Shannon shares in great detail about the demonic oppression she faced before she finally surrendered to the Lord and He brought her out of the darkness, but she still had to face the consequence of several years in one of the deadliest prisons in the state of Georgia. Shannon's story in this episode is intense, but through it all God's grace is on display. This is definitely an episode you will not want to miss!
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Episode Transcript
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Phil Shuler (00:00):
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for
(00:22):
Safe House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides anabundance of services including
213 beds for homelessindividuals and families, case
management for obtaining jobskills and long term employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
(00:42):
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
(01:04):
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Shannon (01:12):
My first arrest was 1999.
My second arrest was 2007, mythird arrest 2010.
Phil (01:19):
Wow.
Shannon (01:20):
2010.
No, matter of fact, 2010 wasn'tan arrest.
I remember sitting, I wasstarted back on dope from 2007
to 2010.
Started back on dope, but Iremember sitting on the bed with
a gun in my hand fixing andblow my brains out.
Phil (01:37):
Wow.
Shannon (01:38):
And God let me see myself laying off the bed and my
daughter walking in and findingme.
Phil (01:45):
And that shook you.
And you're like, I can't dothat.
Shannon (01:48):
I made a call to my friend and I said, I'm strung
out.
I'm on dope.
I don't know what else to do.
I called 9 1 1 and that's wheremy husband was working at the
time for the EMS.
Phil (02:01):
Really?
Shannon (02:02):
But he was not on shift that duty.
I think he was workingsomewhere else but his friends
and the humiliation.
But they never treated me withdisrespect or anything.
They come and picked me up andI said, I want to die.
I want to die.
But I went into rehab then andI'm glad I went to the Bradley
Center 'cause my mental debil,my mental capacity was just, it
(02:25):
was shot.
But when I went to the BradleyCenter, and I'm glad I was there
because that's when my husbandsaid, it's over.
I'm done.
And I knew he meant it, but Iwent into a rehab down in
Florida and I stayed good therefor the timeframe that I was
(02:47):
there, but never truly findingwhat's broken.
So when I come out, that was2010, I come out and just speed
up with where everything totallytook a turn for the worst.
When I come out, it was 2011and I met the devil in blue
jeans.
Phil (03:06):
Wow.
Shannon (03:07):
The devil in blue jeans.
He was not a nice person.
He was very selfish.
All he cared about was himhimself.
Feeling like I had nowhere togo.
I came outta rehab.
I don't have a home.
My mother's still, if it aboutus kids, so she has her walls
up, my siblings have their wallsup.
(03:29):
Has she changed?
So not knowing what to do orcrying out for help.
I get involved with this guyand I lived with him for nine
years, so that's 2011.
I'm with this gentleman that Istarted doing dope again.
He was on dope.
I started selling dope.
Methamphetamines was my drug ofchoice.
(03:50):
I loved it.
It was all I knew.
It's all I wanted.
I had, I could care less aboutanything else.
This whole time my daughter'snot talking to me for about 14
years.
Phil (04:00):
Who was she living with?
Shannon (04:02):
Who was she living with?
Yeah, she was older.
She was living with her daddythough.
She stayed with her daddy andhad that relationship.
He was taking good care of herwhen I moved out.
When I stepped outta thepicture, he was finally home
with her.
Yeah.
Taking care of her needs andeverything else.
What I wish that he had havebeen home with me, you know what
I'm saying?
How old
Phil (04:21):
was she at that point?
Shannon (04:23):
She, maybe 15, 16.
Wow.
But this guy,
Phil (04:28):
she wrote you off and just didn't have anything to do with
you after that.
She said
Shannon (04:31):
she was done.
She couldn't understand and sheblamed God, and I know she
blamed God.
Or 'cause I would pray I was inand outta church begging, God,
begging him, but not till lateron did I get it, that when he
says, I'm gonna leave that thornin your flesh as a constant
reminder, 'cause my grace issufficient enough.
(04:54):
He knew I had the fight in me,the battling me, the the want in
me.
And he made me work.
He made me work for mysobriety, but he finally, after
this bad relationship, deliveredme from that relationship
Phil (05:11):
Wow.
Shannon (05:11):
And I was with that guy, and when I say he, I kept
him high because that's when hekept his hands off of me.
But if he was sober, it washell.
So
Phil (05:21):
just abuse and
Shannon (05:22):
abuse drugs.
But I raised his kids.
I buried his mother.
She had a stroke in my arms.
I took care of his disabledbrother.
I, and I know God has a way towork everything for all things
work together for the good ofthose who love God, call
according to their purpose.
And I know God transitioned meand had me in that relationship
for that nine years where Ineeded to utilize.
(05:45):
I was stealing my addiction,but I was a good woman.
You know what I'm saying?
I'd handled business like I wassupposed to.
I raised family.
But as time went by, I got insuch steep bondage and darkness
and demons and if I see demonsfor what it's worth, they're so
real.
They're so evident.
But they got to the pointwhere,
Phil (06:08):
so what, share a little bit more like if you can about
when you say the demons whatkinds of things did you see or
what did that look like?
Shannon (06:18):
Okay.
I live right the down the roadfrom my mother.
Okay.
And if I had, didn't have apraying mother that lived right
at the road, 'cause I know mymother would pray, I'd get text
messages.
My mama goes to bed betweenseven and eight o'clock every
night.
But I would get text messagesevery so often, just said
praying.
And I'm thinking, why is shesending me this text?
(06:39):
Why is she praying?
Because God was waking her upand say, pray for your daughter.
It'd be about one 30 in themorning.
Every text was about one 30 inthe morning.
He'd wake her up and she wouldsend me these text messages
saying praying.
And then I remember I got insuch a dark place.
I hated everybody.
I hated everything.
(07:00):
I didn't want to speak to you.
Don't come in my area.
What you see now is not who Iwas.
The last thing I told that guy,I said, I'm gonna gut you like
a fish and kill myself.
And I meant it.
I was plotting a murder,suicide, and I remember getting
a phone call.
I was in desperation.
(07:20):
Like I said, I was praying, Godlet me die.
I remember getting a phone calland it's about one 30 in the
morning.
It's my mother.
And I didn't get to the phone,so I called her back.
And when I said, Hey, I said,what's wrong?
There was dead silence.
And the next thing out of mymother's breath was, you need to
get back in church, Shannon.
I said, I know mama.
She said, you need to drawclose to the God.
(07:41):
I said, I know Mama.
And as we go through thisconversation, I feel a little
bit of the anxiety subsided.
And when I hung up with her,something lifted and I seen
demons everywhere.
Something grabbed me by mythroat, pushed me up against the
wall.
It was just me in thatbuilding, but it was a demonic
(08:01):
force that had such a stronghold, a stranglehold around my
neck.
Phil (08:06):
Wow.
Shannon (08:07):
But if it wasn't for a praying mother, but I knew right
then I said, something's got togive.
Phil (08:13):
Wow.
It's so the veil was listed atthat moment?
Yes.
demons are real.
Demons are very real.
And there is a spiritualwarfare around us that is so
intense.
We have no idea, but we don'tsee it.
And we don't think of it even,or just, we just ignore it.
Yes.
But there are certain timeswhen God lifts that veil.
(08:36):
There's a time in the Biblewhen the prophet Elisha prays,
there they're surrounded byhundreds of thousands of an
enemy.
Yes.
Like an army.
Yes.
Literally.
And the servant's like freakingout.
And Elisha says, why are you soworried about Those that are
for us are more than those thatare against us.
And then he prays that the Lordwould lift the veil, and that
(08:58):
servant sees the angels of theLord around them.
And we don't get that veryoften.
But that sounds literally just,I can't even imagine what that
was like for you to see that atthat moment and to be to, I
Shannon (09:13):
was paralyzed and scared to death, but something
shook in my brain a little bit.
I'm still in my addiction, butat least I had enough sense to
start praying.
Okay.
Okay.
As.
I go through that.
There was even a time duringthat with that guy that I got
(09:35):
sober and I was on my deathbed.
The drugs about killed me.
Wow.
I was on my deathbed that I wassick for a year and I should
have known when I came outtathat and started getting well.
Phil (09:45):
So from that point when you saw the demons and you felt
that you started praying and theLord began to lead you to a
better place,
Shannon (09:54):
he did.
But I was still, could not gainvictory in my addiction.
I could not put the dope downin living with him.
Like I said, I told you thelast thing I said to him, I was
gonna kill him.
I meant it.
I went to plotting, thinking,contemplating, how am I gonna do
this?
(10:14):
I'm planning it out.
I'm writing it out.
Phil (10:16):
Wow.
Shannon (10:17):
It happened to be May the 19th, no, may the 21st of
2019.
I went looking for my insulin.
I'm severe diabetic.
