Podcasts about prison ministry

Chad Chambers, Executive Director of C.H.A.R.M. Prison Ministry, shows us that growing in godliness is not passive. It requires the same intentional effort and discipline we give to every other area of life. Based on 1 Timothy 4:6-16, the foundation of spiritual growth begins with where we place our hope. When our hope is set on the living God, our worship follows naturally, and our worship shapes who we become. Whatever captures our hearts will ultimately form our character, our values, and how we spend our time, talents, and treasures. Practically, training for godliness means knowing God's Word, obeying it, fulfilling the work He has called us to, and persisting even when it is hard. Our hope determines our worship, our worship forms our identity, and our identity directs everything we do. Set your hope on the living God, and let everything else follow from there.

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Jack Hager, a man whose life story is a testament to the transformative power of personal responsibility and faith. From a troubled youth marked by crime, addiction, and incarceration to a life dedicated to serving others, Jack's journey is nothing short of remarkable. He shares the pivotal moments that led him to find faith behind bars and how that faith has shaped his identity and mission since.Jack recounts his early life in a military family, his struggles with alcohol and drugs, and the choices that ultimately landed him in prison. He reflects on the turning point in his life, sparked by a chance encounter with a book about redemption, which led him to explore the Bible and discover the message of hope and forgiveness. His candid insights reveal how embracing faith not only changed his outlook on life but also equipped him to help others navigate their own challenges.Listeners will learn about the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's actions, regardless of past circumstances, and how making wise choices can lead to a brighter future. Jack emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding while encouraging individuals to rise above victimhood and reclaim their agency.Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights the significance of faith, mentorship, and the power of choice in transforming lives. Jack's story serves as a reminder that no matter how far one has fallen, redemption is always possible through faith and personal accountability.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- Jack's journey from addiction and incarceration to faith and service- The pivotal moments that led to his transformation behind bars- The role of personal responsibility in overcoming adversity- Insights into the importance of mentorship and community support- How to encourage others to make positive choices and rise above their circumstancesFor more information on Jack Hager and his work, reach out via email at JackHager@gmail.com, and consider picking up his book, *Captured by Grace*, available on Amazon. Your support can help spread his message of hope and redemption to those who need it most.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFrom Kansas City mob enforcer to prison evangelist, “Crazy Bill” Corum's story is one of radical transformation. In this episode, Bill shares how he went from stealing as a child, escaping a military prison, and working with the Kansas City mafia—earning his “Crazy Bill” nickname by walking into a dark bar with a running chainsaw—to becoming one of the leading cocaine dealers in the city, chasing money, power, and influence but never finding peace. He tells how God used his praying wife, a jail cell, and a desperate late-night prayer to radically change his life, restore his family, and send him into 40+ years of prison ministry through Prison Power Ministries, impacting inmates in thousands of prisons and on over a million inmate tablets. Website:To learn more go to: https://billcorum.com Music:Intro and Outro Music by Jerry Abahhttps://youtu.be/NJFQvXk36oMSupport the show

Send us Fan MailEvening Prayer (Eternal, Infinite, Holy Unchanging All Knowing all Powerful God; Major Depressive disorder, Bipolar, Schizophrenia; Prison Ministry; Rest Well) #pray #prayer #Christianprayer #Christian #Jesus Thank you for listening, our heart's prayer is for you and I to walk daily with Jesus, our joy and peaceaimingforjesus.comYouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@aimingforjesus5346Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aiming_for_jesus/Threads https://www.threads.com/@aiming_for_jesusX https://x.com/AimingForJesusTik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@aiming.for.jesus

Join us as we explore the inspiring life journey of Lee Jewett Shawshank, from his early days in Chicago to his impactful work in prison ministry, church leadership, and personal faith. Discover lessons on living a disciplined life, overcoming adversity, and the power of faith to transform lives.

Retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins sits down with former NYPD officer Jimmy Dennedy and NYC Brooklyn prosecutor Michael Vecchione for a gripping discussion on violent crime, justice, and redemption. Jimmy recounts the shocking murder of NYPD officers Rocco Laurie and Gregory Foster by the Black Liberation Army, while Michael reveals the challenges of prosecuting those responsible. The conversation then shifts to something unexpected—redemption. After retiring, Jimmy began working in prison ministry, where he witnessed firsthand how even hardened criminals, including mobsters, can change their lives. This episode dives deep into: The reality of cop killings in New York City The struggle to prosecute violent offenders Inside stories from mob cases Redemption and transformation inside prisons Get the book Hard Guys Cry. If you're interested in true crime, mafia history, and real law enforcement stories, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Subscribe for more mafia history and true crime stories every week. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers, good to be back here in studio, Gangland Wire. This is Gary Jenkins, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective and now turned podcaster. And I have another retired cop here on the show, Jimmy Dennedy. Jimmy, I tell you what, I had it down, Dennedy, like Kennedy. And our friend who’s been on here several times, Michael Vecchione. Welcome, Michael. Welcome, Jimmy. Thank you very much for having us, Gary. Thank you. All right. Michael has several books out there. He’s, he’s prosecuted the mob. That’s how I got onto him. He prosecuted the, he had something to do with the mob cops, Louis Eppolito. And I can’t remember exactly now. I should have made a note on that, Michael. What was the name of that book? [0:48] The name of the book? Friends of the Family. Friends of the Family. Is that those two New York PD coppers that were in the pay of? Louis Eppolito and Louis Eppolito was one of the cops. And you know what, Gary? during the, when Jimmy, when you talk to Jimmy, Jimmy has a kind of a, an odd situation regarding Louie Eppolito. And, and it’s a good story. I think he should tell you, tell your listeners. All right. Great. We look forward to that, Jimmy and Jimmy Denity, who was a New York city policeman. And he has a book, tough dies to cry. Hard guys cry. Let me do that over again. Yeah. I said, I left, I had it written down here and he had Jimmy Denity is here with us. He is a retired New York City copper, and he has a book, Hard Guy’s Cry. So welcome, Jimmy. [1:34] Good morning. Thank you very much for having me. All right, Michael, you and Jimmy, did you guys work together a little bit on the job? Did you know each other back then? Yeah, we certainly did. We’ve probably known each other now for maybe 45 or more years. I got to know Jimmy because I got assigned a case involving, unfortunately, the death, the murder of two New York City police officers who were assigned to Jimmy’s precinct at the time in Bed-Stuy. And it was a case that had been tried twice before I got it. And there were hung juries in both of the cases. And the DA at that point was going to just simply decide to not prosecute it anymore. And the head of the policeman’s union went to the DA, the district attorney, and said, listen, just give it one more shot. So I was at the time the head of a group called the Major Offense Bureau in the Brooklyn DA’s office. And I got, I’ll never forget this. I was sitting at my desk and the boss of the unit, the bureau that I was part of, came into my office and said, come with me. We’ll go to see the DA. [2:41] I didn’t know. I thought maybe I was in trouble for some reason, but I sat down and he said, listen, I want to give you one more shot. I want to take this case to trial one more time and you are the guy that we want to do it. So I was happy to do it. I tried a lot of cases by that point. And, and the best part of the whole situation, Gary is I met Jimmy Danity. That was, he, we became fast friends and I got to tell you a little funny story. He had been involved in the two other trials. [3:11] But when he sat down with me, the first thing he said to me was, or one of the first things was, do you eat lunch? I said, yeah, of course I eat lunch. Why? He said, the guy that tried the case before you and the one before him, they didn’t eat lunch. And by the time the afternoon came, their energy was all waned, had waned. And he said, so here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to have lunch on your desk every time you come back for the lunch break from the trial. And he did. There was a sandwich waiting for me every day when I came back, and he is the guy that brought it to me. But before the trial, we went out. Me, Jimmy, and detective from the Homicide Bureau, who was assigned to the case. [3:57] Tony Martin, went out to the scene. And again, another one of these scenes, which I’ll never forget. The scene was in the middle of Bed-Stuy on Troop Avenue. Jimmy, that was the, yeah. [4:10] Willoughby and Troop. Willoughby and Troop. So we’re on the street and the three of us are standing there right on the sidewalk. And we look around and I said to Tony, did you hit every one of these buildings looking for witnesses? Because there was a problem with the case with the witnesses. One had died in a very strange way. And so he looked around I don’t know if you remember this, Jimmy And he pointed to a building Diagonally across from the spot Where the two cops were shot And he said, Mike We never went into that building, And Jimmy and Tony went into the building, canvassed it and came up with two new witnesses. And so it was a wonderful experience working with Jimmy. He was a hard worker. He really was tied to this case in the sense that these guys were his friends. They were two guys who were gunned down for really no reason by a member of the Black Liberation Army at the time who was part of the Attica riots here in New York. He was actually one of the guys who started the Attica riots in New York. And he was out and he was with another guy. And we believe that they were going to meet another one of their fellow. [5:27] I don’t want to call them gang members, to set up a robbery. And that’s why they were in Brooklyn. And the case had so many ups and downs and twists and turns. And it was something which I obviously will never forget. But the best part about it, I’ll repeat myself, is that I met Jimmy Denity. And he and I have been friends from that point on until today. And so let me just get to the book because Hard Guy’s Cry to me was a labor of love. It really was. I got a call one afternoon and I’m sitting out on my deck and Jimmy calls me and we just got to talking and he asked me about doing a book about his life and his story. And I said, it’s great. There are lots of books out there about cops and street cops and what they’ve done on the street. He said, so he said, oh, but he started to now expand on it. And then he told me the second part of his career, which was the prison ministry in the federal prison and a state prison here in New York. And I said, Jimmy, you buried the lead. That’s the part of this book that I can sell to a publisher. Because Gary, you probably know this. You probably interviewed these guys who do books when they retire. This was just going to be one of those. Jimmy’s career on the street was terrific. [6:47] The only problem was there are lots of guys who have books out there like that. So when he told me the story about his prison ministry, I was working at the time with a partner of mine, Jerry Schmetterer, who has now passed away. And we both talked about it and we said, this is definitely a story. This is definitely a book. And it’s been a long journey, Jim, until we got to this point. We’ve had COVID. We’ve had the Minneapolis, the guy in Minneapolis who was killed and agents saying to us, nobody wants to publish a book about a good cop. Nobody wants to do that. You can’t sell this until I didn’t give up. I really didn’t give up. And I took the proposal and I rewrote it after Jerry died. And then I sent it out to a couple of publishers and one of them grabbed it and said, yes, I want to do this. And then believe it or not, Gary, his publishing company hit the skids in terms of being able to spend money. He went out of business. So I had one more shot and I gave it to the publisher of my novels. [7:55] And she finally is the one who said, yes, let’s do this. And then here we are today. [8:01] It’s really, again, I said this before, but it was a journey of love. It really was to tell this guy’s story. and we, I know I’m repeating myself, but we became such good friends that our families got to know each other. I went to Jimmy’s house for holidays. We really just became very good friends. And here we are. And I’m so happy that I was able to write this book because I really believe that the people who read it will say, wow, this is a great guy. This is a great guy. And he is. Interesting. Hey, Jimmy, I got a couple of questions for you. Now, you worked, that was the Rocco and Lori case, if I remember right. And everybody who worked big city policing at the time, that scared the dog shit out of us. It was like these guys just laid in wait for a couple patrolmen to walk by, stepped out and shot them. That was my impression. And I worked that kind of a neighborhood. And we were jumping. We were pretty jumpy for quite a while. And it wasn’t solved for a while. We knew it was some kind of a political act, or at least that’s what we’re led to believe. Did you guys feel the same way in New York? Let me just stop you for a second. The case that I did with Jimmy was Norman Cerullo and Christina Soames years later. The one that you’re talking about, Rocco Laurie and Gregory Foster, was much earlier. [9:21] Jimmy was involved in it because he was a good friend of Rocco Laurie. They went to the academy together. But I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to make sure that we were talking about the right thing. [9:33] So that kind of a case, you actually went through two of them. So tell us about your feelings about that. Did that, how did that affect your dealings on the street? I was in the academy with Rocco Laurie, right? And we had both come out of the Marine Corps at the same time. And we worked out together. We boxed together. And some of the guys were slacking off. The guy’s name was Mr. Clean. He was the instructor. He would say, okay, now you’re going to box with Denny or you’re going to box with Laurie. Of course, they were slacking. We weren’t slacking. Oh, God. That was me. They said, Jenkins, go over there and box with one of those guys. No brother in Lime. [10:12] So we became close we we knew his wife he knew that time it was my girlfriend but that was my wife we had gone out to dinner and he was a really good man in the academy i won the gun for physical fitness he won the gun for overall excellence and we got pictures with our guns together and stuff. So I was working at midnight with this guy, Victor Grillo, nice guy. And a job came over. Cops shot in Manhattan. We were in Brooklyn. It’s on the other side of the bridge. So we’re saying, wait. And that became the ninth precinct. That’s where Rocco worked. So we used to call him the Rock. I hope it’s not the Rock. And it turns out it was him. These guys executed him. They were basically a domestic terrorist group. They were robbing banks. They were killing cops for no reason. They just walked past them, turned around, opened up on them. And they shot them all over the face to the groin. And then they took their guns and shot them. And some of the guns actually wound up out in St. Louis or in West Area. [11:16] So did it affect me? Absolutely. I became, I don’t want to say callous, but I was very leery of everybody. [11:26] And I started, my niche was guns. I locked up a lot of guys for a lot of guns. But anything to do with it, Black Liberation Army or anything, I used to accumulate information, intelligence information, and my locker was full of it. I’d lock up a guy, and they used to have years ago the little address books. I used to take their address books, and they would ask me information, the FBI, the Major K-Squad, Jimmy, have any information on this guy? And which I did many times, right? Fast forward several years later, I’m out, and I’m having a few cocktails, and then i drove back to the precinct the 79th precinct to meet a friend of mine bobby perry, and while i was at the front of the desk there’s a place they could check your messages if anybody calls you messages so i’m checking my messages and it came over shots fired then it came over cop shot then it came over two cop shot then i drove down to my civilian car right it was dark, and it was like help you know radio card door is open you know I mean blood all over the place he also shot his friend right and he’s laying it dead with a gun in his hand his blood all over the place it was a nightmare so let me figure this out but now everybody name others coming down because he’s cop-killing students a doubleheader so to speak and then I see the blood going across the street and the blood stops. [12:53] So obviously somebody was shot. It’s not our guys. And then I assume he got into a car. [13:00] So I’m trying to figure, is he going to go to the Spanish neighborhood or deeper into the black neighborhood? And I said, let me go to the hospital. So I drive to the hospital to see if they need blood or anything. And out of the corner of my eye, when I passed Lexington Avenue, I see there had been a car accident. A guy hit parked cars. I kept going. And then I told Mike, you know, my father gave us a game when we were kids. It was called Game in the States. at a map of the united states and you had two little electric wires and you plug one into the state and there’s a list of capitals on the other side and when you hit that the light would go on you got the right answer and as god is the lord a light went off in my head just like it was the right state capital yeah went to the hospital and they did you know and then this guy paulie has ever seen him he’s crying he was in plain clothes anti-crime i said paulie listen to me Two things. Once, I want to come in the car. I’m going to go back to the scene. Because when I got there, there was a Spanish guy on the pool across the street. And he was a little biggazy type guy himself. But he used to give me information. He used to give me information on his competitors. Yeah. [14:10] Yes. So when he saw me, you know, he ran. Right? I wanted to come back and talk to him. But on the way back, I said, Paul, I’m going to stop at this accident scene. This is, it’s just there. Yeah. Go back there. Ambulance is starting to pull away fire truck was there pulling away so i went over there they said it’s an accident scene the guy’s injured i said what kind of injury is it the guy said well he dressed his wound because he won he refused medical aid this guy so i said i just dressed his wound i saw undress the wound let me look at it i’m not undressing the wound i went over and i just ripped it off and it’s a gunshot wound yeah right yeah so all he had a radio calls the sergeant down and they bring a witness from willoughby avenue she comes down she says that’s the guy who killed the two cops so we get him put him in the ambulance right in the ambulance he’s a big boy this guy right and he goes reach and grabs my gun from my holster so now it’s like an arm wrestle for the gun between me him and paulie saracena and during this arm wrestle necessary force was used and the necessary force was used until he dropped the gun or he got the gun from him. Goes to the hospital. He has a Derringer behind his belt buckle and he has police handcuff key. [15:38] These guys are the real deal. Yeah, that’s a real deal. They train for this stuff. They associate but others that train they shoot you know what i mean so it’s just uncanny that rocko was my friend and he was murdered in a double police homicide and then a few years later i lock up a guy from the same team that killed two of my friends you know it was a nightmare and then we went to trial and that’s how i met mike and it’s a very. [16:09] It’s pressing on your brain. Yeah. Something like this happens. And then, and I don’t have to tell you, Gary, but then you get other cases. So you’re making more gun arrests, but you still have this. You know what I mean? It’s, it’s tough. It’s tough. But it was. I just want to interrupt for one second. One of the, Jimmy mentioned her. They brought a witness back to the scene to identify the, the bad guy. And, uh, and she was a great witness. She was there when the shooting occurred. She was actually moving into the building that the shooting happened in front of. And so the case was, we had a couple of, she was the best eyewitness to the case. And as Jimmy and Tony Martin, the detective who were assigned together after the actual arrest, because we had, they had to get the case together and look for more witnesses, et cetera. [16:58] They went one day to see this particular young woman to talk to her and see what was, if everything was still good, if she was okay. Turns out she was in the hospital nobody knew this she had gone into the hospital we were told because she had a cold she died in the hospital gary from a cold which is what we thought turns out she had encephalitis but the thing was at the time we said who goes into a hospital number one with a cold and who dies from a cold so we at that point not me but i wasn’t on the case yet, but others. And then when Jimmy told me this later on, I said to myself. [17:42] It’s got to be some connection to the bad guys. Maybe they poisoned her. Maybe they did something and we looked into it. It turned out, Jimmy, what was the disease that she had? I think she had herpes viral encephalitis in the brain. It’s a possibility that it can be induced. Yeah. So that’s what we looked at. And the medical examiner at the time of the death never really looked. The DA who had the case at the time thought, ah, this is a slam dunk. We had this witness, that witness. Jimmy arrests the guy and he’s got the bullet, which another thing happened. He wouldn’t allow the medical people to take the bullet out of his leg. It was the cop’s bullet. Yeah. So we wouldn’t, he wouldn’t let him do it. So we had to go with a, an x-ray of the bullet at the trial instead of the bullet itself. But it was, it’s a case with, as I said before, excuse me, many twists and turns. And it’s the whole story is in the book. And I don’t want to take away from Jimmy’s story here, but I have a legal question. You couldn’t get a search warrant to take the bullet out of a person. Is that? [18:51] We tried, and you know what the judge said? No. Uh-huh, okay. I just, I never ran into that. I’ve heard that before where the bullet stays inside and you can’t get it. I just. [19:03] I tried. The judge wouldn’t give us the search, the ability to search, quote unquote, which meant taking the bullet out of his leg. Anyway, so that’s where we, that’s where we met. And it was, it was quite a case. And Jimmy, I understand you, you go through your career and you see all these horrible things and you’re harding yourself. And you know, the title of your book, hard girls, hard boys, hard men cry. I don’t know why I got hard guys cry. I don’t know why I can’t remember. I should remember from Norman Mailer’s tough guys don’t dance, but hard guys cry. And so you harden yourself all those years, but then something happened in your life. Apparently that changed, changed that. I know after I retired, partly what happened to me is I became a lawyer and I started dealing with people from not particularly criminals, but many times relatives of people who had gone to jail. And I worked for public defenders and really got to know people on the other side and realize that we’re just two sides of the same coin many times trying to get along and trying to get by. So what happened in your life that changed that, your attitude? [20:11] When I retired, there was an old man who was a farmer, and it was like a late-year-type situation. This farmhouse was falling apart. The second floor was owned by raccoons. He had electricity in one room and no running water, but he was the calmest, nicest, most spiritual guy you ever wanted to meet. Almost no teeth. He had one tooth. And there was Louis Adamski. We used to call him Louis the farmer. So I used to take care of Louis. was taking over my house for Thanksgiving, Christmas, driving down this long driveway, see how he’s doing. And I didn’t see him for a while. So I drove down the driveway one particular day and I said, Louie, I haven’t seen you. You haven’t called. He said, he had bladder cancer. I said, really? I said, wow. He said, you had two surgeries. I said, you’re going for follow-up treatment? And he said, I’m supposed to go every 90 days, but he had no insurance, zero, no Social services, nothing. And the doctors were suing him. And they wanted his farm. He owned one-tenth of his farm. It had about 80 acres. But it was heirs. Everybody in his family had passed away. I said, Louie, you got to get follow-up treatment. So there was a city that’s not about a half hour away called Newburgh, New York. And there was a urologist I was familiar with. So I told him the story. This guy has nothing. He said to me, if you will drive him, I will treat him like the president of the United States. [21:40] So for two and a half years, just about every month, sometimes twice a week, it all depends when his visits were, I would drive Louie. So it was like an all day affair almost because I have my own business, so I don’t show up for work. What do I care? So I take care of Louie all this time and my friends are patting me on the back saying, oh, you’re Louie’s angel. So one particular day we go in and… [22:03] He, if Louis checker, he calls me into the, uh, his consultation room and he