Pastor Rod Carver November 4th, 2014 I heard the news that the Court of Criminal Appeals had overturned Hannah’s conviction and granted her a new trial via a call from Larry while I was on a morning run. Pandora blaring in my headphones, it was a welcome intrusion. I almost lost it which was odd because I rarely cry. I immediately understood that a woman, mom, as a daughter to me, was now again innocent until proven guilty but still incarcerated. I sprinted my 50 year old legs back to my house to let Noreen know. This news was not only the beginning of the end but an end leading to a new beginning. It had been over 8 years since this nightmare began. Eight years since as a founding pastor of a midsized church in a midsized city, committed the congregation to hundreds of thousands, if not more, in fundraising, loans, praying for the miracle donor to pay legal fees, lawyers, experts, keep the family afloat, keep Larry in gas money to continue to visit his wife. More needs arose as books were purchased and sent to prison to feed an ever changing river of women going through discipleship courses with Hannah as their leader. Eight years of surrealistic calls from the Lane Murray Unit prison phone and deep conversations with Hannah as her spiritual adviser talking to her through glass, struggling to encourage her more than she encouraged me. It was all coming to an end, so I thought. September 17th marks the revealing of the decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals now well into November we still wait once again for someone with authority to act rationally. I put our people on red alert more than 5 times preparing to receive Hannah out of incarceration. First believing she could be released from the prison quickly only to be disappointed to have to wait until she got transferred to county jail. I’m beginning to feel like the boy who called wolf. The latest possibility had me waiting in a lawyer’s office trying to manage friendly media and balance a surprise rejoining of a family ripped apart for over 7 years, only to see those in authority let us down again. This is still America where we value freedom, isn’t it? Unfortunately some run for office, to be public servants, really want to serve themselves, protect their image and twist clear cut issues to further their political career. It’s my opinion that this is not about Hannah or Andrew, it’s about a power struggle and an image issue with the forces that be. We have people come by the church and ask “Why isn’t she out yet?” we cannot answer that question. I post on facebook when seemingly bad news comes out to keep people praying and engaged. I am overjoyed with Hannah’s lawyers seeking to recuse the current judge and personally I pray this case is removed from this area and charges immediately dropped. All that being said, I’m a pastor and I’ve seen the miracle in all of this. Hannah is better than ever, she has matured as a Christian and a person. Her children are loved and as healthy as any other children in this country. No one has lost hope and no one is in despair, including Hannah. I visited her before the county jail had given her a visitation list or phone privileges. I reminded her of what we prayed 7 years earlier that she would be protected, remain sane and have purpose each and every day. We realized the beauty of the truth that those prayers came true as we sat in the very same booth but at the other end of the crazy journey. God, Hannah’s lawyers and the law will eventually prevail, and we will rejoice on that day. We are not bitter, seething nor vengeful. On Hannah’s behalf, she has kept her integrity, she has not lied or manipulated anything. And the beauty of her character once again became evident when another woman in county jail told the guard that Hannah saved her life and she would give her life in place of Hannah’s. Hannah had loved her and taught her Bible studies while she bunked across from her for 9 months in Lane Murray Unit. She has been amazing but we’ve all come to expect that from her.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 00:18:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015