I was gonna kill him, inject300 units, lay down and go to
bed.
But for some reason I couldn'tfind my insulin anywhere in the
refrigerator, anywhere at all.
Oh wow.
Thank God.
(10:37):
'cause what I was looking for.
Isn't even how my insulin'spackaged, but God, that was May
the 21st, may the 22nd.
I quit doing dope.
I was done.
I stopped using dope.
I didn't want to do it anymore.
I said, I've had knife May the23rd.
The cops come in and arrestedme.
(10:58):
May the 24th is when I criedout to God.
I said, all right, you got myattention.
I promise I would never touchdope ever again.
I would live my life to you tothe best of my ability as long
as I live.
May.
The 25th was when I wasplotting that murder suicide.
That was all in 2019.
Wow.
I'm coming up on my six yearsobriety mark.
My clean date is May the 22nd.
(11:21):
I thought I'd be dead before Iever would be sober, but me
getting arrested, I meant it.
I stayed on.
I spent 10 and a half months inthe county jail, but I stayed
on my knees every day.
When I promised God, I said,I'm gonna do it your way.
My walk's just different thaneverybody else.
'cause God says, Shannon, I'vetried with you over and over
(11:42):
again.
I'd get you clean.
You go back, I'd get you clean.
You go back.
He says, you're gonna do it myway or no way.
And that means every aspect ofmy life, you're gonna do it how
I want you to do it.
And it was like a daddychastising a child.
I get it.
I was put in major time out.
God says, I'll train others andthey'll walk and he'll perfect
(12:03):
them.
He says, I'm, you're gonna beas perfect as I need you to be
because I've tried with you.
But I needed that strictchastising.
I needed that from the Lord.
I needed him to say, all right,this is no relationship, no
drugs, no alcohol, no cussing.
No.
(12:24):
I'm talking about a straightlaces you could get.
Phil (12:26):
Wow.
Shannon (12:27):
That's how I try to live.
I'm still flesh, but I know nowthat God, I'm sorry I'm not
being the perfect person thatyou need me to be today, but I
try to the best of my ability.
I've cleaned up everything.
I haven't been in arelationship in over six years.
I hadn't done no dope alcoholover six years.
And I want to stay that way.
I have to hear an audible fromGod when he says, all right,
(12:48):
it's time to shift.
If he wants to put some moneyin my life, I'm okay with that.
But if he doesn't, I'm okaywith that too.
Wow.
But I ended up spending 10 anda half months in counting when
they arrested me, but on myknees, I come out.
Matter of fact, I come fromlock up to lockdown.
Covid was real.
It was, yeah.
2020.
Yeah.
When I come out.
But it was okay because Ididn't need.
(13:10):
Anything to be open.
'cause I still wanted, I was sonervous about coming around
people or being around people.
Two years I was out of thecounty and I brought up, in
church and brought upPentecostal and I believe in
prophetic words.
And I would pray, I said, God,I know my courts coming up.
I don't want to go to prison.
I don't want to go to prison.
(13:30):
I'm begging.
And I used to go and I saidprayer and I'm hoping I get a
word from the Lord.
You're not gonna go to prison.
God has a sense of humorbecause I remember coming out,
somebody coming to say, and Iremember praise and them.
I said, God, no matter what,I'm gonna thank you in the midst
of everything.
I don't know what you have instore.
And I remember a gentleman fromchurch said, come here and let
me prophesy over you.
(13:51):
He said, I seen people withangels beside them.
He said, but I see two, one oneach side of you like massive
bodyguards, swo up covering you.
I said, I'm going to prison.
I know I'm going to prison.
Then the next week I rememberpraying and I'm praying in the
spirit.
And the lady asked me, shesaid, can you interpret or what
(14:11):
have you?
I said, I haven't in a longtime.
She said God just wants you toknow he has you shielded.
He had you covered.
I knew I was going to prison.
I'm praying that I don't.
But when she told me that, I'mthinking, okay, God's just given
me these warnings of these,this evidence that he's there
and he's gonna be with me in themidst of it all.
Sure enough, I went to zoomcourt out of all courts to go, I
(14:34):
can't even go in presence ofthe judge.
He sentences me to a 15 yearsdue 10.
Phil (14:42):
Wow.
Shannon (14:42):
I was scared to death and I had to report to pre to
jail that day.
No time to prepare anything.
That was January the 27th of2000.
2 22.
I went to Pulaski State Prisondown in Hawkinsville, Georgia.
The worst prison in the stateof Georgia for women.
Phil (15:01):
Wow.
Shannon (15:02):
Run by gangs.
The violence, the hell, thetorment.
I remember being terrified, butI said, all right, God, you
have me.
You gotta be with me.
But I remember when I firstwent in there, I see more
bloodshed, people getting beatwith locks to beyond
recognition, the disfigurationof their faces.
(15:23):
This is all I'm seeing is bloodeverywhere.
Wow.
My first night there.
They robbed me.
They took everything I had mydiabetic medicine, everything.
And I said, God, if it's gonnabe like this, I'd rather be
dead.
I said, I don't have thestrength to get through, but I
feel like Corey, Tim Boone,where the daddy gave her that
ticket, and at the right timewhen she got on that train, God
(15:44):
always gave me that littleticket at the right time to keep
me going.
His grace is sufficient.
It is.
But I remember the next weekthey come in to rob me and I
don't know if I was crazy or ifthe God just gave me the guts to
stand up for myself.
And they told me, they said,open up your locker.
I said, I will not.
(16:05):
She said, do you want me tobeat you with this lock?
I said, I really don't care.
She said, you don't care.
I said, I really don't care.
She looked at me like I was thecraziest human being that ever
walked the face of this earth.
Like how?
But that day I made a stand,don't get me wrong, they come
back the next week and I lockedmy door.
The officers in prison poppedmy door open for them to come in
(16:28):
to rob me.
Phil (16:29):
So there was so much corruption with the officers
there too.
Shannon (16:32):
Yes, the corruption, they do not care.
Pop my door.
When my door open, I push itback shut.
Where the gang members got soangry that said, who locked this
door?
I said, the one that lives inhere.
They said, open it up.
I said, I will not.
I'm scared to death because Ihave five gang members standing
(16:54):
outside the door.
You can see their feet up underthe door.
And when I looked, threateningto beat me with a shower brush,
said they were going to kill me.
If I come out and I'm praying,sobbing, bitterly weeping to
God, what I don't know.
I don't have the courage.
I'm scared.
I don't have know what to do.
I said, you're gonna have togimme some guidance.
I said, all i'm the one thatwill make a stand and do a
(17:17):
statement and I will leave out.
I'm diabetic.
So I had to go to diabetic callthat next morning at four, I
packed up all my stuff and whenI left out, God had to be
standing on that walkway 'causeI got followed to the infirmary
where I was going to take myinsulin.
When I went back there, I said,I will not go back in that
dorm.
I said, I'm not.
I said, I'm scared.
I'm terrified.
I don't know what else to do.
(17:38):
I said, I will not go back inthat dorm.
Here they come in and thank Godthat nurse was a angel from
above because she was only therelike a couple of days and then
she wasn't there no more.
It.
She knew that I'd beenfollowed, so she knew what to
say.
She knew what to, so theywouldn't do nothing when I left
out.
But they put me in lockdown forthree days.
(17:59):
Okay.
I was fine with that.
I was in my own cell.
Nobody bothered me.
Then they moved me to adifferent dorm.
It was still a gang affiliateddorm, but it was a better dorm.
I spent, I don't know, severalmonths there.
Finally, I went and was movedinto the faith and character
dorm.
I was content for thatduration.
Wow.
But during that time, thecorruption, when I wrote a
(18:21):
statement on these people, theofficers went and showed all
these gang affiliated peoplewhose name I put on there.
But you have to write astatement in order to get moved.
I had no choice but y'all put atarget on my back.
Phil (18:36):
Wow.
Shannon (18:37):
They put a target on my back.
You showed everybody who Iwrote a statement on, because
the corruption Yes.
Is there.
I had a friend that cried outfor mental health.
I've seen a lot of, she hadmental health and they drug her
to lockdown and put her inlockdown and did not take her
fan.
She hung herself with a fancord.
I had a friend that theyinjected fentanyl in her arm and
(19:02):
killed her rigor.
Mortis had sat in, they had tocut the.
Runs out of the bunk bed toeven get her out.
I had a friend overdose.
I had a friend that they beatso bad beyond recognition with
a, like I said, I've seen a lotof bloodshed beat her so bad.
I had a friend that they tiedand crucified her up to the bed
(19:23):
like Jesus and beat her with aTV cord so bad and gased her
head all in.
I have a lot of PTSD that's aterm God sustains my PTSD, but I
have a lot of things that Ihave to really, when vision
starts coming back.