says, so your friend’s cancer is back. She got to be kidding me. He said, yeah, I feel it on his prostate. He said, he has someone for biopsy Friday. This was on a Wednesday. I said, I don’t know how he’s going to get there. It’s an old day. I said, doc, listen, I’m married to this guy for two and a half years. I said, I’ll take him. He said, you sure? It was an old day. I said, doc, I don’t care. He said, all right. He said, I’ll tell you what, as long as you’re going to take them, your PSA is just borderline high. He said, I feel there’s nothing on your prostate, but if you’re going to take it, let me give you a biopsy too. I said, fine, I don’t care. So I take, we both get the biopsy. The next Wednesday, he calls them both of us in. I have cancer as well, worse than his, right? So he got radiation. I went out to New York City. There was a top flight surgeon in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. And I told him the story like I’m telling you now. So he said, you got to cut that out of there. You don’t want it in there. So they cut me a half. They took it out. And in the recovery room, he comes in and he says to me, you weren’t Louis’ angel. Louis was your angel. He said, you had a C-grade cancer. It was starting to spread, but I got everything. [23:15] So he said, you would have been dead about a year and a half. He said, because you had no signs, no symptoms. By the time you had the symptoms, it would be all over. Yeah. So it changes the way you think that I was invited to go on to this, a religious retreat weekend, a Cresillo weekend. I didn’t want to go. I’m not a holy roller. It’s not my cup of tea, but I socially boxed in like friends. So then your wife has to go too. So my wife, Noraline said, oh, I’ll go. And I said, oh, yeah, now I got to go. So I go on this week. it’s it’s thursday friday saturday sunday you can’t bring a watch you didn’t have cell phones then right so you’re stuck there so i went and i hooked up for a couple of other ex-marines and this actor mike was poorly he was on the sopranos so i sit in the back like we’re just going to ride this one out oh we can write it out it turns out that it was very moving, it’s very moving and people spoke that thought they were like punks i knew them indirectly they had quite a story to tell and then, weekend was over and on the way back it was November and I was telling Mike I rolled the windows down it was like spring, spring in my mind you see things differently like these computer generated pictures you see what it is but if you stare at it long enough another picture comes out within the picture and kind of life came out of life for me I saw things differently, Then these guys asked me to go into the prison. [24:42] Listen, I say, listen, you’re a carpenter. You’re a plumber. You don’t know what these guys are. I’ve thrown these guys down stamps and shot a guy at my house. Crazy. Again, I’m socially boxed in. So we go up to the prison. It was 41 of us, 41 of us. It’s called the Kairos. It’s an interdenominational… [25:01] Prison ministry. So I sit in a big circle, piece of paper, it passes around. When you get it, you have to say who you are, where you’re from. So I get it. I said, my name’s Jimmy Danity. I live in Orange County, New York. I’m married. I have two children, and I retired from the Oak City Police Department. They booed me. I told Mike, it was like an old dog growling. Yeah. Yeah. I said, what am I doing here? So the next day, because you had to sleep up in the prison too, The next day, you’re at a table. So you have an inmate on either side. So there’s like maybe nine people at the table. And there’s three of us, six of them. And don’t ask them what they did. Never referred them as a prisoner, as a resident. They were like, guys, I grew up with their neighbor. I said, what did you do? You stupid. So it becomes, it was a religious weekend. But also, it’s practical life. And you guys were good. You know what I mean? I got along well with them. So we did every day and it was friday saturday sunday they finished and that’s it i’m done i’m done with this i said i’d do it and i’m saying i wonder if any of my guys would show up to a wednesday night they have a wednesday night follow-up at this organization i wonder if any of my guys would be there so you know what let me show let me go to one wednesday right all my guys. [26:22] Oh, my gosh. And that was the only, Gary, that was the only table where all of them showed up again. So that’s why he knew that this was the right thing for him. I’m sorry, Jim. I just want to know. And so this was still in the prison. Yeah. Back up the prison. Yeah. And they invited these guys. If you want, you can come to this follow up. At that time, every Wednesday at six o’clock, they could go into the chapel to this particular group meeting. So I just want to see if any of my guys are going to show up. They all showed up and then the volunteers drop off and then i said let me do another wednesday, and another wednesday and it comes like everybody wants to talk to you it’s like when you go into the pet store where puppies say they want you to pick them like pick me and it you get you wind up with a group i tell mike they’re my guys and then you wind up it’s a spiritual thing no question about it right it’s brand involved and everything but you go through life with these guys and a lot them have a lot of crazy situations yeah and one guy is a mafia guy and i think frankie and he wants to say jimmy this new guy he wants to talk to your jug it’s all right so he takes me behind this little interdenomination altar they got there right so i said hey don’t you he says remember me i said no he said you should you broke my nose so i said when did i break your nose He said. [27:46] Yeah, in the park on 53rd Street where we used to play hockey. He said, your brother, I remember you. I mentioned his name, his last name. I said, you were messing with the park attendant. I slammed a basketball in his face. You know what I mean? He never forgot it. They told Frankie, yeah, he was crazy before he went to the Marine Corps. I’d make guys in there. [28:04] I worked. Yeah. The drug cases that they had. [28:09] You know, I knew who their bosses were. I testified in Philadelphia against one of these guys’ big bosses. And it’s just, it was like almost an inside straight. It was like meant to be. It was meant to be. And then my parish priest, so then I started, I was in the denominational night. The Catholic guys had nothing. I started a Catholic night with a few other good guys, my friend Brian and a few other guys, right, on Thursday. So now I’m going there Wednesday and Thursday. So my parish priest said, the state maximum security doesn’t have anything like this. Let’s start one there. So I’m going Wednesday, the federal prison, Thursday to the state max. You know, and it, I did it for 25 years, two days a week. Wow. And if the guys in Brooklyn, where I was a cop, knew I was doing this, they say, wrong guy, definitely. Somebody else, you got the wrong guy. Yeah. It’s the way the good Lord leads you. Now, something changed in your life and it’s not like you had any control of it. It just, it changed. You opened yourself up. It seems to me like it. And you just didn’t have any choice but to go down this path. And you know what it is also, Gary, it’s also like you’re preventing crime. You’re doing the same thing only from the inside. From the inside, you want to change the way they think, the way they act. And there’s a million things I could tell you how I was able to change things in a prison. They’re going to stab somebody. The guy who was a rat. [29:32] And they didn’t like him. I didn’t like him. And I told him, listen, I like the guy. He said, you like the guy? Don’t get involved in this. I said, do what you want to do. I like the guy. They never touch the guy. Because if they do something like that, then they’re going to hurt you. [29:46] Gary, I think Jimmy should tell you, he’s talking about the effect he had on these guys. What really was the point of the prison ministry was to essentially make these guys, I think, better people and to change their lives. I think you should tell him, ask Jimmy, tell him the story of the Boston mobster because this one, this story has, it really hits home as to exactly what effect he had on someone who was one of guys that you might have on your show. someday. This guy was a really bad guy. And he was up there with Whitey Bulger, et cetera, in Boston. So I think it’s worthwhile to tell the story. And it really hits home in terms of how effective Jimmy was after being effective on the street, locking up these guys, what he did with the prison. So if you have a bit of time, I think it’s worthwhile to hear the story. Yeah, let’s hear it. I always want to hear stories about mobsters, anyhow. Yep. Go ahead, Jim. We were up at the federal prison, and it was during the holiday season, right? And the volunteer chaplain was Father Paul Papara, and he was giving a talk on forgiveness. So we had all these wise guys. It was a mess. They had all different guys. This particular time, a couple of wise guys, they had their arms folded, and they said, Father, you want me to forgive the guy that ratted me out? [31:05] He’s home with his family, and I’m here doing X amount of years left on my bid. So I raised my hand. so I said listen if this guy is lying and put you in prison for no reason shame on him he should rot in hell but if he just exposed what you did anyway you know you did it if you did it the good lord see you live in a fishbowl the guy just exposed you for what you did that’s, You have no bitch here, pal. Jimmy, this guy Jimmy, he’s a different name than him. Jimmy stands up and he says, listen, I’ve been in jail. I’ve killed people. I don’t want to, I forgive anybody. I want forgiveness. I’ll forgive anybody. So that was it. Eventually, Jimmy, a couple years later, goes home. So he called me at my office a couple years later and he wanted me to write a letter of reference to work at the docks with Homeland Security. I said, I don’t know how to write it. Put down that I was a prisoner and just what you thought of me. No problem. So I met him in the prison, stuff like that, right? [32:03] About a year after that or so, I get a call from him again. He says, hey, Jimmy, you got time? Hey, Jimmy. I said, good. I got all the time in the world for you. He said, what’s up, pal? He said, I was on a train platform. He says, and I see this guy. Him and his associate tried to kill me. They had stabbed me 13 times. He said, I already took care of his friend. And I walked up to him like a face-to-face with him. Then he recognized me the guy turned white and urinated all over himself because he knows he’s there jimmy says to me i put my finger on his face and i told him you know that thing you’re worried about right get out of here i forgive you i get the fuck out of here now and he says to me jimmy it would have been easier for me to clip this guy and to forgive the guy but i forgave him, And I’m saying, Jimmy, I’m so proud of you, I can’t, just, and he, for him to call me to tell me how he responded to that situation, you know, which was completely out of character to the old guy, the old Jim. He was very proud of himself, and I was very proud of him. [33:09] So that’s the story Mike has told. It was the story, quite frankly, Gary. Didn’t he have one of the Westies in there with him? They were some particularly brutal crew in New York City. Yeah, yeah, he did. [33:25] We had a few of them up there. We had Jimmy Coonan, who started the Westies. Oh, okay. Jimmy was there, and I was friendly with Jimmy because I knew guys that he knew. The guys at Otisville Prison is a high medium. [33:38] Lewisburg is a max so when guys behave even a max they could come down to the media so when he came down he never came to the services and stuff we were talking all the way on the side but another fellow was a Westie a tough guy you know what I mean they would, drive through jewelry stores, 50 miles an hour go inside and rob everything but they would go in there before with their girlfriends looking good dressed nice they knew where this stuff was and they would take everything and he wound up getting locked up for almost like a Lufthansa type thing at the airport only they got caught so he was at my first weekend in the prison and we became very close friends and I tried to help him and he responded very positively, and he’s sitting in a circle there’s a cross, whoever has the cross has the microphone, nobody interrupts when you’re done, the next guy talks, he was talking and we finished, the Spanish kid so the Spanish kid is talking and he’s talking, so I told him what are you talking for Rich he can’t be talking like that the kid’s talking so he didn’t come for a few months then he comes back right and we’re sitting there talking and then he has a cross and he puts his head down. [34:54] And he starts talking and he says, you know, something happened to me. You can’t explain it. You had a Spanish kid in the next cell, right? It was a new guy. They robbed the sneakers and the kid had no sneakers. I know he’s got his head down. Now I’m thinking maybe he robbed the kid’s sneakers, right? He says, I gave him my sneakers because I had an extra pair. And as he’s telling the story, his head is down. The floor is gray, but getting darker, the teardrops. He’s telling the story he’s crying and then he says maybe I’m not all bad after all yeah I said how can you think of yourself like that he eventually goes home so, we my wife Norley and I get invited to his wedding which is a no-no but the guy was home so and the wedding is on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. [35:46] Yeah so we go down at the wedding and we’re like the oddball there but He could introduce us to enough people, you know, and if you see change in people, it’s wonderful. If on the street, if you go to these religious retreats, people go jumping out like a gazelle. But in prison, if an elephant jumps in it, it’s a miracle. Yeah. I mean, if you see somebody that thinks that they’re ugly, they’re not ugly inside. So I found it very rewarding. And. They, I didn’t think they’d respond to retired law enforcement, but they responded well. Yeah. Because I spoke their language. Yeah. So it lasted 25 years, Gary. Yeah. I’ve got a couple of guys here in Kansas city that it’s not a spiritual kind of a thing, but I’ve become friends with them. And one guy told me, he’s fine. He said, he said, I can talk to you and you understand what I’m talking about. He said, all the rest of the people in my life anymore, cause he’s out of the life. He said, they don’t understand what I’m talking about. He said, I don’t have to get back into life, but I can talk to you and you know, you know, the people I’m talking about, you know what I’m talking about. I said, yeah, I do. [36:56] So obviously in case it was pretty obvious that we were, when we started to hear all these stories, when he told, told Jerry and I the story of the, the mobster who was crying because given the sneaker, that’s where the books, the title of the book comes from, art guys cry. But there’s one other guy in there that you should ask him about. And that is we had this, I don’t even know what to call him. He was really an oddball guy, a criminal in New York. He was a rich guy who owned a lot of, he ran art galleries and collected art galleries and collected paintings and got into the art world and was advising rich people as to what art they were buying. And it turns out he was basically a sadist. And he had another guy with him who he and the other guy wound up, he didn’t get charged with this, his partner did, wound up killing somebody. And when they found the body buried laying in the woods in upstate New York, he had one of those. [38:02] Sadomasochistic masks on him, his black mask. And this individual was one of Jimmy’s guys and he was a hardcore, am I right, Jimmy, in terms of not wanting help at all. He was just the kind of guy who, you know, if you help them, it was going to be a miracle. And he did. He helped them and it’s a miracle. And it’s worthwhile to tell the story about this guy. His name was Andrew Crispo. He’s no longer alive. And he was all over the newspapers here in New York City because of the whole masochistic, the sadomasochist activity that he was involved in. And that the picture of the dead body with that black mask on was all over the newspapers. And this guy, we have his picture in the book. If you see him, it’s butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He looked like the nicest guy in the world. Businessman. Turns out he was really one of the worst guys in terms of how he treated people. And Jimmy finally got to him. It was, to me, one of the more miraculous transformations when I heard all of the stories was this one because of what he was on the outside and what he became after Jimmy had him and he got out. He did not repeat his life the way that he was before here. Chris Bowe was a tough guy, right, Jimmy, in terms of getting to him? [39:28] Andrew, Sky Andre brought him down to one of our groups. And he asked me if he could bring his friend down the shirt. Everybody’s welcome, of course. And you’ve been around tough guys your whole life. Everybody’s a tough guy. You’re a tough guy. Everybody’s a tough guy. This guy had no muscle tone. He was like ashing in color. He looked like a raccoon. He had like rings around his eyes. And he was like creepy, creepy. So he came. And then he came for about seven years all the time. You get to know him, right? And he got grabbed for that sero-masochistic murder, but they couldn’t prove it. He got locked up, attempted kidnapping, the three-year-old daughter of the federal trustee. That’s why he was in jail now federal jail but he if you make a long story short he, doesn’t know who his parents are right and i’m not bleeding on i’m just telling you the way it is, he was dropped off at an orphanage as an infant and i was there for sentencing and this is what the judge said mr crispo he said before i sentence you i’d like you to know that i researched your history as a newborn you were dropped off in an orphanage right you remain there for 18 years where you were repeatedly beaten up and raped and. [40:47] But after leaving there, you managed to raise yourself up to get on the top of the art world, even owning a world-renowned art gallery in New York City. He said, for that, he said, I give you credit. However, then he banged him for seven years on the other thing. But he came down, and he had nothing spiritually. And if you sit with him and you talk with him, he kind of listened. He came around. [41:13] Like I told Mike, there was another guy. colombian guy his wife used to bring his daughter to work all the time so he came into the group a little late and he’s crying and then i said what’s the matter he said he said i’m not gonna see my daughter for two weeks i said well the comment told me once there’s a price for loving the price for loving is the absence of love you have to experience the love to miss it mr andrew who was sitting on our group andrew could you tell him a little bit about yourself oh yeah he said see the visiting room that you were in with your wife and the child, I’ve never been in there, and I’ll never be in there. And they said, there’s nothing worse than being alone, than being alone and no one cares. [41:56] And he came, and the rings went from his eyes, and then he became involved in all this other stuff. And he actually became a kind guy. He got involved with the church and things like that. And then he eventually went home. I’ll tell you the money he had. You need the money for an appeal? He sold one painting for $2.46 million. Oh wow the attorney’s fee that’s just one thing he had money but he had nothing yeah he had nothing and then when he went home he used to correspond you know and he’d write beautiful things thanks for the prayers thanks for your wife how’s your dog it’s not the same guy but he wasn’t like like what he’s tattooed tough guys he was like creepy tough and at the end when he left my opinion He was not. So if you can help somebody, it’s nice to help somebody if you can. Yeah. That’s interesting. That’s a true shift in the personality and to give somebody some spiritual hope in their life that they can, from what you’re describing to what he was to what he left when he left. That’s amazing. Exactly. That’s an amazing story. [43:01] There it is. Cry, The Journey of a Tough Cop from the Mean Streets to a Prison Ministry, Jimmy Dennedy and Michael Vecchione. Jimmy and Michael, I appreciate you guys so much for coming on and telling these stories. And guys, there’s a lot more stories just like this and better in the book. I’ll have links to get it down in the show notes. [43:22] And guys, you got anything last words you want to say? Anything you left out? [43:28] Gary, listen, keep getting those pension checks. [43:33] Yes, I will. I told my wife, Nora, put my feet in potting soil. If my toenail grows, that’s a sign of life. Keep getting that check. Really? [43:44] Thanks so much, Jimmy. All right. I just want to thank you. You’ve been terrific. And I hope that, I really mean this when I say this, people who get this book and read it or listen to it or however they want to get it into their, their mind, they’re going to love it because this guy’s story is just fantastic. And we touched on a few things, but we didn’t really touch, we didn’t get into the real meat that that’s there. And it’s, it was a, again, a pleasure to do this. So I’ve got one guy, I got one guy I talked to that has prison stories. I tell you what guys, there are so many great stories that come out of the penitentiary. It’s just, it’s amazing. I think part of these people don’t have much else current to talk about, so they tell stories from their past, and you get some great stories coming out of the prisons. Thanks a lot, guys. Gary. Thank you. God bless my friend.

