What our clients, volunteers, and community members are saying about Fresh Start Ministries...
"Your seminars have helped me choose my goals and where to go from here. Right now I am very financially
unstable due to many years of drug abuse. My goal for the next 10 years is to live a drug-free life and to
be more financially stable than I have been in the past. Thank you for opening my eyes for I now see that
I can and will achieve my goals."
-Inmate from Snohomish County Department of Correction
"Thank you for the time and effort you spent coming to the jail and sharing the knowledge you possess. I
found it very englightening and can honestly say you impacted my life and gave me a good outlook on the future."
-Inmate from Snohomish County Department of Correction
"Your volunteer time enhances community safety through offender accountability [...]"
-Secretary of the D.O.C. Harold Clark
"The people of Washington are extremely fortunate to have you working on their behalf."
-Governor Christine Gregoire
I have witnessed nothing but good work coming from Fresh Start Ministries. I have had the honor of
volunteering with this organization for a mere 6 months but have seen an amazing amount of growth in
those that we work with, and consequently in myself. Being able to work with what some consider the
scum of society, aka the jail and ex-convict population, and watch them turn their lives around via
education, love, and support has made my heart grow and has taught me far more than I could have imagined."
-Volunteer at Fresh Start Ministries
Dear Friends,
I first met Lisa several years ago when she was in jail. She was about 20 years old. Although Lisa liked
me, she wasn’t at all interested in God or spiritual things. She was always happy to see the folks from
Fresh Start Ministries, but when the Bibles came out, she would say, "Thanks for coming." and disappear.
Several months after her release, she was arrested again and this time she said, "Nancy, I've tried everything
else, and it just isn't working. Tell me about your Jesus."
Lisa accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and began attending every chapel service and Bible study that was
offered. The transformation we saw in Lisa was nothing short of a miracle. Even the corrections officers were
commenting that she wasn't the same girl they had known before. She was now cooperative and respectful and was
even helping others to behave better.
When it was time for her to be released, Lisa was excited, but admitted she was scared to get out, because she
had been involved in drugs and a life of crime since she was very young. But she decided that she would try
to stay away from her old friends and avoid the places she used to go. She promised she would call me and let
me know how she was doing. I got one call from her, she said she was clean, living at her mom's, and working
in a casino. I knew that this would not be a good influence for Lisa, but she wouldn't listen. She was just
too happy to be drug free and not working as a prostitute.
It was probably a couple of years later when Lisa was arrested again. She was so relieved to see me and began
to cry as she told me her story. She had gradually slipped back into her old lifestyle. One night she and
her friend went to work the streets to make money to buy some more drugs. They went to a bar and met a guy
with a pocket full of cash. They came up with a plan. They would take him to a motel, get him good and drunk,
and if they knocked him out they could take his money and not have to sleep with him. They hit him over the
head with a beer bottle and ran. He unexpectedly, took off after them. The other girl got away, but the guy
tackled Lisa in the parking lot just as a police car pulled around the corner. Lisa was arrested. To make
things worse, this was Lisa's third felony charge and her attorney said it looked like she would be the first
woman in the state of Washington to be tried on the Three Strikes, you're Out. That meant life in prison
with no chance of parole. We began to pray that God would do a miracle. She was there for several months,
and finally, word came that the man she had hit was refusing to testify against her. He felt that he had
played a part in the crime too, because of his intentions and so Lisa was released.
I wish I could tell you that Lisa was released and lived happily ever after, but that wouldn't be the truth.
There are few options for women like Lisa when they are released and they generally are not capable of making
wise choices without supportive friends. However, the situation is not hopeless. We do see some of the people
we work with turn their lives around, although it is rare that they can do it on their own.
It was actually Lisa's story that started Fresh Start Ministries. When I shared her story with my friend
Effie a few years ago, she asked me what was needed. I told her we needed a home where these women could come
when they were released, where we could love and mentor them. Where they could be taught the truth of God's
Word and how to walk out their faith in real life to become productive citizens in our society.
Your support is helping us to build our Resident Discipleship Home. Together we can make a difference for our
community. I believe that bringing healing to people who have been abused is probably the greatest way we can
fight crime in our land. Thank you so much for your partnership!
God Bless You,
Nancy J. Ferguson
Director
Dear Friends,
I'd like to share with you a story about one of the youth with which we have worked. I am relating details
of his life that were revealed to me by social workers and his grandparents. This boy was barely 14 when I
met him. His parents were never married. His mother was a cocaine addict, who allowed men to sexually abuse
him in trade for drugs. At age 5, his father obtained custody, but unfortunately, the father was an alcoholic
with a violent temper. The dad beat him nearly every day. He had trouble concentrating in school so teachers
branded him a trouble- maker. While other children played at recess, he was required to stand by the wall
and think about how bad he was. At the age of 10, a SWAT team was called to rescue the family from the father
who was holding them hostage at gun point. From there he was bounced around in receiving homes, and abused
some more, until he ran and lived on the streets. He got involved in gangs, because it provided a sense of
belonging, family, and protection. Gang life meant more violence and drugs, to which he had already become
accustomed. He bought and sold drugs to earn money for food and a motel room for the night. One day he located
his mom and longing for a real family, he moved back in with her. She gave him and his friends alcohol and
drugs after school like you and I would give our kids cookies and milk.
