From behind prison walls where she has been housed for over twenty years Tammy Fyke the founder and president of Niagara
International Prophetic Ministries, Inc. now shares her story of the redemption and grace of Jesus Christ that turned her biggest
mistake into her greatest triumph. We believe Tammy's story of persecution and punishment for following Christ will inspire you
to go a little farther in your pursuit of Christ.
NIP Ministries Founder
Niagara International Prophetic
Ministries Inc.
NIP
Mistake and Identity
    It was 1986 when I made my mistake, but I relived and regretted it every single day. When I
    took a step forward, like an unwanted shadow my mistake went with me. It had become my
    past, my present and my future.

    Immediately my mistake and my identity became one in the same. There was no getting around
    it, I would always be known by my mistake. My life was ruined until I simply gave up in total
    surrender to Christ.

    Below is a glimpse of how far I had fallen until the mercy and grace of God lifted me and He will
    do the same for you. It does not matter where you are today how far you have fallen or how
    long you have been down. God is waiting to pick up the pieces of your life and give to you all
    you have longed for. His arms of mercy and grace are open wide, step into them and allow his
    love to saturate you. God has a new life for you. Just as He accepted me and gave me a new
    identity in spite of my mistake God will accept you.
Too Tiny To Hold
She was just a two pound handful of love, almost too tiny to hold,
but a special bond had been forged between us. Together Candi and I
had fought for her survival and when I brought her home from the
hospital, weighing a mere, four pounds, our fight for her life had just
begun. I was completely unaware that Candi's around-the-clock care
would soon prove to be too much for me. With hourly feedings
A Cry For Help
After months of little to no rest, sleep deprivation began to take it's toll on me and I cried out to my husband Doug for help. His
assistance came in the form of a white powdery substance which he taught me to inhale. Doug promised this powder, which I
later learned was cocaine, would keep me awake.

Alarms went off inside of me which I quickly silenced with words to justify my use of the cocaine. " I simply have to stay awake
Candi's life depends on it!" It mattered not that I wasn't trying to get high, fit in with a crowd, or numb some unhealed hurt inside
of me, the cocaine still took me captive and I became an addict.
Another Alarm
On the brink of financial disaster Doug began to sell the cocaine and marijuana to support my newly
formed habit. This alarm I silenced with, " Just until I can return to work." Doug was no stranger to the
drug community, having sold for years before our marriage, so the rough characters coming to our house
did not bother him, but they bothered me. Voicing my concerns caused a huge fight and Doug began to
beat me while I was feeding Candi. Taking my daughters, I left vowing to never return until Doug stopped
dealing. To validate my vow I obtained a court imposed order of protection against Doug.

Several months passed before I was reconciled with my husband. Candi was bigger and her feedings were
three hours apart when the girls and I moved back in with Doug. Aside from the occasional odd phone call
for Doug no one came to our house for drugs. I thought that part of our life was over, except for my own
addiction, which I was gradually getting control over by weaning myself off of the cocaine.
A Broken Vow
Candi had just turned one when I discovered Doug had failed to keep his vow. He had been dealing drugs
through Bobby, his long time friend. One day Bobby came to us for help and I learned of Doug's broken
vow. The local dealers were angry with Bobby for selling drugs on their turf and they wanted to kill
Bobby. In an attempt to bring peace Doug and I talked at length with the dealers explaining Bobby was
selling for us just to get us through a tough financial time. We promised there would be no further dealings
on their turf and they promised to leave Bobby alone. I honestly believed a peaceful resolution had been
reached and gave it no further thought.

I then turned my attention to my marriage which was once again on shaky ground due to Doug's failure to
refrain from dealing drugs. To his credit, Doug admitted he had a large supply of drugs stored in a rented
locker. He promised to return these drugs to his suppliers. To ensure my wishes were carried out, I
accompanied Doug as the drugs were returned and once again foolishly believed all was well. I couldn't
have been more wrong.
Releasing the Rivers In you  
               John 7:38
The Root of All Evil
Accustomed to the money and girls that he had attracted while dealing drugs, Bobby continued to sell
and once again angered the local dealers. It appeared to me we would never be free from what was
meant to be a short-term solution to our problems.
In search for safety, Bobby came to us again. Realizing he may never quit selling drugs and that Doug
and I were caught in the middle of Bobby's war with the local dealers I made a decision to convince
Bobby to relocate until things cooled off between him and the dealers. Bobby readily agreed and after
numerous calls arrangements were made for Bobby to move in with Doug's old suppliers.

During introductions Bobby reached into his coat pocket to get a cigarette and was killed
immediately. The shooter believed Bobby was reaching for a gun. Accomplished in criminal acts the
suppliers began to take actions to cover Bobby's death. In shock and fear Doug and I simply followed
their orders and refrained from reporting Bobby's death. Our failure here caused authorities to believe
we wanted Bobby to be killed.
.
Seven of us were convicted for Bobby's death under the legal theory of accountability. The shooter
received a natural life sentence and I was sentenced to sixty years.
The Turning Point
From that point on I told God, "I don't know what you want me to do, so I'm just going to read this
Bible until you tell me to do something else," And that is what I did. I read and read and read. On
some days I read as many as sixty chapters a day. For years all I did was read the Bible. As I read I
began to change.