Did you know that 50% of us have a family member or friend who has some kind of criminal record? It’s the unspoken secret not many of us know how to negotiate–largely because of the shame, confusion, and hurt that goes along with it. What happens to the families left behind when someone goes to prison? In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Heather Rice-Minus, CEO of Prison Fellowship, to talk about incarceration, shame, second chances, and the transforming power of Jesus. Heather shares powerful stories of hope, restoration, and what it really looks like to walk alongside people impacted by prison. We talk about the misconceptions many Christians have about incarceration, how churches can better support hurting families, and why no one is beyond redemption. This conversation challenged me deeply, and I think it will encourage you, too. And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode! Xo, Donna Key Takeaways: 0:01:12 - Unexpected Calling to Prison Ministry 0:05:55 - Prison Fellowship’s 50-Year Mission 0:09:00 - Angel Tree: Serving Children of the Incarcerated 0:16:49 - Shattering Shame and “Us vs. Them” 0:22:31 - What Actually Works: Deep Discipleship & The Academy What We Talk About Heather’s unexpected journey from law school to prison ministry The incredible origin story of Prison Fellowship and Chuck Colson How incarceration impacts entire families, not just the individual behind bars The life-changing impact of Angel Tree for children with incarcerated parents Shame, silence, and why so many families suffer alone Common misconceptions Christians have about prison ministry What true rehabilitation and transformation really require The importance of discipleship, accountability, and community How churches can become places of restoration and welcome Practical ways listeners can get involved and make a difference What Actually Helps People Change Heather shared several key elements that lead to lasting transformation for incarcerated individuals: Consistent Discipleship Real change takes time, accountability, and spiritual growth—not one emotional moment. Healthy Community People need relationships that model integrity, restoration, and healthy living. Biblical Worldview Replacement Criminal thinking patterns must be replaced with truth, purpose, and identity in Christ. Long-Term Investment Transformation happens through sustained support, mentoring, and coaching. Second Chances Rooted in Grace The Gospel reminds us that no person is beyond redemption. Donna’s Resources: Order a copy of my latest book - Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God. It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their confidence in their faith. Connect with Heather: Website: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PFMinistries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prisonfellowship/ Let’s Connect: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What does it really cost to follow Jesus? And what does it cost us when we don't?In this powerful conversation, Steve Adams welcomes Morgan Snyder to the Embracing Brokenness Podcast for a deep and honest discussion about discipleship, formation, healing, risk, and the slow work of becoming whole in Christ.Morgan reflects on his 26 years in formal relationship with Wild at Heart, his transition with his wife Cherie into the Become Good Soil movement, and the deeper work of apprenticeship to Jesus in the second half of life. He shares why he and Cherie are now focused on “going deeper with fewer,” investing in the thirsty few who long for more of God and the abundant life.Together, Steve and Morgan explore the danger of consumer Christianity, the difference between information and formation, the invitation to become wholehearted men and women, and why brokenness is not the end of the story but often the beginning of deeper restoration.This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, spiritually dry, overextended, or aware that simply “believing the right things” has not produced the healing, maturity, intimacy, and purpose they long for. Morgan reminds us that God is not far away. He meets us at the end of our rope, in our need, in our pain, and in the ordinary moments where we create space to notice His voice.Learn more about Morgan and Cherie Snyder's work at Become Good Soil:https://becomegoodsoil.comLearn more about Embracing Brokenness Ministries:https://embracingbrokenness.orgChapters00:00 — God Meets Us at the End of Our Rope01:00 — Welcome to the Embracing Brokenness Podcast01:32 — Introducing Morgan Snyder02:14 — Morgan's History with John Eldredge and Wild at Heart03:34 — Becoming Good Soil and Going Deeper with Fewer04:55 — Husband and Wife Ministry in the Second Half of Life05:45 — Don't Waste Your Pain07:01 — Preferring a Circle Over a Platform08:00 — The Hidden Years and Carrying Water09:11 — Steve's First Wild at Heart Retreat11:08 — Trusting the Slow Work of God12:33 — The Interior Work of Becoming Whole14:23 — We Are All Being Discipled by Something16:21 — Leaving Platform, Salary, and Momentum17:45 — Brokenness, Anesthesia, and the Fire in the House21:22 — The Cost of Not Following Jesus22:36 — Sabbath as Resistance23:48 — God as the Father Who Initiates Our Children24:56 — Why Embrace Brokenness?27:16 — Living Where God Has to Show Up29:16 — Becoming the Kind of Person God Can Entrust30:25 — Risk at the Core of Discipleship31:05 — Prison Ministry and Holy Ground34:11 — What Is Burdening Morgan's Heart?35:48 — Dallas Willard and the Discipleship Crisis37:40 — Power, Service, and the Vulnerable39:52 — The Incomplete Gospel41:57 — Consumer Christianity and Hyper-Individualism43:53 — Information Is Not Enough45:22 — What If God Feels Distant?46:31 — How Do I Find God?47:31 — Creating Space to Notice God48:37 — The Gift of Margin49:35 — Micro-Shifts That Change a Life50:31 — Start with What Is Necessary51:08 — Becoming a King and Practical Resources52:02 — Become Good Soil and the Thirsty Few53:28 — Participating in the Restoration of All Things54:05 — Closing Thoughts