When I first met him, he was coming out of gangs and was pretty rough around the edges, somewhat a bully and
his language was still course. He had started to come to church and was looking for something. He was blatantly
honest, which made many uncomfortable. He accepted Christ at a youth function and amazing changes began in
his life. I wish I could say at this point that everyone lived happily ever after. But there had been so
much abuse, and healing of this kind usually doesn't come quickly. It takes lots of unconditional love and
patience to walk through the hurt with people suffering from abuse.
Due to much confusion created by many circumstances and people in his life, at age 15 he became despondent,
believing he could never really be any good. He began drinking once again, decided to steal a gun and commit
suicide. In his drunken stupor, he committed a violent crime. Fortunately, he was arrested before he could
kill himself. He was given an exceptionally long sentence of 5 years at a juvenile detention center. Sadly,
this was the most stability and safety he had ever experienced in his short life.
His family and friends all disappeared. The only phone calls or letters he received were from our ministry.
We worked with this young man throughout his sentence along with the staff at the detention center. They
have given us valuable training and resources. Our ministry team is the closest thing he has ever had to a
family. He has been through much counseling and has really turned his life around and is very remorseful
and repentant. The healing has taken a long me. However, we have watched him finish his high school education,
take college classes and now he is preparing for new job opportunities. He has met a beautiful young lady,
who knows all about his past and they plan to be married soon. He has learned to love and communicate and
respect others. In fact, he has received many awards and promotions because of his leadership and communications
skills.
When we look at his smiling face, we are so thankful we didn't give up. He is a life that has been changed
by the power of a Living God! And he has definitely changed ours!
We have seen many youth who have been damaged by abuse and/or neglect. They are not hopeless. With tender
loving care and mentoring, they can become the leaders they were created to be.
Your support helps turn what the world would call a Loser into a Leader!!!
Thanks for your prayers and support!
God Bless You!
Nancy J. Ferguson
Director
Dear Friends,
I asked my friend, Michele, if she would mind if we shared her story with you this month and she was excited to
do it. Michele has been such an encouragement to us because of the tremendous growth we've seen in her. So, please
allow us a moment to share with you.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you
have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10
I am a life that was changed. I had come to a place of despair after 17 years of drug addiction. I had searched
for help, but never found it. I had tried and failed to help myself. I had looked for God, but didn't know where
to find Him.
In anguish, I called out to God and asked Him to please not let me die that way. Very shortly after that I was
in Snohomish County Jail, where I met Nancy Ferguson. It took a few months, for I was a stubborn case, but
her loving spirit got through my defenses. I met Jesus and was born again. My life, since then, has been totally
turned around.
Nancy kept in touch with me throughout my long years in prison and was there to help when I got out over a
year ago... I am so grateful for the helping hand, because the pressures of leaving prison are too great,
the challenges too overwhelming and the giants too huge to tackle alone.
I am thankful for ministries like Fresh Start, thankful for bridges built to lead people like me to a closer
walk with God, thankful that Nancy cared enough to love me and help me along the path.
Today I live with peace and joy that I never thought possible. God has healed my body, provided materially for
me, gave me a wonderful spiritual family and brought restoration to every area of my life. I share my story
whenever possible, because I know it brings glory to God.
Be encouraged that this ministry is bearing fruit for the Kingdom. Thank you again for your labor of love for
Jesus. I am a life that was changed.
-Michele-
I first met Michele 6 or 7 years ago. Like so many women that I meet, she was so desperate. Feeling trapped
in a lifestyle and she had no idea how she would ever be able to get out.
One of the greatest excitements in this ministry is seeing people totally transformed by the power of
Jesus Christ. Michele isn't just drug free and staying out of trouble, she is now a productive person
in our society. Instead of draining our tax dollars, she is working and paying her share of taxes. Instead
of enticing others to do evil, she now is sharing with others that they don't have to do evil. She is not
only heaven bound, but she is taking as many others with her as she can.
Thanks for partnering with us to make an impact for the Kingdom and fight crime in our neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Nancy J. Ferguson
Director
Dear Friends,
I wish you could meet each one of the precious people that we have the privilege of working with. I was thinking
today of Bobbi. I first met Bobbi when she was barely 18. She's a beautiful girl, very petite, with long brown
hair and brown eyes and a smile that lights up a room. But it wasn't always that way.
