The necklace, Cheri Williams explained, is in reference to the story of Joseph in Genesis, which she believes resembles Jonathan’s story. The family presented him with a beautiful cross necklace, one they’ve had prepared for over a decade in hopes of giving to him if he were ever released.
#30 for 30 breakaway plus
Here’s a man who has spent 20 plus years in prison, and he’s thanking God. When Irons finally learns he is on the path to freedom, his first reaction was to praise Jesus. Prayers, praises, giving glory to God – all are second nature to this family and demonstrated throughout.
#30 for 30 breakaway free
Moore and her family spent nearly two decades in the quest to free Jonathan, and “Breakaway” does not hide the faith motivating all the efforts. If her identity was wrapped up in basketball, this may not have happened and Irons may not have ever been freed. The timing of her faith plays a key role in the story of Irons because having rooted her identity firmly in Christ before she went on to fame in college and the WNBA, it enabled her to make the decision to walk away and focus on what she felt truly mattered, despite the pressures and expectations of being the best player in the WNBA. And whatever our culture says, I’m convinced that the best way for kids to grow up is with their mom and their dad.” I’ve become such a believer in the beauty and power and need for fathers, especially godly fathers. “It hit me so hard when I was in middle school that God is my father and he is my identity,” Moore said on The Grove Podcast in 2019. According to ESPN, Moore describes her walk with the Lord as being crucial to her identity, particularly in light of not having a father figure in the home: Moore was also growing in her faith at this time. Maya was 18 and heading into her first year at UConn when the pair first met. Moore would eventually go “outside of her comfort zone” and tag along to the prison to meet Irons. With Maya’s family now deeply involved in Irons’ case, he was becoming part of the family even though still behind bars. He continued noticing problems, and eventually found a major break that would, albeit it years later, help exonerate Irons.Ĭheri and Reggie are Maya Moore’s Godparents. This became somewhat of an obsession for Reggie, who put in countless hours (after working at his regular job) studying the case. Reggie felt led to look into Irons case, leading him to begin speculation that he might actually be innocent. Irons enjoyed church and choir, leading him and Flowers to grow very close.įlowers daughter, Cheri Williams, and her husband, Reggie Williams, eventually heard about Irons through their father. Turns out, Irons has “perfect pitch” – it was the first time someone told him he was good at something. Irons did just that, which led to him meeting Hugh Flowers, who was volunteering as the choir director at Jefferson City Correctional Center.įlowers struck up a relationship with Irons, asking him if he could sing. The chaplain gave Irons some tough love about his (sloppy) attire and encouraged him to go to chapel. It all begins with a simple act by the chaplain at the prison, who noticed a dejected Irons, still in shock that he was somehow in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Maya Moore was just 8 years old at the time of Irons's arrest.ĭirector Rudy Valdez beautifully captured the long and faithful story of how one of the top basketball players in the world would eventually become not only involved but intertwined with the young confused teen sitting behind bars, eventually see his miraculous release over two decades later, and how the Moore family’s faith in Christ was the driving force behind it all. Despite there being no physical evidence connecting him to the scene and a number of other holes in the case, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Jonathan Irons went to prison at just 18 years old, after being tried as an adult for assault and burglary with a deadly weapon. ESPN’s new documentary ‘Breakaway’, part of their 30 for 30 series, debuted last night and put her and her family’s faith in Christ on center stage. WNBA star Maya Moore shocked the sporting world when she put her career on hold in the middle of her prime to pursue justice for an innocent man, Jonathan Irons, behind bars.
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