So I am a little bit gun shy iscertain things because I know
(19:44):
what people can do.
Wow, that's, but God has heldmy hand the whole way, how I
survived two and a half years inprison.
I spent two and a half years inprison.
Then I finally went to thetransition center in Atlanta.
It, I had freedom there.
I was able to work, I was ableto get out, but I had that
(20:05):
little bit of freedom.
But nine years I spent there.
I was supposed to come homefrom prison last July.
That would've been my 40 monthstotal.
Phil (20:13):
Wow.
Shannon (20:14):
Parole board came back and gave me 20 more months.
Not sure why that I hadn'tserved in that time.
If it's gonna be like this, Iwant to go to the tc, I want to
go to the transition center andlet me work, make some money.
Finally I went, but I didsurvive prison.
I did.
But that's only through God'sgrace because I look back now,
I'm thinking, how did I even dothat?
(20:34):
It's God's grace.
I did handle the TransitionCenter, but when I come out from
the Transition Center, that wasMarch the fifth, was that I
didn't even know I was gettingout.
But they called me.
They said you're getting out onthe fifth.
I called my mother.
My mom sobbed and si she said,my child's finally coming home.
The prodigal son's returning.
But what's so crazy is the dayI stepped out of there,
Phil (20:55):
out of the Transition Center
Shannon (20:56):
it's like I couldn't remember the past three years at
all.
Phil (20:59):
Wow.
Shannon (21:00):
None.
None.
It's like I never left home.
It's like I'd never been gone.
And then here I come stillbeing clean and sober.
I talked to Chaplain Neal andwent and saw Jamie Lee and she
said, I have a job for you backat the Graces house.
Phil (21:16):
Now, had you known them at all before?
Shannon (21:18):
Yes.
I actually, before I went toprison, I started Thanksgiving
of 2021.
No, two.
Yes.
2021.
Thanksgiving Day.
At the Trinity House.
I was the house manager overthere.
Phil (21:32):
Wow.
Shannon (21:32):
So I was only there for two, three months.
Then I was sentenced and wentto prison.
But as I come out, I told you Icouldn't remember the past
three years.
I talked to Jamie Lee and I gota job back as a house manager
at the Grace House.
Phil (21:46):
Wow.
Shannon (21:46):
That's where I'm currently residing now.
Phil (21:49):
At the Grace House.
At
Shannon (21:50):
the Grace House.
The women's
Phil (21:51):
shelter for Safe House.
Shannon (21:52):
Yes.
And I love it.
My heart and my passion,because I get brokenness, I get
defeat, I get rock bottom.
I've been there.
Phil (22:02):
You understand?
Shannon (22:03):
I, yes.
My heart goes for these ladies.
I said, let me love y'all wheny'all don't know how to love
yourself.
I said, if anybody cares, Isaid, I care.
I said, let me just build youup.
I said, we're here to buildeach other up and not tear each
other down.
I said, I just want what y'allneed.
I said, I want for y'all whatyou don't want for yourself.
(22:25):
I said, there is a better way.
I said, and they looked at melike, you don't get it.
I said, I do get it.
I said, everything you've beenthrough, I said, I've probably
been through 10 times more.
I said, but it is how we chooseto go day by day now to where
we're at.
I don't know guys.
Just, I can't see doing it anyother way.
(22:45):
I love the Lord with all myheart.
The scripture says, trust inthe Lord with all your heart.
Lean not on your ownunderstanding and acknowledge
him in all your way.
He will direct your path.
And I know that He promisedthat he would make my next life
so easy.
He said, I'm gonna make things.
I'm gonna give you double foryour trouble.
(23:06):
I'm gonna make things easy foryou.
You're not gonna have tostruggle or work.
And I can't hold him to thatpromise that he is so far so
good, I pray.
And it's his timing.
It's not our timing.
And we want what we want, whenwe want it.
But I learned to trust in himand say, all right, God, you
(23:28):
said you're gonna handle thisneed.
You said you're gonna providethis for me.
You said, because his promisesare yes, but on his time, I
can't see doing it without, Iwill never go back.
I personally, I don't haveanother recovery left in me.
That time when he said, I'msnatching you up, I'm gonna
(23:50):
plant your feet on solid ground.
I just don't have the strengthto go through it again.
I wanted to die last time.
If I go back.
I know death is my end result,and that's what I have to keep
at my frontal lobe.
I know death is where I willbe, but I work hard for my
sobriety.
I work hard for my Jesus, I'mabout God's business, and I know
(24:12):
it's gonna be about mybusiness.
And that's the way I want it tobe.
Such a love for him that, Idon't know.
He's just awesome.
I can't even fathom or wrap myhead around his awesomeness.
Phil (24:22):
Yeah, that's so true.
Yeah.
Wow.
Wow.
God has truly done atransformational work in your
life.
Shannon (24:31):
Yes.
Phil (24:32):
Wow.
Shannon (24:32):
Yeah.
He's amazing.
Phil (24:34):
How is your relationship with your kids now?
Shannon (24:36):
My daughter, oh, my word, for 14 years, she didn't
talk to me, but last year Icalled her and I said, I love
you.
I said, with all my heart.
I said, this is where I'm at.
I said, you can be a part of mylife.
I said, bear, or you cannot.
I said, but what you do is achoice.
(24:57):
I said, either you can chooseto be here or choose not to be.
I said, but what you do is notgonna affect my outcome in life.
I'm still gonna be my bestself.
I'm still gonna live for God.
I'm still gonna be sober.
I said, you can be a part of itor not.
Sydnee.
I said, she loves me.
She contacts me.
She got married.
I got to meet my son-in-lawwhen I come out.
(25:19):
Wow.
I have a grandbaby that's threemonths old yesterday.
They are so active in my life.
Oh wow.
So when I come out, come thatweekend, she brought my
son-in-law and my grandbaby tomeet me.
Wow.
We talk just about every day.
They are beautiful.
They are precious, lemme tellyou.
(25:40):
And I prayed God to put a godlyman in my daughter's life.
'cause I told you she struggledwith her belief.
And God.
'cause I think it feels likeGod failed her family.
Yeah.
When she married a gentlemanthat sings at St.
Luke United met at this churchReally?
Every Sunday and Wednesday.
(26:00):
And he has the most angelicvoice of an angel.
He is God sent because she evengave me a Mother's Day card.
And my mother's grandmother'sday card talking about God and
being thankful for Godtransforming, you know me.
Yeah.
And she said, I'm so proud ofyou and I'm so glad that you are
(26:22):
doing so good so you can beactively present in our lives.
And this is a girl that saysshe didn't want anything to ever
do with me again.
So God is about restoration.
God is about family.
God is about just that unity,like I said, be about God's
business.
He will be about yours,restoration, taking care of
(26:45):
everything.
If I don't trust myself, I cantrust God.
To guide me in every avenue ofmy life.
Yes.
May the 22nd, six years freefrom a relationship, drugs,
alcohol
Phil (27:00):
wow.
Shannon (27:02):
Like I said, I never thought I would have a day of
sobriety or ever see six yearsclean.
So anybody that's out therethat if you've got one day
cleaned, look up, you'll have30, you'll have a year, you'll
have five years.
You'll, everything is in yourrear view mirror.
You just keep driving.
(27:22):
Get past that storm.
You don't have to stop in themidst of it.
Phil (27:25):
Wow.
Shannon (27:27):
Yeah.
Wow.
That's just good
Phil (27:29):
that you have just an incredible story.
I just, wow.
Thank you for sharing.
Shannon (27:38):
Thank you for having me share.
Because like I said, I lovepeople.
Certain people say, who canlove like Jesus?
Because the ones thatpersecuted me in prison, I still
spoke to 'em.
I still prayed for 'em.
I still lifted them up whenthey needed it.
So I try my best to love likeJesus does.
(28:00):
I try my best to love throughJesus' eyes.
Yeah.
Phil (28:03):
That's Jesus in us.
Yes.
He can love through us in thatway.
Yes.
That's amazing.
That's profound.
It makes me think of StephenYes.
In
Shannon (28:11):
Acts.
Yes.
Phil (28:12):
I think it was chapter six, maybe somewhere in Acts
where he was proclaiming thegospel and serving the Lord and
the men gathered around them,Saul being one of them, and they
stoned him to death.
And he, before he died, said,Lord, don't lay this to their
charge.
Forgive them.
(28:33):
And that love,
Shannon (28:34):
yes,
Phil (28:35):
that, that love in the face of just straight evil.
Shannon (28:39):
And what's so crazy, the girl that come in to beat
me, threaten to beat me with alock.
I heard her say out of hermouth, and maybe this is why I
can love, she said, I don't knowwhy I keep doing the things I
do when I don't want to do 'em.
