Sycamore Tree: A Victim Shares her Experience
Lyn Connolly volunteers as a surrogate victim and tells how speaking on the Sycamore Tree course has helped in her rehabilitation after the murder of her son:
My story begins in August 2002, when I arrived home from shopping with my granddaughter to the news that my beautiful son Paul had been murdered.
Paul was just 28yrs old and he was about to be engaged; they had the ring on order and, as you can imagine, we were all devastated. My husband Mick is the Pastor of Wavertree Christian Fellowship in Liverpool, and when we had to do a press conference they asked, “How do you feel about the people who killed your son?” We both replied, “We forgive them.”
About three years ago I was introduced to Chris Tierney, a Prison Fellowship volunteer, and he knew about the work that I was involved in called I.M.P.A.C.T (In Merseyside Police and Church Together.) Chris, telling me about prison work, explained about the Sycamore Tree course and asked if I would be willing to go into Walton Prison in Liverpool, on week 3 of the course, to tell my story.
I went, and on the way in I said to the Lord, “This is a one off Lord, I don’t know how I am going to get through this.” I felt intimidated by the noise such as the keys and also through being a woman in a man’s prison, so I went into the Chapel feeling very emotional. To me, it was like meeting the people who had killed my son. I sobbed my way through my story and, to my amazement, they all listened very quietly; you could hear a pin drop. I also explained that there are two sides to my story, and then shared about the love of God and forgiveness. I have never enjoyed sharing the Gospel so much. These people were just so hungry to hear about Jesus.
I was hugged and so comforted by these men and I was changed by that whole experience. I now feel it is the place of most comfort for me. I have been in lots of times now on Sycamore Tree, visiting Walton Prison, Hindley, Forest Bank, Thorn Cross, and soon I will soon be going to Styal Prison for the first time.
I also go into schools to share about knife crime/Restorative Justice (four this past year) and I take in things to show them that the lads have made me.
Prison Fellowship has helped me so very much, giving me so many opportunities to share my testimony.
Lyn Connolly – Sycamore Tree volunteer
This article originally appeared in the Prison Fellowship England and Wales volunteer newsletter, Voices, for June 2010.