I watched her come in and out of jail on a regular basis. One day I saw her sitting in the corner. I asked her
to come and sit down and talk with me. She was a mess. She had black circles under her eyes, her hair was a
mess and she looked pretty worn and very upset.
She shared that she had been driving through Snohomish looking for a cliff to drive her car off, when a policeman
stopped and arrested her. I told her I was so happy that she was stopped, because I loved her and would have been
so sad if she had succeeded. I told her that God loved her very much also and that in Jeremiah 29:11 it says He
knows the plans He has for her, plans for good and not for evil, plans to give her hope and a future.
She began to cry. She went on to tell me that she had been molested as a small child and she always felt that her
prostitution was the only thing in her life she knew how to do well. No one had loved her just for who she was
since she was 12 years old. Her dad is serving a life sentence for murder and her mom is an alcoholic who abused
her kids. Even her two children were born out of prostitution. In fact, she wasn't sure she had ever experienced
real love.
I've come to realize that people who get involved in alcohol and drug addiction are usually trying to cover up the
pain of something in their past. 85% of the women and 50% of the men in jail who abuse themselves with drugs and
alcohol have been physically and/or sexually abused as children.
For many, the ministry we bring to them is the first time they have ever experience unconditional love. We teach
them that love is unconditional, not based on their behavior, yet bad choices result in bad consequences and we are
all accountable.
Thanks to your prayerful support, we are able to bring healing to young people like Bobbi. Please keep praying for
our efforts to be fruitful. Also, please pray for our building permit. As soon as we receive the permit, we can
begin construction so women like Bobbi have a place to go when they are released from jail.
In His Service,
Nancy J. Ferguson
Director
Dear Friends,
I've shared with some of you that when I first got involved in jail ministry, I somehow had come to believe, that
the people who were in jails and prisons were sinister, evil, bad guys. Since then, I have come to learn that most
of the people there are really good people, who have made very bad choices. You might also have gotten the impression
that all of the people we work with are alcoholics and/or drug addicts. Although many have addictive problems, not all
of them are into drugs and alcohol.
One of the ladies I met at Snohomish County Jail was Lynda. She was married and had four children. Her husband
was a hard worker, but had some deep anger left over from his childhood. Their marriage was struggling and it didn't
help that when he was angry, he took it out on Lynda. She often found herself standing before a mirror, cleaning
her wounds and feeling more and more helpless. She loved her husband, but didn't know what to do. She had come
from a family that didn't show much affection and at least her husband showed her love when he was in a good
mood. She had no self esteem and didn't think she deserved any more than what she had. Besides, she couldn't
take care of the kids by herself. She was so filled with confusion and pain. She found that when she'd buy
herself something new and pretty, she felt like she had some value. Soon, she found herself needing to do
that more and more because the pain was so great. Before she realized it she had stolen tens of thousands of
dollars from her employer. The employer had found out and Lynda was arrested. Her husband was able to get her
out on bail. They felt their family couldn't survive her spending the next several years in prison, so they
decided to move to another state. After a few months there, they missed their home in the Northwest. So they
moved back and assumed a new family name. This only lasted a while, until the police came and picked Lynda up
on Christmas Eve, as her children watched, noses pressed against the living room window, crying as the police
took their mommy away.
When I met Lynda, she was scared, ashamed and hopeless. We shared with her from Jeremiah 29:11 God knows the
plans He has for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, plans to give you hope and a future.
Lynda grabbed hold of that Word and began to seek God with all her heart. She began to see herself in a new light.
We prayed that God would do a miracle for her family. Soon she was released to home detention, where she could
be with her little ones. We also had the opportunity to work with her husband, who gave his life to the Lord
and became a loving, kind man who nourishes his family and is now a good role model.
One day, while serving her time, she found a scripture in Psalms that said if you have stolen, you should pay
the Lord back by feeding the poor. That was the year she baked 2400 dinner roles for the Union Gospel Mission
for Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless. During this time in their lives, because of the poor choices they had
made, it looked like they would lose everything they owned. She had to make weekly visits to the food bank just
to survive. But they were faithful to give to others from what little they had.
Soon God began to bless them. They started their own business that has continued to prosper, they give generously
to help others in need, and have repaid the money that was stolen from her employer.
What a joy it is to see not just her life, but those of her whole family, and those they give to so generously,
radically changed by the love of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged to know that what you sow into this ministry is
multiplied because the lives that we are able to reach are then released to have an impact on many others.
Thank you so much for your faithful support!
Nancy J. Ferguson
Director
"Thank you for the wake up! I am up to any challenge. I am ready to live up to my potential."
-Inmate from Snohomish County Department of Correction
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