And so I've thought about Paul,the things I don't do and the
(29:00):
things I want to, I don't, yeah.
I mean that I need to do.
I don't.
Wow.
But she even made that comment.
So she rage war within herselfand then one of the girl that
followed me up there that wasgonna beat me down when I went
to the infirmary to never goback to the dorm, I seen her
probably a year later and Isaid, I know who you are.
(29:21):
And she says, who are you?
I said, I'm Shannon.
I said, I'm the one that youthreatened to really beat me to
a bloody red.
And she cried and says, I am sosorry.
She said, I never meant to dothat.
She said, I went into a 360program where they locked her
down.
She said, I found God.
(29:42):
She said, I'm sorry.
She said, for tormenting y'allgirls.
So there is a God that saysthere is a better way you drop
little trinkets.
I hope I dropped littletrinkets of hope in them ladies'
life.
I still have contact with theones at the transition center
and the ones in prison.
Phil (30:01):
Wow.
Shannon (30:01):
I said, I will never forget it because that was my
family.
So you never know whatsomebody's going through or the
journey that they're on, but youkeep praying.
You keep bridging the gap andyou keep standing in because God
said victory is mine.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah.
And I know, I don't know.
I just, like I said, I trustthem.
Phil (30:20):
Amen.
Shannon, as you think backacross your journey and all that
the Lord has done, all that theLord has taught you, what
pieces of wisdom would you liketo leave behind and share for
those who are listening?
Shannon (30:35):
When you thank, you're not enough.
You are, when you think you'redefeated, you're not.
When you think you can't go on,you keep just advancing one
step at a time.
And when you think that there'sno way, there's only one way,
and that's through Jesus Christ,he is the way, the truth, and
the life.
He is the only one that canheal you whole.
(30:58):
He can put you back together.
We may not get the love orrespect or desires that we need
from individual because that isman.
It's when we're looking to thewrong thing.
But if you put your trust inGod and put your trust in Jesus,
the Holy Spirit, they will fillyou up so much in such
abundance of love.
That's all we need.
(31:19):
That's all we need is to lookto God.
He's the only one that completeus.
We run with the devil so much.
The devil has the same schemesover and over again.
So whatever went on with youlast year, he's gonna come at
you again this year.
He's gonna come at you againnext year.
'cause it's the same schemes.
(31:40):
He is not smart enough to comeup with new designs.
So it's learned to recognizewhat makes you do the things
that you do or step into thatconfusion.
Always run.
I'm feel like I'm constantlyrunning defense like a football
player.
My arms out because I'm, I'malways on guard.
(32:01):
Maybe that's what I'm trying tosay.
Always be on guard.
Be aware of what's around you.
Be aware of the tactics.
Be aware of the.
Somebody just persuasion.
Always be aware of what's goingon.
Just use wisdom, use judgment,use guys that always go to God.
If you go to God first, he willgive you the right avenues to
(32:25):
handle situations.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah.
But we have to be aware.
Phil (32:28):
That's so good.
Shannon (32:29):
We are enough.
Phil (32:30):
Yeah.
That makes me your last littlecomments there makes me think of
the verse.
I think it's in Peter that heshares that we need to be
vigilant because the devil as aroaring lion is walking about
seeking whom he and may devour.
He's always looking to get us.
And it's interesting how youdescribed it.
Like you always feel likeyou're playing defense and
(32:51):
standing guard.
Yes.
But that's what we have to do.
Yes.
Because he'll, he's circlingand he's just looking for the
little open door that he cancome in and just destroy our
life.
Shannon (33:00):
And what's so crazy, a lot of times my praise and
worship, and I'll have my armsraised and I praise, but a lot
of times they said, what are youdoing it?
And I'll have my arms likepushing down beside me.
And they said, what are youdoing?
I said, I'm holding the devildown.
And they said, what?
I said, for real?
I said, he's trying to come up.
I said, so if I don't have myarms raised, it's like I'm
(33:22):
holding him down.
So I'm constantly just am beingvigilant.
In that scripture, he comesaround like.
lion.
He's not a lion.
He portrays, I call him aposer.
He's he's a deceiver.
He's a deceiver.
He's like a lion.
He's not the lion.
We have the lion of Judah, youknow,
Phil (33:42):
that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world.
Shannon (33:45):
Amen.
Amen.
It makes me want to shoutbecause I just I know there's a
better way, and if my story canhelp anybody, so be it.
I'm an open book and I know Iprobably have jumped from here
to there and everything becausemy story is I'm 54, I have 54
(34:05):
years of stories.
I just touched on differenthighlights.
But if I was to dig so muchdeeper, we would be here
forever.
But it is just knowing what Ihave to do, who I want to help.
And as long as I have God on mymouth and on my tongue, the
devil's not in my head.
So if I'm speaking about God'sbusiness, the devil has no room
(34:28):
here,
Phil (34:29):
yeah.
That's good.
If
Shannon (34:30):
I don't know how to do anything, I know how to pray.
Amen.
I pray, and God is bringing meoutta certain comfort zones
with.
Branching out and praying.
And now I, I will pray orsomebody, will you pray for me?
Yes, I will.
And a heartbeat, I'll pray.
And somebody says, how do youpray?
I said, it doesn't have to bean elaborate prayer.
I said, even if you start, Isaid, you breathe in Jesus and
(34:51):
breathe out what you need.
Yeah.
I said As simple as that.
Phil (34:55):
Wow.
Shannon (34:55):
But yeah, God is true, faithful.
I love the Lord all my heart.
Phil (34:59):
Wow.
Amen.
Shannon (35:00):
And I can't wait to see the next journey.
He takes me the next, it is noteven gonna be, he's gonna
catapult me into in my future.
He's got big plans.
Big plans.
'cause he's a big God.
Phil (35:16):
You're doing big things, working at the women's shelter
here at Safe House.
Yes.
And just being the influencethat God wants in the lives of
so many hurting women.
Shannon (35:27):
Yes.
Yes.
I love those ladies.
I love life.
Phil (35:32):
That's good.
Shannon (35:32):
And I treasure life, and I value
Phil (35:35):
That's, that, that statement is a, just one of the
many beautiful things thatillustrates what God does.
Like you went from a place ofhating life and one to die and
now loving life and rejoicing inlife.
It just, Jesus is amazing.
Shannon (35:51):
Yes.
He is totally amazing.
Just, and like I said, you justgrasp a little bit and run with
it.
Yeah.
And like I said, and Ireference football a lot, but I
feel like I'm on either, it'sone of my favorite thing I said,
the devil's got the right one.
That's me.
Come at me as you will becauseI know how to plant my feet on
(36:12):
solid ground.
It's like I have on mypermanent cleats especially when
it comes to my family, my lovedones, my women at the shelter.
I'm gonna bridge the gap.
I'm gonna pray.
So do I feel like a risingwarrior or a conqueror?
Yes, I do.
Because he's had a heyday longenough with my people.
So if I have to get a littlegrimy and dirty with the devil,
(36:33):
okay, I'm ready.
But it's always staying awareand knowing what's going on.
And keeping my eyes always openbecause he will, the first
chance you get in your is ascripture.
You take heeds when you thinkyou stand, take heed.
At least you fall.
Yeah.
I don't have it all figuredout, but I know who does.
Phil (36:53):
Amen.
Shannon (36:54):
And I'm gonna keep pursuing him.
Will it get tough again?
I'm sure.
But will I be ready?
Most definitely.
Phil (37:01):
Yeah.
Amen.
That's a good word.
Shannon (37:02):
Yeah.
Phil (37:03):
Any last comment you wanna make?
Shannon (37:05):
No.
I love all for listening.
I love the safe house, I lovethe ministry, I love what God's
doing, and I just can't wait tosee the next chapter.
Phil (37:15):
Awesome.
You mind if I close this inword of prayer?
Shannon (37:17):
Most definitely.
Phil (37:18):
Father, thank you for your grace.
Yes.
Thank you for Jesus.
Thank you.
Thank you for the Bible.
Shannon (37:24):
Yes.
Phil (37:25):
Thank you for using those who are walking with you to be
such a help in the lives ofothers.
Thank you for the power ofprayer.
Father, thank you for therestoration and Shannon's life
with her daughter and herson-in-law and just their
family.
Lord.
To be able to be a grandmotherthat is a godly grandmother and
(37:47):
a good influence in the life ofher grandchildren.
Bless her path.
Bless her daughter, bless herfamily and use her
Shannon (37:57):
yes
Phil (37:58):
to do the things that you want her to do.
God, we need, we just need youto do big things here in
Columbus to push back thedarkness, to bind up the demons
to just bring revival.
Yes.
Yes.
Lord, in our hearts and in thiscity.
(38:18):
We love you and we praise you.
