came to give life in abundance. I praise God that He had a plan for me the entire time. I, like many individuals, found Jesus in a jail cell. I cried out to Him (not knowing if He was even listening). I remember saying the words, ‘God, at this point I trust you entirely more than I trust myself. Do something.’ From that day forward, He revealed Himself to me in a way I’d never known. He rained down so supernaturally in my life that I had no way of denying Him. One day the girls in the dorm started lining up to go to church. I figured I’d go, just to get out of the dorm. But you see, God knows the plans He has for us – even when we’re oblivious. I sat there with my arms crossed and mad at the world, not even paying attention to the sermon. That’s when Pastor David, who didn’t know me from Adam, stopped and pointed at me and said “the Holy Spirit said you need to stop denying your calling.” Me? A calling? The Holy Spirit must not know I’m facing federal prison time. He must not know the things I’ve done. He must have me mistaken for someone else. But you see, the Lord doesn’t make mistakes and He wipes clean the ones we’ve made. That night, something in me changed. A stirring within me began. I began seeking Him and serving Him from where I was. I started to have peace and joy. No matter what happened to me as far as my case went, I was in the middle of His perfect will, and I knew that was the best place to be. Since then, the Lord has had me released from Bartow County Jail. He completely, supernaturally had the Fulton county charges dismissed. I now go into the jail every Thursday night with Pastor David and the church team to minister to women and men who He is calling – just like me. He has put to use the gifts He’s given me – I sing and worship Him everywhere I go. It is an honor to be on the front line of the army of the Lord, pulling people out of the pit I myself used to be in. Cartersville Outreach Women’s Center is going to restore many lives. I am in awe and reverence of Him for choosing me to be a part of this family.

“I will prove the holiness of my great name, which you once dishonored among them. The nations will know that I AM the Lord when I prove myself holy before their eyes, says the Lord God. They will say ‘This land was ruined, but now it has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were destroyed, empty, and ruined but now they are protected and have people living in them.’ Her ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it. Then they will know that I AM the Lord.”
– Inspired by Ezekiel 36

Rebecca Reeves

From death to life-I stand here today free from bondage, free from strongholds, free from addiction and free from myself. It is only by the power of Jesus Christ I can confidently say that. He gets all the Glory.

I was in bondage to drugs, alcohol, immorality…SIN for over 13 years. I was in and out of handcuffs and in and out of the hospital. That was my life. The enemy had me convinced that this was who I was, and I would always be that way. I believed it and didn’t care whether I lived or died. I didn’t care about the ones I loved…I didn’t care about who I hurt.

At first, I could “maintain” addiction and still take care of my responsibilities as a Mom and a “grown-up”. Then that day came when I couldn’t. It got to the point of just wanting to be dead…I was tired of the pain, tired of who I have become…tired of hurting my son and my family…just tired of life. I wanted to escape it all and the only thing I could think of was death. I had no joy…no peace…no love, the enemy stole that from me… and he almost killed me. John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy BUT MY purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

I started crying out to the Lord to save me and He heard my cry and saved me. I made a decision to go to a transitional center…Genesis MBTC 4 hours away from home. During my stay there he supplied my every need and took care of my son. He restored my relationship with him. I learned to put God first in everything I do. I learned how to live again…I found my first-love and that is Jesus. When I thought there was no way…God split the red sea to make a way for me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

My future is in the Lord’s hands. He has a plan for me, and His plan is prevailing in my life. I have hope. I have a purpose. I am confident in who I am. I have no fear of evil. I have joy, peace and love and I have a peaceful satisfying life that the Lord promised me that He would give me and I’m walking in it. Now I live for Christ and Christ alone. I am transformed, my mind is renewed, and I am being used by God in a mighty way…teaching others about the Living God and how real and amazing He is. I am a mighty woman of God and I will never be anything less than that. I represent my Jesus… who loves me and gave His life for me so I can live. Revelations 12:11 “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” I know who I am in Christ. I am confident in knowing where I am going when I die. I HAVE NO FEAR. He completely changed my life around and every day I walk in VICTORY. The devil is defeated. Now I have a job…and that is to tell the world what Jesus did for me and give the lost hope just like someone gave me. Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it ALL for the good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Seeing people set free is my desire. There is Freedom in the name of Jesus. God has no favorites. If He can do it for me…He can do it for you too.

John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, YOU ARE TRULY FREE.”

Christy Puli

At the age of thirteen I found out I was adopted. This caused a lot of emotional problems for me. I did not feel loved or accepted and I resorted to drugs, men and the streets; anything that would help take away the pain of not being wanted. I started using meth and xanax and became involved in abusive relationships I was hospitalized nine times. I fell so deep into the pits of hell that I was selling my body just to feel the acceptance I needed. It was never about the money. I just wanted to feel loved. The devil told me nobody wanted me, and I listened. I was addicted to that lifestyle for 12 years. In 2015 I had to serve time in three different counties. It all caught up with me. I had been up for days from shooting meth. I cried out to God and said, ‘Lord, please, help me. I don’t want to die like this.’ I surrendered to Him. It was His will, not my own.

God heard me and while I was incarcerated in Bartow County Jail, I ran into Pastor David. He laid his hand on my shoulder and said ‘You have a calling on your life. Step into it.’ From that point forward, I sought God. I had felt lost and without purpose my whole life, so when God called my name, I ran to Him and He began to change me. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity.” – Jeremiah 29:12-13.” Immediately after I got out of jail, He began to restore my life. Everything was different. I got an amazing new job, a new car, and I had a beautiful daughter. My family began to see the change in me, and allowed me back into their lives. “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.” – Jeremiah 30:17.

I was out for about two months, and Pastor David told me it was time for me to give back. I began going into the jail with Cartersville Outreach Ministry, and telling others my testimony. It made a huge impact on a lot of people. Now, I will be able to encourage others to trust God in this center.

I’ve had to learn to forgive. I am blessed to have the family that I do. But I never knew my birth family. My birth mother served seventeen years in prison for killing somebody and my dad died from an overdose. In 2020, my brother was murdered. It took my spiritual breath away. I truly had to give him to God and learn to forgive the man who murdered him. This opened my eyes to the spiritual warfare we are in. “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12 I had to choose – either the darkness was going to overtake me or I was going to choose the only Light of the world. I chose to serve Him. Otherwise it would’ve been my end. But it wasn’t my end. It was my beginning.

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to renounce their faith even when faced with death.” – Revelation 12:11

I cannot express how thankful I am that He is using me to reach these women in this center. For He knows the plans He has for us…