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Pastor Magdalee Francis was in lock-up awaiting trial for murder when she had a mystical experience that changed her forever.

"I was assigned to the kitchen and I was in there making the vegetables for dinner, and East Queen Street Baptist Church was there, and there was a baptism ceremony. I was just led from the kitchen to the pool. I just put down the knife, and walk through the church and straight in the pool," she said.

Francis told THE STAR that she was remanded at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre for 17 months.

"I was in the company of a male that got shot, and the police held on to me saying I know who did the shooting, so they charged me," she said.

Francis denied the charge.

After getting baptised, she started ministering in the prison, and in November 2009, the charge was dropped and she was released. Five years later, she established her ministry - Healing and Deliverance Ministries, and built her first church in Rockspring, Trelawny. Another church in Edge Hill Road, in St Ann's Bay, followed two years later.

Looking back, Francis asserted that her time in prison was integral to the growth of her ministry.

"Sometimes God have to put us in tight corners. We can't see the purpose in us at times, but he can see it. And it was necessary for me to go to prison to be doing what I'm doing now," she said.

"Sometimes the things that we call calamity is blessing in disguise," she added.

Francis told THE STAR that her ministry is not just focused on preparing her congregation for the after life, but also on helping them during their time here on Earth.

"I am concerned about expounding the word, but how do I preach to a church of people who are hungry? What I try to do is cook so persons can get their dinner, and I assist children with books. I talk to persons abroad who get their deliverance through the ministry and they would pack barrels and stuff, so I could share to persons who don't have," she said.

In addition, Francis said she also focuses on counselling, and helping young people in the community where her churches are to get jobs.

"I am this down to earth pastor, I don't make myself to be this powerful person who's above people," the 52-year-old said.

"When mi pull up a church yuh have a likkle shop across from me, and everybody seh, 'Pastor, wah gwaan?' And mi go ova deh and listen to weh dem have fi tell mi seh. If I walk ova there, and dem a drink and dem seh buy mi a drink, yuh think mi nuh buy it?' she asked.

And because of her past, she said she is is able to relate to people better. "I am not judgemental and I don't want to judge anyone and write dem off, because I don't know what people going through, and people go through things differently," she said.