And we thank you.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Shannon (38:23):
Amen.
Phil Shuler (38:25):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(38:48):
at 2101 Hamilton Road,Columbus, Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email usat
info@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (39:03):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for
(00:22):
Safe House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides anabundance of services including
213 beds for homelessindividuals and families, case
management for obtaining jobskills and long term employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
(00:42):
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
(01:04):
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Shannon (01:12):
My first arrest was 1999.
My second arrest was 2007, mythird arrest 2010.
Phil (01:19):
Wow.
Shannon (01:20):
2010.
No, matter of fact, 2010 wasn'tan arrest.
I remember sitting, I wasstarted back on dope from 2007
to 2010.
Started back on dope, but Iremember sitting on the bed with
a gun in my hand fixing andblow my brains out.
Phil (01:37):
Wow.
Shannon (01:38):
And God let me see myself laying off the bed and my
daughter walking in and findingme.
Phil (01:45):
And that shook you.
And you're like, I can't dothat.
Shannon (01:48):
I made a call to my friend and I said, I'm strung
out.
I'm on dope.
I don't know what else to do.
I called 9 1 1 and that's wheremy husband was working at the
time for the EMS.
Phil (02:01):
Really?
Shannon (02:02):
But he was not on shift that duty.
I think he was workingsomewhere else but his friends
and the humiliation.
But they never treated me withdisrespect or anything.
They come and picked me up andI said, I want to die.
I want to die.
But I went into rehab then andI'm glad I went to the Bradley
Center 'cause my mental debil,my mental capacity was just, it
(02:25):
was shot.
But when I went to the BradleyCenter, and I'm glad I was there
because that's when my husbandsaid, it's over.
I'm done.
And I knew he meant it, but Iwent into a rehab down in
Florida and I stayed good therefor the timeframe that I was
(02:47):
there, but never truly findingwhat's broken.
So when I come out, that was2010, I come out and just speed
up with where everything totallytook a turn for the worst.
When I come out, it was 2011and I met the devil in blue
jeans.
Phil (03:06):
Wow.
Shannon (03:07):
The devil in blue jeans.
He was not a nice person.
He was very selfish.
All he cared about was himhimself.
Feeling like I had nowhere togo.
I came outta rehab.
I don't have a home.
My mother's still, if it aboutus kids, so she has her walls
up, my siblings have their wallsup.
(03:29):
Has she changed?
So not knowing what to do orcrying out for help.
I get involved with this guyand I lived with him for nine
years, so that's 2011.
I'm with this gentleman that Istarted doing dope again.
He was on dope.
I started selling dope.
Methamphetamines was my drug ofchoice.
(03:50):
I loved it.
It was all I knew.
It's all I wanted.
I had, I could care less aboutanything else.
This whole time my daughter'snot talking to me for about 14
years.
Phil (04:00):
Who was she living with?
Shannon (04:02):
Who was she living with?
Yeah, she was older.
She was living with her daddythough.
She stayed with her daddy andhad that relationship.
He was taking good care of herwhen I moved out.
When I stepped outta thepicture, he was finally home
with her.
Yeah.
Taking care of her needs andeverything else.
What I wish that he had havebeen home with me, you know what
I'm saying?
How old
Phil (04:21):
was she at that point?
Shannon (04:23):
She, maybe 15, 16.
Wow.
But this guy,
Phil (04:28):
she wrote you off and just didn't have anything to do with
you after that.
She said
Shannon (04:31):
she was done.
She couldn't understand and sheblamed God, and I know she
blamed God.
Or 'cause I would pray I was inand outta church begging, God,
begging him, but not till lateron did I get it, that when he
says, I'm gonna leave that thornin your flesh as a constant
reminder, 'cause my grace issufficient enough.
(04:54):
He knew I had the fight in me,the battling me, the the want in
me.
And he made me work.
He made me work for mysobriety, but he finally, after
this bad relationship, deliveredme from that relationship
Phil (05:11):
Wow.
Shannon (05:11):
And I was with that guy, and when I say he, I kept
him high because that's when hekept his hands off of me.
But if he was sober, it washell.
So
Phil (05:21):
just abuse and
Shannon (05:22):
abuse drugs.
But I raised his kids.
I buried his mother.
She had a stroke in my arms.
I took care of his disabledbrother.
I, and I know God has a way towork everything for all things
work together for the good ofthose who love God, call
according to their purpose.
And I know God transitioned meand had me in that relationship
for that nine years where Ineeded to utilize.
(05:45):
I was stealing my addiction,but I was a good woman.
You know what I'm saying?
I'd handled business like I wassupposed to.
I raised family.
But as time went by, I got insuch steep bondage and darkness
and demons and if I see demonsfor what it's worth, they're so
real.
They're so evident.
But they got to the pointwhere,
Phil (06:08):
so what, share a little bit more like if you can about
when you say the demons whatkinds of things did you see or
what did that look like?
Shannon (06:18):
Okay.
I live right the down the roadfrom my mother.
Okay.
And if I had, didn't have apraying mother that lived right
at the road, 'cause I know mymother would pray, I'd get text
messages.
My mama goes to bed betweenseven and eight o'clock every
night.
But I would get text messagesevery so often, just said
praying.
And I'm thinking, why is shesending me this text?
(06:39):
Why is she praying?
Because God was waking her upand say, pray for your daughter.
It'd be about one 30 in themorning.
Every text was about one 30 inthe morning.
He'd wake her up and she wouldsend me these text messages
saying praying.
And then I remember I got insuch a dark place.
I hated everybody.
I hated everything.
(07:00):
I didn't want to speak to you.
Don't come in my area.
What you see now is not who Iwas.
The last thing I told that guy,I said, I'm gonna gut you like
a fish and kill myself.
And I meant it.
I was plotting a murder,suicide, and I remember getting
a phone call.
I was in desperation.
(07:20):
Like I said, I was praying, Godlet me die.
I remember getting a phone calland it's about one 30 in the
morning.
It's my mother.
And I didn't get to the phone,so I called her back.
And when I said, Hey, I said,what's wrong?
There was dead silence.
And the next thing out of mymother's breath was, you need to
get back in church, Shannon.
I said, I know mama.
She said, you need to drawclose to the God.
(07:41):
I said, I know Mama.
And as we go through thisconversation, I feel a little
bit of the anxiety subsided.
And when I hung up with her,something lifted and I seen
demons everywhere.
Something grabbed me by mythroat, pushed me up against the
wall.
It was just me in thatbuilding, but it was a demonic
(08:01):
force that had such a stronghold, a stranglehold around my
neck.
Phil (08:06):
Wow.
Shannon (08:07):
But if it wasn't for a praying mother, but I knew right
then I said, something's got togive.
Phil (08:13):
Wow.
It's so the veil was listed atthat moment?
Yes.
demons are real.
Demons are very real.
And there is a spiritualwarfare around us that is so
intense.
We have no idea, but we don'tsee it.
And we don't think of it even,or just, we just ignore it.
Yes.
But there are certain timeswhen God lifts that veil.
(08:36):
There's a time in the Biblewhen the prophet Elisha prays,
there they're surrounded byhundreds of thousands of an
enemy.
Yes.
Like an army.
Yes.
Literally.
And the servant's like freakingout.
And Elisha says, why are you soworried about Those that are
for us are more than those thatare against us.
And then he prays that the Lordwould lift the veil, and that
(08:58):
servant sees the angels of theLord around them.
And we don't get that veryoften.
But that sounds literally just,I can't even imagine what that
was like for you to see that atthat moment and to be to, I
Shannon (09:13):
was paralyzed and scared to death, but something
shook in my brain a little bit.
I'm still in my addiction, butat least I had enough sense to
start praying.
Okay.
Okay.
As.
I go through that.
There was even a time duringthat with that guy that I got
(09:35):
sober and I was on my deathbed.
The drugs about killed me.
Wow.
I was on my deathbed that I wassick for a year and I should
have known when I came outtathat and started getting well.
Phil (09:45):
So from that point when you saw the demons and you felt
that you started praying and theLord began to lead you to a
better place,
Shannon (09:54):
he did.
But I was still, could not gainvictory in my addiction.
I could not put the dope downin living with him.
Like I said, I told you thelast thing I said to him, I was
gonna kill him.
I meant it.
I went to plotting, thinking,contemplating, how am I gonna do
this?
(10:14):
I'm planning it out.
I'm writing it out.
Phil (10:16):
Wow.
Shannon (10:17):
It happened to be May the 19th, no, may the 21st of
2019.
I went looking for my insulin.
I'm severe diabetic.
I was gonna kill him, inject300 units, lay down and go to
bed.
But for some reason I couldn'tfind my insulin anywhere in the
refrigerator, anywhere at all.
Oh wow.
