When Ana began her prison sentence in 2022, she never imagined prison would become the place where her faith would deepen and her life would begin to change.

Raised in a home where church was something you attended rather than a faith you lived, Ana says she knew about God but didn’t truly know Him. That began to change behind prison walls.

About six months into her sentence, another woman shared a Crossroads enrollment postcard with her. Ana signed up, unsure what to expect. But after receiving her first Bible lesson, she began looking forward to receiving each lesson.

“I loved it,” she says. “And I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Through Crossroads Bible studies, Ana began reflecting on her life, her choices, and the ways God had been drawing her to Himself.

“I thank God every day for prison,” she says. “It made me reflect on my life . . . in a way, it led me to God.”

As Ana has grown in her relationship with Jesus, that transformation has reached beyond her own heart. She says her faith has helped bring healing and unity to her family as she shares Scripture and encouragement with them.

“The love of Jesus is everything to me,” she says. “God has brought us closer together.”

Crossroads has also helped Ana discover a new sense of purpose. Once quiet and reserved, she now wants to use her voice to encourage others, make wise choices, and share the hope she has found with fellow incarcerated women.

“I am a new person because of Jesus.”

Looking ahead to the future, Ana is filled with hope. She dreams of finding a church community, giving back, and using what God is teaching her to serve others.

And throughout that journey, one part of Crossroads has meant a lot to her: the personal letters from her mentors.

“When I felt so alone, those letters picked me up,” she says.

Ana keeps every letter in a special folder, treasuring each reminder that she is seen, loved, and not alone.

“Thank you for your thoughtful letters,” she says. “They mean everything to me.”

Help more students like Ana find hope. Become a mentor, give today, or learn how you can support Crossroads Prison Ministries.