About PWC
Karen Rhinehart was sitting in Germany in November 2011 when God softly spoke, "Send Me". A week later she had no clue what was going to take place.
She recalls, “My husband called my work and said the police were at my house asking for me.” She drove home and the authorities began to question her about why her 18-year-old daughter had a mark on her eye. She continues, “I told them that she lied to me and I went to smack her mouth, but she moved and I accidentally hit the bottom of her eye.” Her daughter did not press charges but a teacher at school had reported the incident to law enforcement. In Ohio, if your child is eighteen you cannot touch or correct them by law. Her daughter had called her father from school crying and worried because of the questions. After the questions from the Police she was arrested for domestic violence and assault. She recalls, “I was so scared. I had never been in trouble for anything. My record was perfect. I had not even received a speeding ticket in twenty years.”
As Karen got into the police car, her husband said, “You are the best mother in the world. You will grow from this and God will use you”. She could hear God speak those words, "Send me". She knew He had a plan, but of course, she was terrified.
“As I rode in the tiny backseat with hand cuffs so tight they were hurting my wrist, I didn't know what was ahead. We arrived at the jail and the officer said, ‘we are going to pull into the garage and when you get out, stand in the corner until your name is called.’ As I walked into that room the stares were piercing. They called my name and I walked to the desk. They took the cuffs off and said, ‘take your hair down.’ Nothing was allowed in my hair. I took all the pins out of my “pentecostal bun”. As my hair fell below my waist, I could hear the whispers. They led me to get a mug shot.
An officer said respectfully, ‘Can I ask you a question? We are all wondering why you are here.’ I told her the story and we both stared to cry. She asked, ‘Can I pray for you?’ I said fervently, ‘please pray for me!’ She took my picture and said, ‘I will warn you, you better be careful what you say in the trailers.’ They led me to a changing room. I was humiliated and made to undress and shower in front of a female officer. I begged for her not to make me do that. I explained that I had been modest my whole life but it didn't change the rules. The striped jumpsuit I was given was too small and she gave me a jacket because of my embarrassment. I was not allowed any under garments. I felt so alone at this point but I knew God was leading me. I carried my mattress, toilet paper, and soap down a hall, still handcuffed. I arrived at 8 trailers. They said, ‘you’re in trailer 2.’ I asked if there were officers in the trailers and they said no. I was shaking from head to toe with fear of the unknown.
As I walked into my trailer, a lady screamed out, “What church do you go to?” I told them I was the Pastor’s wife of the Pentecostals of Dayton. Another loud question came and it was the voice of a young lady that said, ‘Am I going to hell for loving Paula?’ At that moment I feared for my safety but I knew I had to tell her the truth and not deny the word of God. I shared scripture with the young lady and told her about Sodom. I said, ‘Jesus loves you so much that He sent a Pastor’s wife to you to tell you so. However, He hates the sin.’ She turned to the wall and didn't say anything else. Another lady that was eight months pregnant asked me to pray for her. At that moment, I knew what had to happen. All my tears, fear, and shaking stopped. I stood up and asked if anyone wanted prayer to gather in a circle. They all gathered. I started to sing "Amazing Grace" and I watched as the tears fell off each of their faces. I never felt the presence of God so strong. It totally changed my life. He cared so much for these ladies to send me to tell them so. I sang another song I had written years before about a homeless man. After the second song I prayed for them all one by one.”
After four hours had passed, a guard shouted, “Rhinehart…you’re going home.” I said, "Thank you, Jesus!" As I was walking out, a girl shouted, "God sent an angel to us today". I didn't realize it but they actually thought I was an angel until they received a letter from me days later.
As I was walking out of the trailer, the young lady who asked me if she was going to hell was laying in her bed. I patted her head and said, "God sent me here to tell you something." A tear ran down her face. She asked if she could write me and I said yes. I gave her my address. When I left, I deposited money into a few of their accounts.
Two weeks passed and I went through a horrific battle in my mind. My scalp was covered in sores from the trauma. I was scared to leave my home. I was a wreck. I called Brother Koonce to share my story and God gave him a word for me. He said that if I would get down and pray and thank God for it all, I would see a big change the next day. As soon as I hung up the phone, I got down to pray and thanked God for the entire experience. My life changed from that moment on.
I received a letter from the young lady I had given my address to and I knew this was all in His plan. I went to visit her as a friend and asked to speak to the Chaplain during the visit. I told him my story and he instantly made me a Visiting Chaplain. This was only two weeks after the arrest! I started visiting the jail frequently as a Chaplain. Soon after, Bishop Fries invited me to come with him to a prison service where nine received the Holy Ghost. It was amazing! God dealt with me while I was in that service to ask the Chaplain if we could stream Women’s Conference LIVE into the prison and she approved it. So, in March 2012, there was a live feed into the Marysville, OH prison. The young lady I had first encountered and prayed with while in jail had been transferred there and was watching the service live stream. I was told she wept during the service.
Sleeping one night, I heard my first name being called. I searched the house and started to pray since I found no calling my name. As I prayed God told me, “Prisoners are Princesses too”. I knew was I needed to do and contacted the Chaplain the next day and prayed for favor. The rest is history. The first “Princess Within Conference” for incarcerated females was held in September of 2013. Since that time, the ministry has visited many states and reformatories with this life changing conference.
ministry topics discussed at pwc:
The Addicted Princess
The Abused Princess
The Forgiven Princess
The Disappointed Princess
The Loved Princess
The Depressed Princess
The Thankful Princess
The Sent Princess
The Powerful Princess
To date, there have been over 1,400 female inmates receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, over 350 baptized in Jesus Name and thousands introduced to the Gospel as a result of the Princess Within Conferences.