Thank God.
(10:37):
'cause what I was looking for.
Isn't even how my insulin'spackaged, but God, that was May
the 21st, may the 22nd.
I quit doing dope.
I was done.
I stopped using dope.
I didn't want to do it anymore.
I said, I've had knife May the23rd.
The cops come in and arrestedme.
(10:58):
May the 24th is when I criedout to God.
I said, all right, you got myattention.
I promise I would never touchdope ever again.
I would live my life to you tothe best of my ability as long
as I live.
May.
The 25th was when I wasplotting that murder suicide.
That was all in 2019.
Wow.
I'm coming up on my six yearsobriety mark.
My clean date is May the 22nd.
(11:21):
I thought I'd be dead before Iever would be sober, but me
getting arrested, I meant it.
I stayed on.
I spent 10 and a half months inthe county jail, but I stayed
on my knees every day.
When I promised God, I said,I'm gonna do it your way.
My walk's just different thaneverybody else.
'cause God says, Shannon, I'vetried with you over and over
(11:42):
again.
I'd get you clean.
You go back, I'd get you clean.
You go back.
He says, you're gonna do it myway or no way.
And that means every aspect ofmy life, you're gonna do it how
I want you to do it.
And it was like a daddychastising a child.
I get it.
I was put in major time out.
God says, I'll train others andthey'll walk and he'll perfect
(12:03):
them.
He says, I'm, you're gonna beas perfect as I need you to be
because I've tried with you.
But I needed that strictchastising.
I needed that from the Lord.
I needed him to say, all right,this is no relationship, no
drugs, no alcohol, no cussing.
No.
(12:24):
I'm talking about a straightlaces you could get.
Phil (12:26):
Wow.
Shannon (12:27):
That's how I try to live.
I'm still flesh, but I know nowthat God, I'm sorry I'm not
being the perfect person thatyou need me to be today, but I
try to the best of my ability.
I've cleaned up everything.
I haven't been in arelationship in over six years.
I hadn't done no dope alcoholover six years.
And I want to stay that way.
I have to hear an audible fromGod when he says, all right,
(12:48):
it's time to shift.
If he wants to put some moneyin my life, I'm okay with that.
But if he doesn't, I'm okaywith that too.
Wow.
But I ended up spending 10 anda half months in counting when
they arrested me, but on myknees, I come out.
Matter of fact, I come fromlock up to lockdown.
Covid was real.
It was, yeah.
2020.
Yeah.
When I come out.
But it was okay because Ididn't need.
(13:10):
Anything to be open.
'cause I still wanted, I was sonervous about coming around
people or being around people.
Two years I was out of thecounty and I brought up, in
church and brought upPentecostal and I believe in
prophetic words.
And I would pray, I said, God,I know my courts coming up.
I don't want to go to prison.
I don't want to go to prison.
(13:30):
I'm begging.
And I used to go and I saidprayer and I'm hoping I get a
word from the Lord.
You're not gonna go to prison.
God has a sense of humorbecause I remember coming out,
somebody coming to say, and Iremember praise and them.
I said, God, no matter what,I'm gonna thank you in the midst
of everything.
I don't know what you have instore.
And I remember a gentleman fromchurch said, come here and let
me prophesy over you.
(13:51):
He said, I seen people withangels beside them.
He said, but I see two, one oneach side of you like massive
bodyguards, swo up covering you.
I said, I'm going to prison.
I know I'm going to prison.
Then the next week I rememberpraying and I'm praying in the
spirit.
And the lady asked me, shesaid, can you interpret or what
(14:11):
have you?
I said, I haven't in a longtime.
She said God just wants you toknow he has you shielded.
He had you covered.
I knew I was going to prison.
I'm praying that I don't.
But when she told me that, I'mthinking, okay, God's just given
me these warnings of these,this evidence that he's there
and he's gonna be with me in themidst of it all.
Sure enough, I went to zoomcourt out of all courts to go, I
(14:34):
can't even go in presence ofthe judge.
He sentences me to a 15 yearsdue 10.
Phil (14:42):
Wow.
Shannon (14:42):
I was scared to death and I had to report to pre to
jail that day.
No time to prepare anything.
That was January the 27th of2000.
2 22.
I went to Pulaski State Prisondown in Hawkinsville, Georgia.
The worst prison in the stateof Georgia for women.
Phil (15:01):
Wow.
Shannon (15:02):
Run by gangs.
The violence, the hell, thetorment.
I remember being terrified, butI said, all right, God, you
have me.
You gotta be with me.
But I remember when I firstwent in there, I see more
bloodshed, people getting beatwith locks to beyond
recognition, the disfigurationof their faces.
(15:23):
This is all I'm seeing is bloodeverywhere.
Wow.
My first night there.
They robbed me.
They took everything I had mydiabetic medicine, everything.
And I said, God, if it's gonnabe like this, I'd rather be
dead.
I said, I don't have thestrength to get through, but I
feel like Corey, Tim Boone,where the daddy gave her that
ticket, and at the right timewhen she got on that train, God
(15:44):
always gave me that littleticket at the right time to keep
me going.
His grace is sufficient.
It is.
But I remember the next weekthey come in to rob me and I
don't know if I was crazy or ifthe God just gave me the guts to
stand up for myself.
And they told me, they said,open up your locker.
I said, I will not.
(16:05):
She said, do you want me tobeat you with this lock?
I said, I really don't care.
She said, you don't care.
I said, I really don't care.
She looked at me like I was thecraziest human being that ever
walked the face of this earth.
Like how?
But that day I made a stand,don't get me wrong, they come
back the next week and I lockedmy door.
The officers in prison poppedmy door open for them to come in
(16:28):
to rob me.
Phil (16:29):
So there was so much corruption with the officers
there too.
Shannon (16:32):
Yes, the corruption, they do not care.
Pop my door.
When my door open, I push itback shut.
Where the gang members got soangry that said, who locked this
door?
I said, the one that lives inhere.
They said, open it up.
I said, I will not.
I'm scared to death because Ihave five gang members standing
(16:54):
outside the door.
You can see their feet up underthe door.
And when I looked, threateningto beat me with a shower brush,
said they were going to kill me.
If I come out and I'm praying,sobbing, bitterly weeping to
God, what I don't know.
I don't have the courage.
I'm scared.
I don't have know what to do.
I said, you're gonna have togimme some guidance.
I said, all i'm the one thatwill make a stand and do a
(17:17):
statement and I will leave out.
I'm diabetic.
So I had to go to diabetic callthat next morning at four, I
packed up all my stuff and whenI left out, God had to be
standing on that walkway 'causeI got followed to the infirmary
where I was going to take myinsulin.
When I went back there, I said,I will not go back in that
dorm.
I said, I'm not.
I said, I'm scared.
I'm terrified.
I don't know what else to do.
(17:38):
I said, I will not go back inthat dorm.
Here they come in and thank Godthat nurse was a angel from
above because she was only therelike a couple of days and then
she wasn't there no more.
It.
She knew that I'd beenfollowed, so she knew what to
say.
She knew what to, so theywouldn't do nothing when I left
out.
But they put me in lockdown forthree days.
(17:59):
Okay.
I was fine with that.
I was in my own cell.
Nobody bothered me.
Then they moved me to adifferent dorm.
It was still a gang affiliateddorm, but it was a better dorm.
I spent, I don't know, severalmonths there.
Finally, I went and was movedinto the faith and character
dorm.
I was content for thatduration.
Wow.
But during that time, thecorruption, when I wrote a
(18:21):
statement on these people, theofficers went and showed all
these gang affiliated peoplewhose name I put on there.
But you have to write astatement in order to get moved.
I had no choice but y'all put atarget on my back.
Phil (18:36):
Wow.
Shannon (18:37):
They put a target on my back.
You showed everybody who Iwrote a statement on, because
the corruption Yes.
Is there.
I had a friend that cried outfor mental health.
I've seen a lot of, she hadmental health and they drug her
to lockdown and put her inlockdown and did not take her
fan.
She hung herself with a fancord.
I had a friend that theyinjected fentanyl in her arm and
(19:02):
killed her rigor.
Mortis had sat in, they had tocut the.
Runs out of the bunk bed toeven get her out.
I had a friend overdose.
I had a friend that they beatso bad beyond recognition with
a, like I said, I've seen a lotof bloodshed beat her so bad.
I had a friend that they tiedand crucified her up to the bed
(19:23):
like Jesus and beat her with aTV cord so bad and gased her
head all in.
I have a lot of PTSD that's aterm God sustains my PTSD, but I
have a lot of things that Ihave to really, when vision
starts coming back.
So I am a little bit gun shy iscertain things because I know
(19:44):
what people can do.
Wow, that's, but God has heldmy hand the whole way, how I
survived two and a half years inprison.