As time passed I knew the Lord was calling me into the ministry, but I was terrified that I'd ruin
someone else's life the way I had destroyed my own. To answer the Lord's call to ministry God
opened the doors for me to enroll in Bible College.

Finally I knew I could no longer run from the call to ministry and I surrendered. It was in my
surrender that I asked the Lord for the blueprint He had for my life. Sitting in my cell for days I
recorded the details of NIP Ministries. When I was through a twenty-four branch outreach
organization was before me.
Purpose in Prison
I was excited and overwhelmed. Excited that God had a purpose for me, even after all of the mistakes I had made yet
overwhelmed at the enormity of it. I knew if NIP Ministries was ever to exist it would be because the Lord brought it into
existence for it was beyond my ability to do so.

In the days that followed God directed me step-by-step in the drafting of the articles of incorporation and the constitution and
bylaws. Soon I had filed all the required documents and paid the filing fees all from behind prison walls.
Official Obstacles
There was just one problem, the prison officials thought I was trying to run a business without first
obtaining authorization from them. The Warden at that time, did not understand NIP Ministries was a
non-for-profit corporation, not a business, so she had me placed in segregation (a jail within the prison )
and she took away all of my institutional privileges.

I must admit this was a difficult time for me. I knew I was following the leading of the Holy Spirit, but I
was being punished for it. Finally I had to decide who I was going to follow God or prison officials.
Believing God I pressed on and finally officials began to understand NIP, in the eyes of the law, was a
ministry, not a business. With this understanding came a reluctant authorization to allow me to continue
with my duties as the president of NIP Ministries, Inc.
Another Breaking
Shortly after I published God Whispers, Doug began to have second thoughts about being married to a woman in ministry. Our
divorce devastated me, but it also set me free to share my story. For twenty years I had lived lies to diminish Doug's
responsibility for our crime. During this entire time Doug had continued to blame others. He has continually refused to accept any
responsibility for his own actions. In many aspects I always knew that if I was ever to be able to share all that God had done in
my life Doug and I would have to divorce.  

The divorce was inevitable our wills were in opposition and God will never violate your free will. Doug wanted to maintain his
innocence and I wanted to accept responsibility for our crime. God honored our free wills by allowing a simple uncontested
divorce.
Rehabilitation Restricted
I took my broken heart to the throne of God and after a time of healing He directed me to move forward with NIP Ministries, Inc.
As I did a picture began to unfold before me, but what I saw shocked me, and I believe it will shock you. Illinois, (and many other
states as well) does not make any real attempt to rehabilitate its prisoners. Inmates are simply warehoused in violent prisons
where they become cold, hard and bitter. When an inmate seeks to better their self for release back into society, prison officials
make every attempt to stop that inmate.

All programs within the Illinois prisons are simply a smoke screen for the public. Officials go to great lengths to keep recidivism
rates high. Because prisons are a billion dollar a year industry, it is profitable for corrections when an inmate leaves prison
commits another crime only to return to prison. Sadly corrections officials give no thought to who will be the victims of these.
crimes.
Enemy of the State
This is the system I found myself up against when I launched NIP Ministries, Inc. Not only did I believe God had changed me,
but I believed He could change other prisoners as well. That was the last thing the Illinois Department of Corrections wanted for
true rehabilitation is restricted vehemently.

My refusal to quit working on my Master's degree, stop publishing books, and to put NIP Ministries, Inc. on hold until I was
released from prison infuriated the Warden at Lincoln Correctional Center, (a medium security facility where I was housed for
over six years) and finally she had me transferred back to a maximum security facility even though I am classified as a minimum
security inmate.

The move shocked me because it was then that I realized Correction Officials intended to continue to punish me for NIP
Ministries, Inc. In all honesty it never crossed my mind that NIP would immediately put me at odds with Directors, Wardens,
and Internal Affairs Officials. By simply following God's plan for my life I had unfortunately become a true enemy of the state in
every sense of the meaning.
Discredit the Dreamer
Today I am housed at the Dwight Correctional Center where I have been labeled by the Wardens as   
being, "A dreamer." Instead of backing me, offering their support and moving obstacles out of my way  
the Officials who are paid to reform me seek to discredit and discourage me.

Currently I am assigned to live with the worst inmates. This is an attempt to pressure me to forget
about NIP Ministries, my graduate studies and writing ministry. Wardens also prohibit me from being
assigned to any position that could assist me in my goals of full-time ministry upon my release.

I have even been warned by Corrections Officers that the Wardens could order me placed in
segregation, administrative detention, or investigative status. Officers could also be ordered to charge
me with numerous fictitious rule infractions or my mail, phone and visiting privileges could be
restricted, as additional forms of punishment for NIP Ministries, Inc.