Jaws of Justice Radio investigates how we can achieve justice from a system of laws deeply rooted in economic, social and political inequality.  We want to dispel misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system. We hope you will listen. Host Bev Livingston opens our hour speaking with Bishop Saundra McFadden-Weaver.  They are going to tell listeners about Prison Ministry, feeding homeless people and proving the support which benefit reentry and impacted persons as they transition from incarceration to a very different life. Life in prison is defined by a severe lack of personal choices.  For example, while held by law enforcement, a person has no choice of the company they share their life. A person's name and choices is stripped away. Life outside, or "reentry," challenges formerly incarcerated individuals with the heavy stigma of a criminal record which can restrict access to jobs, housing, and civic participation. Many return to distressed communities, making successful social integration difficult. Bishop Saundra McFadden-Weaver was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating from Lincoln High School, then moving on to higher learning she holds a B.S in Agricultural Science, a Masters in Theological Studies, and a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology.  Bishop McFadden-Weaver has been Councilwoman of Kansas City, MO 3rd District, Missouri Victims Advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), served in Prison Ministries, headed the call to regulate Bounty Hunters and saw to it that change came to the Federal Laws governing Bounty Hunters. She has stood with Ad Hoc Against Crime, championed victims' rights, sat in for civil rights, and fought for women's rights. She has served as the proud pastor of Community Fellowship of Jesus Christ for more than 20 years and is looking forward to many more. In the second part of our hour, Jaws of Justice host, Terri Wilke, and a new volunteer, Justice Johnson, will talk about the status of the Kansas City Missouri jail and the Jackson County jail.  Listeners are aware that new jails are being built, staffed and filled.  The community needs to be aware of the what is planned and consider how the job can best be accomplished. After all, we are paying for it. On Jaws of Justice, we examine how to find justice in our society.  Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.  