I spent two and a half years inprison.
Then I finally went to thetransition center in Atlanta.
It, I had freedom there.
I was able to work, I was ableto get out, but I had that
(20:05):
little bit of freedom.
But nine years I spent there.
I was supposed to come homefrom prison last July.
That would've been my 40 monthstotal.
Phil (20:13):
Wow.
Shannon (20:14):
Parole board came back and gave me 20 more months.
Not sure why that I hadn'tserved in that time.
If it's gonna be like this, Iwant to go to the tc, I want to
go to the transition center andlet me work, make some money.
Finally I went, but I didsurvive prison.
I did.
But that's only through God'sgrace because I look back now,
I'm thinking, how did I even dothat?
(20:34):
It's God's grace.
I did handle the TransitionCenter, but when I come out from
the Transition Center, that wasMarch the fifth, was that I
didn't even know I was gettingout.
But they called me.
They said you're getting out onthe fifth.
I called my mother.
My mom sobbed and si she said,my child's finally coming home.
The prodigal son's returning.
But what's so crazy is the dayI stepped out of there,
Phil (20:55):
out of the Transition Center
Shannon (20:56):
it's like I couldn't remember the past three years at
all.
Phil (20:59):
Wow.
Shannon (21:00):
None.
None.
It's like I never left home.
It's like I'd never been gone.
And then here I come stillbeing clean and sober.
I talked to Chaplain Neal andwent and saw Jamie Lee and she
said, I have a job for you backat the Graces house.
Phil (21:16):
Now, had you known them at all before?
Shannon (21:18):
Yes.
I actually, before I went toprison, I started Thanksgiving
of 2021.
No, two.
Yes.
2021.
Thanksgiving Day.
At the Trinity House.
I was the house manager overthere.
Phil (21:32):
Wow.
Shannon (21:32):
So I was only there for two, three months.
Then I was sentenced and wentto prison.
But as I come out, I told you Icouldn't remember the past
three years.
I talked to Jamie Lee and I gota job back as a house manager
at the Grace House.
Phil (21:46):
Wow.
Shannon (21:46):
That's where I'm currently residing now.
Phil (21:49):
At the Grace House.
At
Shannon (21:50):
the Grace House.
The women's
Phil (21:51):
shelter for Safe House.
Shannon (21:52):
Yes.
And I love it.
My heart and my passion,because I get brokenness, I get
defeat, I get rock bottom.
I've been there.
Phil (22:02):
You understand?
Shannon (22:03):
I, yes.
My heart goes for these ladies.
I said, let me love y'all wheny'all don't know how to love
yourself.
I said, if anybody cares, Isaid, I care.
I said, let me just build youup.
I said, we're here to buildeach other up and not tear each
other down.
I said, I just want what y'allneed.
I said, I want for y'all whatyou don't want for yourself.
(22:25):
I said, there is a better way.
I said, and they looked at melike, you don't get it.
I said, I do get it.
I said, everything you've beenthrough, I said, I've probably
been through 10 times more.
I said, but it is how we chooseto go day by day now to where
we're at.
I don't know guys.
Just, I can't see doing it anyother way.
(22:45):
I love the Lord with all myheart.
The scripture says, trust inthe Lord with all your heart.
Lean not on your ownunderstanding and acknowledge
him in all your way.
He will direct your path.
And I know that He promisedthat he would make my next life
so easy.
He said, I'm gonna make things.
I'm gonna give you double foryour trouble.
(23:06):
I'm gonna make things easy foryou.
You're not gonna have tostruggle or work.
And I can't hold him to thatpromise that he is so far so
good, I pray.
And it's his timing.
It's not our timing.
And we want what we want, whenwe want it.
But I learned to trust in himand say, all right, God, you
(23:28):
said you're gonna handle thisneed.
You said you're gonna providethis for me.
You said, because his promisesare yes, but on his time, I
can't see doing it without, Iwill never go back.
I personally, I don't haveanother recovery left in me.
That time when he said, I'msnatching you up, I'm gonna
(23:50):
plant your feet on solid ground.
I just don't have the strengthto go through it again.
I wanted to die last time.
If I go back.
I know death is my end result,and that's what I have to keep
at my frontal lobe.
I know death is where I willbe, but I work hard for my
sobriety.
I work hard for my Jesus, I'mabout God's business, and I know
(24:12):
it's gonna be about mybusiness.
And that's the way I want it tobe.
Such a love for him that, Idon't know.
He's just awesome.
I can't even fathom or wrap myhead around his awesomeness.
Phil (24:22):
Yeah, that's so true.
Yeah.
Wow.
Wow.
God has truly done atransformational work in your
life.
Shannon (24:31):
Yes.
Phil (24:32):
Wow.
Shannon (24:32):
Yeah.
He's amazing.
Phil (24:34):
How is your relationship with your kids now?
Shannon (24:36):
My daughter, oh, my word, for 14 years, she didn't
talk to me, but last year Icalled her and I said, I love
you.
I said, with all my heart.
I said, this is where I'm at.
I said, you can be a part of mylife.
I said, bear, or you cannot.
I said, but what you do is achoice.
(24:57):
I said, either you can chooseto be here or choose not to be.
I said, but what you do is notgonna affect my outcome in life.
I'm still gonna be my bestself.
I'm still gonna live for God.
I'm still gonna be sober.
I said, you can be a part of itor not.
Sydnee.
I said, she loves me.
She contacts me.
She got married.
I got to meet my son-in-lawwhen I come out.
(25:19):
Wow.
I have a grandbaby that's threemonths old yesterday.
They are so active in my life.
Oh wow.
So when I come out, come thatweekend, she brought my
son-in-law and my grandbaby tomeet me.
Wow.
We talk just about every day.
They are beautiful.
They are precious, lemme tellyou.
(25:40):
And I prayed God to put a godlyman in my daughter's life.
'cause I told you she struggledwith her belief.
And God.
'cause I think it feels likeGod failed her family.
Yeah.
When she married a gentlemanthat sings at St.
Luke United met at this churchReally?
Every Sunday and Wednesday.
(26:00):
And he has the most angelicvoice of an angel.
He is God sent because she evengave me a Mother's Day card.
And my mother's grandmother'sday card talking about God and
being thankful for Godtransforming, you know me.
Yeah.
And she said, I'm so proud ofyou and I'm so glad that you are
(26:22):
doing so good so you can beactively present in our lives.
And this is a girl that saysshe didn't want anything to ever
do with me again.
So God is about restoration.
God is about family.
God is about just that unity,like I said, be about God's
business.
He will be about yours,restoration, taking care of
(26:45):
everything.
If I don't trust myself, I cantrust God.
To guide me in every avenue ofmy life.
Yes.
May the 22nd, six years freefrom a relationship, drugs,
alcohol
Phil (27:00):
wow.
Shannon (27:02):
Like I said, I never thought I would have a day of
sobriety or ever see six yearsclean.
So anybody that's out therethat if you've got one day
cleaned, look up, you'll have30, you'll have a year, you'll
have five years.
You'll, everything is in yourrear view mirror.
You just keep driving.
(27:22):
Get past that storm.
You don't have to stop in themidst of it.
Phil (27:25):
Wow.
Shannon (27:27):
Yeah.
Wow.
That's just good
Phil (27:29):
that you have just an incredible story.
I just, wow.
Thank you for sharing.
Shannon (27:38):
Thank you for having me share.
Because like I said, I lovepeople.
Certain people say, who canlove like Jesus?
Because the ones thatpersecuted me in prison, I still
spoke to 'em.
I still prayed for 'em.
I still lifted them up whenthey needed it.
So I try my best to love likeJesus does.
(28:00):
I try my best to love throughJesus' eyes.
Yeah.
Phil (28:03):
That's Jesus in us.
Yes.
He can love through us in thatway.
Yes.
That's amazing.
That's profound.
It makes me think of StephenYes.
In
Shannon (28:11):
Acts.
Yes.
Phil (28:12):
I think it was chapter six, maybe somewhere in Acts
where he was proclaiming thegospel and serving the Lord and
the men gathered around them,Saul being one of them, and they
stoned him to death.
And he, before he died, said,Lord, don't lay this to their
charge.
Forgive them.
(28:33):
And that love,
Shannon (28:34):
yes,
Phil (28:35):
that, that love in the face of just straight evil.
Shannon (28:39):
And what's so crazy, the girl that come in to beat
me, threaten to beat me with alock.
I heard her say out of hermouth, and maybe this is why I
can love, she said, I don't knowwhy I keep doing the things I
do when I don't want to do 'em.
And so I've thought about Paul,the things I don't do and the
(29:00):
things I want to, I don't, yeah.
I mean that I need to do.
I don't.
Wow.
But she even made that comment.
