Many Crossroads students don’t just receive the gift of Christ-centered mentorship—they give back. Kathryn is one of them. After spending ten years studying with Crossroads while incarcerated, she continues her Bible studies on the outside and supports the ministry financially. Like Kathryn, many Crossroads students respond to God’s work in their lives by offering poems, drawings, testimonies, and even donations as a way of saying “Thank you!” and spreading the hope they’ve found in Christ.
While serving her sentence, Kathryn described Crossroads’ Bible studies as her anchor. “Doing Crossroads’ Bible studies kept me focused on Jesus Christ and not the surroundings of my situations,” she said. The lessons inspired her to create her own artwork and devotional writing, practices she still continues today.
Kathryn’s faith grew deep in prison. Coming from what she called a “chaotic Christian family,” she said God used her time behind bars to prepare and train her to fully focus on Him. “I’ve been learning how to renew my mind, speak the Word of God, walk the talk—faith is an action that speaks louder than words,” she reflected. Her studies with Crossroads drew her closer to God. “I am His, He is mine,” she declared.
Even behind bars, Kathryn began mentoring and serving others. She joined Celebrate Recovery, volunteered with God Behind Bars, and became an advocate for women inside, encouraging them through Bible studies and prayer. She even worked alongside others to write to governors and judges to advocate for reforms.
Through it all, her Crossroads mentor walked with her. “She even encouraged me to be a mentor for women in my studies,” Kathryn recalled. That encouragement—and the lessons themselves—inspired her to invest in others.
Now, after her release, Kathryn continues her journey as both a student and a donor. “I am still doing Bible study,” she said. “It’s helping me have a Christian worldview and be able to witness to others who have difficulty believing in Jesus Christ.” Grateful for the ministry that shaped her, she now chooses to give back so others can experience the same hope.
Kathryn’s story is just one of many. Across the country, Crossroads students are not only being transformed by the Gospel but also paying it forward by supporting the ministry, creating art, writing poetry, and sharing their testimonies to encourage others.
“It’s been good to start a second life out of prison and be the vessel He has created me to be. Thank you, Crossroads, for always being there for me. To God be the glory.”
You can help more students like Kathryn discover hope in Christ and then share it with others. Hope doesn’t stop with one student. It spreads. When you give to Crossroads, you’re not just investing in a single student—you’re reaching their families, their communities, and beyond. Join Kathryn and countless others in paying it forward today.