Nikki's Story
A university graduate, a mother, an office administrator, and a convicted trafficker in cocaine. Sentenced to prison, Nikki found freedom on an Alpha course. This is her story...
“Thanks to my grandmother, I have been going to church as long as I could sit up. I have always accepted that God is there. But I really didn’t understand how to live the Christian lifestyle. I lived by my own rules and, especially when it came to providing for my family, adopted an attitude of ‘whatever it takes.’ “
 “After my fiancé was murdered seven years ago, I was left to raise all three of our daughters on only one income. When I was offered the opportunity to carry packages from point A to point B for a large sum of money, I took it. What seemed like the perfect solution led to a prison sentence of 35-42 months.
“It’s true that nothing prepares you for the reality of prison. It is devastating to be away from your family, and there is a lot of guilt at having to leave your children.
“When I signed up for Alpha in prison, one of the first things I heard was that I am forgiven. I had trouble believing that, but the Alpha sponsors were like love in action. Because they modeled love and acceptance, I was able to let go of my guilt and move on. Life became a lot easier.
“Things got tougher after I was released from prison. Although I had been promised I’d get my old job back, it didn’t happen. The world came crashing down again, and when I was tempted to turn back to drug trafficking, I knew I had to regroup.
Glimpsing my daughter’s Bible out of the corner of my eye, I opened it to a random place and my eyes landed on Matthew 6: 26. ‘Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap, or store away in barns. Yet my father feeds them. Are you not more important than they?’ Chills ran up my spine, and ever since that day, I have clung to that verse.
“Shortly after that, I got a job and found a good place to live. I am working to raise my daughter by example. I am succeeding in life in spite of a prison sentence. Experiencing Alpha in prison gave me freedom in my heart today.
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