So she rage war within herselfand then one of the girl that
followed me up there that wasgonna beat me down when I went
to the infirmary to never goback to the dorm, I seen her
probably a year later and Isaid, I know who you are.
(29:21):
And she says, who are you?
I said, I'm Shannon.
I said, I'm the one that youthreatened to really beat me to
a bloody red.
And she cried and says, I am sosorry.
She said, I never meant to dothat.
She said, I went into a 360program where they locked her
down.
She said, I found God.
(29:42):
She said, I'm sorry.
She said, for tormenting y'allgirls.
So there is a God that saysthere is a better way you drop
little trinkets.
I hope I dropped littletrinkets of hope in them ladies'
life.
I still have contact with theones at the transition center
and the ones in prison.
Phil (30:01):
Wow.
Shannon (30:01):
I said, I will never forget it because that was my
family.
So you never know whatsomebody's going through or the
journey that they're on, but youkeep praying.
You keep bridging the gap andyou keep standing in because God
said victory is mine.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah.
And I know, I don't know.
I just, like I said, I trustthem.
Phil (30:20):
Amen.
Shannon, as you think backacross your journey and all that
the Lord has done, all that theLord has taught you, what
pieces of wisdom would you liketo leave behind and share for
those who are listening?
Shannon (30:35):
When you thank, you're not enough.
You are, when you think you'redefeated, you're not.
When you think you can't go on,you keep just advancing one
step at a time.
And when you think that there'sno way, there's only one way,
and that's through Jesus Christ,he is the way, the truth, and
the life.
He is the only one that canheal you whole.
(30:58):
He can put you back together.
We may not get the love orrespect or desires that we need
from individual because that isman.
It's when we're looking to thewrong thing.
But if you put your trust inGod and put your trust in Jesus,
the Holy Spirit, they will fillyou up so much in such
abundance of love.
That's all we need.
(31:19):
That's all we need is to lookto God.
He's the only one that completeus.
We run with the devil so much.
The devil has the same schemesover and over again.
So whatever went on with youlast year, he's gonna come at
you again this year.
He's gonna come at you againnext year.
'cause it's the same schemes.
(31:40):
He is not smart enough to comeup with new designs.
So it's learned to recognizewhat makes you do the things
that you do or step into thatconfusion.
Always run.
I'm feel like I'm constantlyrunning defense like a football
player.
My arms out because I'm, I'malways on guard.
(32:01):
Maybe that's what I'm trying tosay.
Always be on guard.
Be aware of what's around you.
Be aware of the tactics.
Be aware of the.
Somebody just persuasion.
Always be aware of what's goingon.
Just use wisdom, use judgment,use guys that always go to God.
If you go to God first, he willgive you the right avenues to
(32:25):
handle situations.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah.
But we have to be aware.
Phil (32:28):
That's so good.
Shannon (32:29):
We are enough.
Phil (32:30):
Yeah.
That makes me your last littlecomments there makes me think of
the verse.
I think it's in Peter that heshares that we need to be
vigilant because the devil as aroaring lion is walking about
seeking whom he and may devour.
He's always looking to get us.
And it's interesting how youdescribed it.
Like you always feel likeyou're playing defense and
(32:51):
standing guard.
Yes.
But that's what we have to do.
Yes.
Because he'll, he's circlingand he's just looking for the
little open door that he cancome in and just destroy our
life.
Shannon (33:00):
And what's so crazy, a lot of times my praise and
worship, and I'll have my armsraised and I praise, but a lot
of times they said, what are youdoing it?
And I'll have my arms likepushing down beside me.
And they said, what are youdoing?
I said, I'm holding the devildown.
And they said, what?
I said, for real?
I said, he's trying to come up.
I said, so if I don't have myarms raised, it's like I'm
(33:22):
holding him down.
So I'm constantly just am beingvigilant.
In that scripture, he comesaround like.
lion.
He's not a lion.
He portrays, I call him aposer.
He's he's a deceiver.
He's a deceiver.
He's like a lion.
He's not the lion.
We have the lion of Judah, youknow,
Phil (33:42):
that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world.
Shannon (33:45):
Amen.
Amen.
It makes me want to shoutbecause I just I know there's a
better way, and if my story canhelp anybody, so be it.
I'm an open book and I know Iprobably have jumped from here
to there and everything becausemy story is I'm 54, I have 54
(34:05):
years of stories.
I just touched on differenthighlights.
But if I was to dig so muchdeeper, we would be here
forever.
But it is just knowing what Ihave to do, who I want to help.
And as long as I have God on mymouth and on my tongue, the
devil's not in my head.
So if I'm speaking about God'sbusiness, the devil has no room
(34:28):
here,
Phil (34:29):
yeah.
That's good.
If
Shannon (34:30):
I don't know how to do anything, I know how to pray.
Amen.
I pray, and God is bringing meoutta certain comfort zones
with.
Branching out and praying.
And now I, I will pray orsomebody, will you pray for me?
Yes, I will.
And a heartbeat, I'll pray.
And somebody says, how do youpray?
I said, it doesn't have to bean elaborate prayer.
I said, even if you start, Isaid, you breathe in Jesus and
(34:51):
breathe out what you need.
Yeah.
I said As simple as that.
Phil (34:55):
Wow.
Shannon (34:55):
But yeah, God is true, faithful.
I love the Lord all my heart.
Phil (34:59):
Wow.
Amen.
Shannon (35:00):
And I can't wait to see the next journey.
He takes me the next, it is noteven gonna be, he's gonna
catapult me into in my future.
He's got big plans.
Big plans.
'cause he's a big God.
Phil (35:16):
You're doing big things, working at the women's shelter
here at Safe House.
Yes.
And just being the influencethat God wants in the lives of
so many hurting women.
Shannon (35:27):
Yes.
Yes.
I love those ladies.
I love life.
Phil (35:32):
That's good.
Shannon (35:32):
And I treasure life, and I value
Phil (35:35):
That's, that, that statement is a, just one of the
many beautiful things thatillustrates what God does.
Like you went from a place ofhating life and one to die and
now loving life and rejoicing inlife.
It just, Jesus is amazing.
Shannon (35:51):
Yes.
He is totally amazing.
Just, and like I said, you justgrasp a little bit and run with
it.
Yeah.
And like I said, and Ireference football a lot, but I
feel like I'm on either, it'sone of my favorite thing I said,
the devil's got the right one.
That's me.
Come at me as you will becauseI know how to plant my feet on
(36:12):
solid ground.
It's like I have on mypermanent cleats especially when
it comes to my family, my lovedones, my women at the shelter.
I'm gonna bridge the gap.
I'm gonna pray.
So do I feel like a risingwarrior or a conqueror?
Yes, I do.
Because he's had a heyday longenough with my people.
So if I have to get a littlegrimy and dirty with the devil,
(36:33):
okay, I'm ready.
But it's always staying awareand knowing what's going on.
And keeping my eyes always openbecause he will, the first
chance you get in your is ascripture.
You take heeds when you thinkyou stand, take heed.
At least you fall.
Yeah.
I don't have it all figuredout, but I know who does.
Phil (36:53):
Amen.
Shannon (36:54):
And I'm gonna keep pursuing him.
Will it get tough again?
I'm sure.
But will I be ready?
Most definitely.
Phil (37:01):
Yeah.
Amen.
That's a good word.
Shannon (37:02):
Yeah.
Phil (37:03):
Any last comment you wanna make?
Shannon (37:05):
No.
I love all for listening.
I love the safe house, I lovethe ministry, I love what God's
doing, and I just can't wait tosee the next chapter.
Phil (37:15):
Awesome.
You mind if I close this inword of prayer?
Shannon (37:17):
Most definitely.
Phil (37:18):
Father, thank you for your grace.
Yes.
Thank you for Jesus.
Thank you.
Thank you for the Bible.
Shannon (37:24):
Yes.
Phil (37:25):
Thank you for using those who are walking with you to be
such a help in the lives ofothers.
Thank you for the power ofprayer.
Father, thank you for therestoration and Shannon's life
with her daughter and herson-in-law and just their
family.
Lord.
To be able to be a grandmotherthat is a godly grandmother and
(37:47):
a good influence in the life ofher grandchildren.
Bless her path.
Bless her daughter, bless herfamily and use her
Shannon (37:57):
yes
Phil (37:58):
to do the things that you want her to do.
God, we need, we just need youto do big things here in
Columbus to push back thedarkness, to bind up the demons
to just bring revival.
Yes.
Yes.
Lord, in our hearts and in thiscity.
(38:18):
We love you and we praise you.
And we thank you.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Shannon (38:23):
Amen.
Phil Shuler (38:25):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(38:48):
at 2101 Hamilton Road,Columbus, Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email usat
info@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (39:03):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
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