In all of this, with an uncertain future I have learned to lean upon the Grace of God and to move
forward with the boldness He has placed within my heart. His joy is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10),
and His love has enabled me to endure the incredible opposition I have encountered. After all it is
written "... the righteous are bold as a lion," (Proverbs 28:1).
Restitution
    One day when the opposition was taking its toll on me I took out the written copy of the vision that
    God had given me for NIP. As I looked at the branches of ministry I realized God had not only changed
    my heart from a murderer to a minister, but He had placed within my heart a desire to reach out to
    several groups of people within society that are often forgotten by society.

    By giving me a desire to pay a debt to society for my crime God was revealing to me His Divine
    restitution plan. This restitution was not ordered by a court of law - it was ordered by the new heart He
    had given to me. I believe this is a fundamental part of Christianity. As God changes a persons life He
    gives them a heart to do better and to make right the wrongs they have done.
Going Forward
As I seek God about NIP His instructions are always the same "Go forward
Tammy- don't stop, don't stand still - go forward!" This gentle God whisper
has encouraged me over the years to walk through barriers and over obstacles.
In obedience to the God whispers I have recently received, I am expanding our
Internet outreach with discipleship courses, fellowship, pastoral counseling
and advanced teaching courses. These services are designed to help you
become a powerful Christian in todays world. I hope you will take advantage
of our ministry services, I would be honored to serve you.












First hearing the Lord's
call to ministry at age
12 Tammy began to
serve God by singing
with a Christian youth
group that toured the
United States. By the
age of 16 the magnitude
of the call so frightened
Tammy she began to
run from the call. Just a
few short years later
she was in prison.

T
Next the Lord directed me to launch a writing ministry and I released" God Whispers" for
publication. As the publishing process began prison officials again placed me under investigation
and confiscated my copyright forms. They tried hard to find a prison rule I had violated by
publishing a book. After several weeks it was determined I had indeed followed all prison rules for
publishing a book. Officials then began to investigate if it was lawful for an inmate to donate the
proceeds of a book to a ministerial organization. Eventually I was once again given a reluctant go
ahead by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
After being abandoned by
her birth parents, Tammy
was adopted at the age of
3. This turned out to be
the Lord's positioning for
Tammy to receive a
strong Christian
foundation from loving
parents.












Tammy is holding Candi at
Cardinal Glennon Hospital
just three days after her
emergency birth.
After receiving a 60 year
prison sentence in 1986
Tammy was devastated.
Running from the Lord's
call had cost her
everything. In the state of
brokenness Tammy
surrendered to Jesus. This
began the long hard road
to restoration. The
restoration began by
Tammy graduating from
Lewis University in 1994
with a degree in computer
technology, a skill that
would be required of her
in the ministry.
In 2004 Tammy graduated
magna cum laude from
Kingsway Christian College
and Theological Seminary
with a Bachelor's Degree in
Christian Education.
In 2004 Tammy also
graduated magna cum
laude from Kingsway
Christian College and
Theological Seminary
with a second
Bachelor's Degree in
Pastoral Theology
Today Tammy studies
daily in prison to
complete her
Doctorate of Divinity.
Tammy also directs
the affairs of NIP
Ministries, Inc. and is
working on additional
teachings and writings.
Tammy's life today is a
testimony of
restoration and
restitution. A story of a
murderer changed by
the hand of God into a
minister.
lasting thirty minutes each, my life suddenly became endless cycle of half-hour intervals. I even
learned to sleep for thirty minutes at a time. Often the eerie alarm from Candi's Apnea Brady Cardia
Monitor woke me.

The alarm sounded it's warning that Candi's heart had stopped beating or she had stopped breathing.
The blaring of this machine caused my heart to fail with fear while the rest of me sprang into action to
resuscitate my dying daughter. My greatest fear was that I would fall into a deep sleep and fail to hear
the ABC monitor or miss Candi's feedings. The bottom line was I believed I was inadequate as a
mother and would one day fail to keep my tiny daughter alive.
Tammy is enrolled in Kingsway Christian College and Theological Seminary where she is completing  
her Doctorate of Divinity. Tammy graduated from KCC and TS with a bachelors in Pastoral
Theology and a second Bachelors in Christian Education, and a Masters of Divinity.

Tammy is the author of God Whispers and has written a new book titled A Totally Spiritual Life, the
book will be available soon.

Tammy is a member of Kingsway Fellowship International where she holds ministerial credentials
and works to complete her internship

Tammy has completed writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild now owned by Jerry B.
Jenkins. She has additional education in insurance, paralegalism, computer technology and
cosmetology.
Tammy's daughter Amanda is married and has two children. Candice is divorced and has three
children. Her mother Eileen Koelling and aunt Vivian Heinzmann have cared for her refusing to
ever give up on Tammy. "They taught me to dream big and even paid for all of my college
expenses. Without their faith and encouragement I could  have never accomplished anything!" The
family is close and supportive of Tammy.

Tammy has been incarcerated since 1986 and is scheduled for release in 2016.