Go to https://joniandfriends.org/volunteer/ to see how you can serve today! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

In this episode, Gem sits down with Heather Rice-Minus, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship, to explore what it means to follow Jesus in places that are complex, urgent, and often overlooked. Heather shares how her calling into justice and prison ministry unfolded, from advocacy work that helped shape the First Step Act to her current leadership of one of the most influential prison ministries in the world. But this conversation goes beyond her role and into her life with God. Together, they reflect on what she has learned from those who are incarcerated, how proximity to suffering reshapes our understanding of people and of God, and what Jesus may have meant when he said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” They also explore the tension between urgency and presence, and how an unhurried life is not only possible, but necessary, even in work that carries real weight. If you care deeply about making a difference but feel tired, stretched, or unsure how to keep going, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful way forward. You’ll also hear: The unexpected discovery of joy among the incarcerated. Transformational leadership in the prison system. How slowing down can actually strengthen your leadership. This is a conversation about justice, leadership, and the kind of life that can sustain both. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week we are honored to have guest speaker Freddie Anderson, the Director of Huntsville Institutional Ministry (HIM). He has served with this ministry since 1983. The HIM ministry is located in Huntsville, Texas and the mission there is to help each inmate, regardless of his past, aware of the gospel. This ministry is under the oversight of the Garland Street Church of Christ in Plainview, and is supported in part by Prestoncrest and Prestoncrest's Men's Prison Ministry Team (coordinated by Clay Short) that visits the men's prison in Huntsville each quarter to help lead worship, serve, and support Freddie. Freddie's background in prison ministry began as he received his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 1978 from LSU with a minor in Law Enforcement. He worked as a corrections officer in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He earned his Master's in Criminology (1982) from Sam Houston State University. Freddie is married to Jessie and they have four adult children. He is sought after as a speaker for workshops, seminars, and gospel meetings. To find out more about Prestoncrest's Men's Prison Ministry team and the next visit coming up on June 7, email clayraider@yahoo.com.Subscribe to PRESTONCREST - with Gordon Dabbs on Soundwise

If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text.Dr. Steve Ford interviews Banty Hoover and Jason Ulrich about working in Prison Ministry and sharing the Gospel with the incarcerated.Support the showProduced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more at www.CalvaryFountain.com

In this special Holy Week edition of Recovery Through Christ, Pastor John Alworth is joined by Pastor Boyd Harrell, founder of COOL Ministries (Christ Over Our Lives). The episode focuses on the critical mission of prison ministry and the belief that incarcerated individuals possess immense potential to become "powerful warriors in the Kingdom of God" once delivered from the bondage of sin and addiction. The conversation covers several key themes regarding restoration and reentry: The Case for Prison Ministry: Pastor Alworth addresses the stigma surrounding incarcerated individuals, reminding listeners that Jesus himself extended grace to the thief on the cross. He highlights the practical benefits to society, noting that Christ-based intervention can drop recidivism rates from 80% to 40%. Pastor Boyd’s Testimony: Pastor Harrell shares his "buck wild" journey from shooting drugs at age 13 to facing 25 years to life during his fourth trip to prison. He describes a radical encounter with God in a Houston jail cell in 1993, which led to a five-year period of deep scriptural study and nearly three decades of freedom and ministry. The "COOL" Approach to Reentry: With 27 years in ministry, Pastor Harrell explains how his organization serves 20 prison units through church services and his book, Breaking the Chains. The program uses a 12-step framework rooted in biblical discipleship to help men and women navigate the "scarlet letter" of a criminal record and find a supportive "family of God." The Science of Praise: The pastors discuss neuroplasticity, noting that worship and gratitude aren't just spiritual exercises but biological ones that heal the brain, combat depression, and increase empathy. The episode serves as a call to action for volunteers and donors to support reentry efforts, emphasizing that while the world may see a "convict," God sees a "masterpiece" ready for a living resurrection. Key Scriptural References Luke 19:10Jesus came to "seek and save the lost." 2 Corinthians 5:20Believers as "Christ’s ambassadors" on earth. Psalm 107:14God bringing people out of darkness and breaking their chains. James 5:16The healing power of confession and community. Ministry Contact Information COOL Ministries: www.coolministries.net | Phone: 281-687-8366 Recovery Through Christ: Phone/Text: 832-475-8642 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, John and Don talk with Steve Johnson and break down the inner workings of prison ministry—what it looks like, how it operates, and the role it plays in reaching incarcerated individuals. They also share meaningful stories that highlight the impact and momentum of ministry efforts within prisons today.

What if guilt and shame aren't part of who you really are?In this episode, Bible teacher and prison ministry volunteer James Early shares powerful stories from over 18 years of leading weekly Bible studies at a federal correctional institution — and what he's learned about guilt, shame, identity, and spiritual transformation along the way.James shares the story of a woman who came to his Bible study broken, medicated, estranged from her family, and done with God — and how two years later she walked out restored, healed, and off all her medications. The turning point? Being given permission to ask hard questions and discovering that sin is not her true identity.Using the simple but profound mud puddle analogy, James explains why guilt and shame don't define you — and why God hates iniquity not because he hates you, but because he loves you too much to let it stick.You'll also hear about:- Why practical faith matters more than right doctrine- How spiritual disciplines grow naturally when you taste God's presence- What it really means that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand- How inmates taught James as much as he taught themConnect with James Early:

Mark Skalberg has over 40 years of pastoral experience, serving as the lead Pastor of Canyons Community Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, Woodmen Valley Chapel, Calvary Chapel, and others. He has served as the Ministry Director for Salem in Colorado Springs, and since 1992, Mark has been the founder and director of the Starting Over on the Inside, a transformative prison ministry with over 1,500 on-site graduates in 12 Colorado prisons and over 51,000 graduates on tablets. He has also served as a chaplain for the Colorado Department of Corrections since 2015. Mark discusses how their recovery program works, the recidivism rate, and sexual sin in the church.

