Rev. Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks: Preaching Beyond the Walls on Faith, Freedom And Women Behind Bars cover art

Rev. Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks: Preaching Beyond the Walls on Faith, Freedom And Women Behind Bars

Rev. Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks: Preaching Beyond the Walls on Faith, Freedom And Women Behind Bars

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 In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Reverend Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks—fourth-generation preacher, scholar, and barrier breaker—to explore what it truly means to preach liberation, practice compassion, and carry hope into places many people forget. As the first woman to lead the 157-year-old Hill First Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, and as Assistant Dean of Students at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Dr. Brooks embodies a faith that isn't confined to a pulpit—it shows up wherever people are fighting to survive, heal, and be seen. From answering her call to preach at just 15 years old to serving women doing life sentences at Lee Arrendale State Prison, Dr. Brooks shares how her theology was shaped long before seminary—through family, church lineage, womanist scholarship, and the lived reality of Black communities. She unpacks what she learned behind prison walls: the creativity it takes to endure, the spiritual grit required to keep choosing yourself, and the profound truth that God does not show up after we arrive—God is already there. Together, we discuss what incarceration costs women emotionally, spiritually, and physically—especially mothers—and why reentry support for women is often dangerously inadequate. Dr. Brooks also reflects on preaching "heart-heavy" messages that reach the full complexity of human life, and she reminds us: no matter the hell you're in, you must remember who the hell you are. Three Key Takeaways 1. Faith is a Daily Choice in Systems with No Choices Dr. Brooks makes it plain: incarceration strips away nearly every decision—what you eat, when you wake, what you wear. But there is still one sacred choice left: to be better today than yesterday, and to hold on to faith when everything else is controlled. 2. Liberation Starts With Refusing the Labels She challenges how we talk about people as "marginalized," asking the deeper question: who decided that? True liberation requires reclaiming voice, identity, and dignity—without waiting for permission. 3. Women Need Real Reentry Support, Not Shame Dr. Brooks exposes the harsh reality: women often leave prison with fewer services than men, less financial support, and immediate pressure to "catch up" as mothers—without any structure to rebuild. Safe spaces, community care, and practical resources aren't optional—they're life-saving. Why Listen If you've ever wondered what it looks like to carry the gospel beyond church walls, this conversation will stay with you. Reverend Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks brings storytelling, truth, and tenderness as she shows how ministry, justice, and mercy can live in the same breath. You'll walk away thinking differently about incarceration, forgiveness, and what it means to build a world where redemption is real. Connect with Rev. Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MTENNONmebc ⛪ Hill First Baptist Church (Athens, GA): https://www.hillfirstbaptist.org/ 📱Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historichillfirst 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father's farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years. You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Have you been inspired by this Cotton Patch Moment? If so, Mildred encourages you to leave a review, comment, email and tell her about it! Also, share this episode with someone you love. You never know who needs to hear an inspiring word. The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.
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