Thursday, March 12, 2026 Join our host, Kerby Anderson as he brings us today's show. His first guest is Heather Rice-Minus. They'll talk about Prison Ministry. Then Kerby welcomes back long time friend Gary Bauer. They'll discuss a life in politics. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with your opinions […]

In this episode of Church Wisdom, Fr. Eamonn McCarthy and Matthias Conroy continue their exploration of Delexite, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo XIV, focusing on the Church's mission to free, uplift, and educate the poor. From the saintly founders of the mendicant orders—Francis of Assisi, Dominic de Guzman, and Clare of Assisi—to the transformative […] L'articolo Dilexi Te 61-71 – Love That Liberates: Poverty, Prison Ministry & Christian Education– Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Marco David is both a Chicago cop and pastor who finds himself leading Bert Berrios to faith in Jesus in prison–after he was one of the men who put him there. Learn how he came into that dual career and how God's true calling on his life was neither of these. Hear how Marco came to faith after overhearing another conversation where the gospel was preached. You never know who's listening as you are witnessing to others! Marco shares about what he calls collateral blessings, things that the enemy meant for evil and God uses for good, like his own multiple cancer diagnoses and the collateral blessings he finds in others' circumstances. He guides us in reading the Bible, hearing what God has to say, and prayer.Helpful links:6:4 fellowship Collateral Blessings, Marco's bookManny Mill, Koinonia HouseRadical Time OutLet us know what you thought of the show!Follow One80 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.Never miss a One80. Join our email list. Follow us on Instagram.Share One80, here's how!OneWay Ministries

Join Southwest Radio Ministries for the first episode of 2026 as they discuss the year's prophetic possibilities with Dr. Larry Spargimino, Dr. Kenneth Hill, Josh Davis, and Clayton Van Huss. Explore themes of faith, hope, and the future of the world in light of Bible prophecies. Discover the prison ministry and learn how you can support its mission.

Thursday, December 08, 2025 Our host Kerby Anderson opens the show with a biblical perspective on the headlines from the media reaction to the massacre at Bondi Beach to solutions to healthcare expenses. Then joining Kerby is President of Global Prison Ministries Mike Broyles. They talk about ministry in prisons, Malachai Dads, and about Mike's […]

Join Josh Davis on 'Watchman on the Wall', a daily outreach of Southwest Radio Ministries, as he delves into the latest headlines from the end times. This episode covers the conclusion of COP30 in Brazil, focusing on climate change denialism, disinformation, and the spiritual implications of global climate policies. Discover how these issues align with biblical prophecy and the broader spiritual worldview. Also, learn about SWRC's special calendar project supporting prison ministries.

What Can Prison Ministry Teach Us?

Join Southwest Radio Ministries on 'Watchman on the Wall' for the latest prophetic insights and ministry updates. Host Josh Davis delves into critical news stories impacting the biblical end-time scenario, including the expansion of biometric systems by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Learn about the ministry's efforts like the 'Beyond the Veil' calendar initiative supporting prison outreach and Samaritan's Purse providing aid to Gaza. Stay informed with 'Prophecy in the News' for a deeper understanding of the world through a biblical lens.

Join Pastor Larry Spargimino and Clayton Van Huss in this episode of 'Watchman on the Wall' as they delve into the enduring impact of Martin Luther and the Reformation. Discover how Luther's actions continue to influence the world, and learn about SWRC's prison ministry and their 'Beyond the Veil' calendar initiative. This engaging discussion also highlights the documentary '1517: The Flame Rekindled,' exploring Luther's legacy and its relevance today.

Visiting the imprisoned is a Corporal Work of Mercy, and Father Dave welcomes Father Dustin Feddon to discuss accompanying those who are imprisoned, both during their sentences and after their releases. Father Dustin is a priest inof the diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the author of “More Than Half Way Home: A Story of Accompaniment in the Shadows of Incarceration.”  

In this episode of Unexpected Turns, host Laura Wilcox welcomes Lettie Carr. Lettie shares how God led her to consider a low-paying job as a women's prison chaplain in spite of her initial resistance. Lettie had recently made partner as a lawyer, and she and her husband had recently bought a new home. As she looked around for an opportunity that might give her more time with her 2-year-old son, two jobs stood out to her, one paying very well in the law profession, and the other paying very low wages as a chaplain. Though she had the lucrative job in the bag, she couldn't forget the prison chaplaincy job. She applied, hoping God would choose someone else. When she was offered the job, she waited for God to overcome her husband's reluctancy before she finally surrendered to what appeared to be God's plan.Over 20 years later, Lettie looked back over hundreds of women's lives changed and brought to Christ. The prison's recidivism rate---the number of released prisoners who end up back in prison---was one of the lowest in the nation as God transformed lives through a vibrant church meeting within the prison walls. After she moved on from prison ministry, Lettie began a new ministry called Whosoever Believes, featuring a YouTube channel called the 3:16 prayer line, where those needing prayer can call in at 3:16 PM Monday to Friday. Read Lettie's story, A Strategic New Job, on the Sacred Story website. Find out what true stories are hiding in your Christian women's community by scheduling a Sacred Story Retreat to help women develop and share their stories.

How do you bring hope to someone who feels completely forgotten? In this powerful episode of EquipCast, Deacon Al Aulner opens a window into the emotional and spiritual struggles of incarcerated men—many of whom have never known love, stability, or the truth of the Gospel. Through stories of heartbreak, transformation, and hope, Deacon Al reveals how meeting people in their brokenness—whether behind bars or in everyday life—is the heart of evangelization. His insights challenge us to listen first, love deeply, and trust that God is already at work in every soul we encounter. [01:10] Deacon Al Aulner's Background [03:29] Journey to Faith and Family Challenges [07:38] Introduction to Prison Ministry [14:18] Personal Experiences and Challenges in Ministry [29:25] Volunteers and Community Impact [31:23] A Corporate Buyer's Journey to Prison Ministry [35:08] Challenges of Reintegrating After Prison [39:39] Transformative Power of Faith in Prison [46:40] Parish Leadership and Community Engagement [58:57] Call for Volunteers and Final Thoughts Feel free to reach out to Dcn. Al! Call (402) 827-3743 or email awaulner@archomaha.org (mailto:awaulner@archomaha.org). For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Victory Over Sin is a show hosted by Mark Renick that addresses issues pertaining to returning citizens and the challenges they face coming out of incarceration. Victory Over Sin airs Saturdays at 12:30 pm. On 94.5 FM and 790 AM KSPD Boise's Solid Talkhttps://svdpid.org/advocacy-systemicchangeofid/https://www.imsihopecommunityphaseii.com/IMSI HOPE COMMUNITY PHASE II can also be found on facebook as well as Instagram and Youtube. Correspondence can be directed to: Address: 1775 W. State St., #191, Boise, Idaho 83702Phone: 208-629-8861 Podcast Website: https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-victory-over-sin/

Victory Over Sin is a show hosted by Mark Renick that addresses issues pertaining to returning citizens and the challenges they face coming out of incarceration. Victory Over Sin airs Saturdays at 12:30 pm. On 94.5 FM and 790 AM KSPD Boise's Solid Talkhttps://svdpid.org/advocacy-systemicchangeofid/https://www.imsihopecommunityphaseii.com/IMSI HOPE COMMUNITY PHASE II can also be found on facebook as well as Instagram and Youtube. Correspondence can be directed to: Address: 1775 W. State St., #191, Boise, Idaho 83702Phone: 208-629-8861 Podcast Website: https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-victory-over-sin/

How is prison ministry done and how does it connect to the local church? Can you have a church inside of a prison? Jonathan Leeman interviews Jamey Norman and Sean DeMars.

Victory Over Sin is a show hosted by Mark Renick that addresses issues pertaining to returning citizens and the challenges they face coming out of incarceration. Victory Over Sin airs Saturdays at 12:30 pm. On 94.5 FM and 790 AM KSPD Boise's Solid Talkhttps://svdpid.org/advocacy-systemicchangeofid/https://www.imsihopecommunityphaseii.com/IMSI HOPE COMMUNITY PHASE II can also be found on facebook as well as Instagram and Youtube. Correspondence can be directed to: Address: 1775 W. State St., #191, Boise, Idaho 83702Phone: 208-629-8861 Podcast Website: https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-victory-over-sin/

Victory Over Sin is a show hosted by Mark Renick that addresses issues pertaining to returning citizens and the challenges they face coming out of incarceration. Victory Over Sin airs Saturdays at 12:30 pm. On 94.5 FM and 790 AM KSPD Boise's Solid Talkhttps://svdpid.org/advocacy-systemicchangeofid/https://www.imsihopecommunityphaseii.com/IMSI HOPE COMMUNITY PHASE II can also be found on facebook as well as Instagram and Youtube. Correspondence can be directed to: Address: 1775 W. State St., #191, Boise, Idaho 83702Phone: 208-629-8861 Podcast Website: https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-victory-over-sin/

Bishop Dolan joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. Ted Ebner and Angelica Pena will share stories from their experiences in prison ministry and MaryRuth Hackett joins Bishop Dolan for a conversation on parenting. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

Homilies by Cardinal Blase Cupich. The Resurrection Project. Mission appeals and Prison Ministry.

Episode #204Take a listen to this intriguing discussion as three long term prison ministry volunteers share their insights and their motivations. Why should an individual or a church consider ‘prison ministry', what are the benefits and dangers of working with those who are incarcerated? What does the Bible say for us to do. This podcast speaks to the ‘practical' and spiritual aspects of working with those ‘behind the walls' of prisons.

Whether you saw him play for the Huskers or not, you need to hear the story of Ricky C. Simmons.

Guest BioDonnie Fuller is an inmate at Jefferson City Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Missouri, where he is currently serving a sentence for murder. But it was inside those prison walls—far from comfort, reputation, or distraction—that Donnie encountered the radical grace of Jesus Christ.After years of confusion, deception, and counterfeit spirituality, Donnie was confronted by the real Jesus. What followed was a complete deliverance from pride, New Age ideology, false teachings, and emotional torment. Now, from behind bars, Donnie preaches the unfiltered gospel and boldly shares his testimony to help others avoid the deception that nearly destroyed him.Episode SummaryDonnie Fuller wasn't searching for Jesus—he was sitting in a maximum-security cell, convicted of murder, immersed in New Age spirituality, and utterly broken. But God doesn't wait for people to clean themselves up. He finds them in the pit.In this gripping testimony, Donnie shares how the Holy Spirit confronted him in prison and shattered the lies he had believed for years—false doctrines, self-deification, New Age energy work, and prideful rebellion. What followed was deliverance, healing, and the beginning of a life of true repentance and obedience.This is a testimony of mercy, not merit. Of power, not performance. Of the real Jesus reaching into the darkest places and bringing light.In This Episode, You'll Discover...Why deliverance isn't just for the demonized—it's for the deceivedThe exact moment Donnie realized he was serving a false version of ChristWhat repentance looks like when you've hit rock bottomHow pride and spiritual performance can mask deep rebellionThe raw power of the Holy Spirit inside a prison cellWhy Jesus came not for the righteous—but for the lostConnect with Donnie FullerDonnie is currently incarcerated and does not have direct access to social media. You can learn more about his story through those who help share his message

Hear the heartwarming transformation of a killer turned Jesus freak. Hear how Louis Dooley entered prison at 19 with two life sentences and already planned to kill a third for sending him a care package.  ”I kind of looked around and I was like, ‘Who is this, the welcoming committee or something?' "And so I look in the box and there were a bunch of snacks, some socks, underwear, t-shirts, all things I didn't have. And so my first thought was ‘I got to kill this guy because where I'm from, you don't give somebody something for nothing!'"Hear how a piece of paper that night gave him a new life sentence of freedom in Christ.  Louis was served two life sentences plus 100 years in prison, and amazingly, this is where his life begins. He made God a promise from prison and Louis never looked back. He received parole, got married, and is the leader of Philemon House ministry. He is the author of Prison Saved My Life.Louis' book, Prison Saved My Life Philemon HouseOne80 Episode 55, The Prison Story of Michael BuhrmanLet us know what you thought of the show!Follow One80 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.Never miss a One80. Join our email list. Follow us on Instagram.Share One80, here's how!OneWay Ministries

After an unexpected arrest, Karen found herself in jail, where she experienced a divine calling to minister to incarcerated women. Through her journey, she emphasizes theimportance of gratitude, the power of prayer, and the belief that every person, regardless of their past, is worthy of love and redemption. Her story highlights the impact of faith in overcoming adversity and the ongoing mission to empower others through the Princess Within Prison ministry.Read or listen to bonus content @ReflectionsUPCI: https://reflectionsupci.com/2025/06/lost-souls-lonely-places-and-the-long-road-home/ Takeaways Pain can have a kingdom purpose.No situation is beyond God's redemption.God will go to the extreme for one person.The mess can become a message.Prisoners are princesses too.Thankfulness can transform your perspective.The Holy Ghost serves as a comforter.Gratitude is essential in healing.God's presence can be felt in unexpected places.Ministry can thrive in the most unlikelyenvironments. Chapters 00:00 The Unexpected Journey of Redemption03:03 From Pain to Purpose: Karen's Transformation05:44 The Arrest: A Life-Changing Moment07:57 The Call to Ministry in Unlikely Places10:24 Facing the Consequences: A Mother's Struggle13:13 Finding God in the Jail Cell15:34 A Moment of Ministry: Singing in the Trailer18:28 The Aftermath: Healing and Reflection28:55 Finding Strength in Silence29:22 The Power of Words and Opinions30:13 Facing Challenges with Faith31:29 Navigating Mother-Daughter Relationships32:30 The Transformative Power of Thankfulness35:47 Embracing the Role of a Chaplain36:57 The Princess Within Conference40:16 Witnessing Miracles in Unlikely Places43:24 Building Connections Beyond Prison Walls49:21 Lessons Learned Through Adversity

In this moving episode, Mel and Rich explore Rich's powerful journey into prison ministry, shedding light on the challenges, faith, and transformation he encountered along the way. He and Mel discuss the role of faith, the value of vulnerable male relationships, and the deep need for community within and beyond prison walls. Listeners are inspired to reflect on their own callings and the impact they can make through mentorship and ministry.

We may know how to pray with our hearts and minds, but Father Dave welcomes Dr. Ansel Augustine to discuss what it means to put that prayer into action. Dr. Augustine currently serves as the Assistant Director of African American Affairs for the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and his new book is called, “Praying With Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins.”

​​In this powerful episode of One Broken Life, John Stroup sits down with Johnny Allen, a man whose story is anything but ordinary. Johnny shares how a life marked by addiction, violence, and prison was completely transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ. “I'm not a preacher,” he says, “but I can testify”—and his testimony speaks volumes. Today, Johnny leads Rise Up Prison Ministry, returning to the very prisons he once lived in to bring hope and the Gospel to those still trapped in the darkness he knows all too well. From childhood brokenness to street life, and eventually surrendering behind bars, Johnny's journey shows that no one is too far gone for God's grace. This episode is raw, real, and deeply encouraging for anyone who feels stuck, forgotten, or beyond redemption. If you're looking for proof that Jesus still saves, still restores, and still calls people into purpose, you need to hear this story. Listen now on all major podcast platforms, and be sure to share it with someone who needs a reminder that there is still hope. Whether you're battling your own struggles or searching for hope in someone else's, this episode is a reminder that no one is too far gone for grace. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvb-NnMTgcAITfNM20pF2KQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F3b9TcG5BDSkfTK0UwCap Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/35e83628-c4da-4309-bd0d-2e03cd2a391d/one-broken-life Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-broken-life-real-people-real-discussion/id1569230320 Soundstripe License Code: ZSJCFVTHJUP4QQNC For more information: www.freeway-ministries.com Follow One Broken Life on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OneBrokenLifePodcast Follow Freeway Ministries on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/freewayministries ONE BROKEN LIFE is a production of Freeway Ministries in Springfield Missouri. It is a series of unique conversations exploring what God can do through ONE BROKEN LIFE. Throughout this podcast, you will hear the stories of real life transformations from those who have been restored from the pit of life. Throughout the discussion, John Stroup will dig deeper into the lives of people who have been broken and radically redeemed by God's grace. 

Hebrews 13:3 commands the Church to remember those in prison. How can we do that? Guest host Roy Patterson will talk with chaplain Corey Buchanan. He leads a prison outreach that walks with incarcerated individuals, those who’ve been released, and their families to show the power of Christ's redemption to change lives. Learn how the gospel is making an impact in prisons and how you could help in your community—on the next Equipped. July thank you gift:Surrendered Sexuality by Dr. Juli Slattery Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support.  To donate now, click here.

In this conversation, Camden Bucey welcomes Matt Adams, Derrick Brite, and Stephen Spinnenweber. They reflect on their experiences at the Twin Lakes Fellowship and discuss the often-neglected Larger Catechism, its practical applications, and the value of humor in theological discussions.  Registration for the Reformed Forum Conference is now open. We mention the event, highlighting its expansion to accommodate more attendees.  The panelists discuss the Larger for Life podcast, focusing on its mission to make the Larger Catechism accessible and engaging for listeners. The conversation concludes with insights on future directions for both the podcast and the conference. In this engaging conversation, the participants explore various themes including the future of their band, the importance of catechism, personal projects like book writing and PhD studies, the significance of prison ministry, upcoming conferences, and the role of appearance in ministry. They share insights on how to dress appropriately for ministry and the impact of personal presentation on one's effectiveness in preaching and teaching. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:03 Reflections on Twin Lakes Fellowship 05:58 Experiences and Insights from Twin Lakes 08:52 The Importance of Fellowship and Connection 12:05 Reformed Forum Conference Announcement 15:06 Exploring the Larger For Life Podcast 17:57 The Larger Catechism: A Deep Dive 21:07 Practical Applications of the Larger Catechism 23:56 Commentaries and Resources for the Larger Catechism 27:01 Humor and Theology in Conversations 29:59 Future Directions for the Podcast 37:16 The Future of the Band 39:24 The Importance of Catechism 40:49 Book Writing and Personal Projects 41:32 PhD Studies and Theological Contributions 43:49 Prison Ministry and Education 49:41 Upcoming Conferences and Events 51:14 Dressing for Ministry 01:01:23 The Role of Appearance in Ministry