Dear Friend,
I want to share with you the story of a former prisoner named Eddie. His life is proof that God's grace knows no limits.
When Eddie was 12 years old, his dad started drinking
more. That led to physical abuse, so Eddie started running away from home and getting into trouble. After years of minor violations, Eddie’s life took a dramatic turn.
"At the age of 20, I was arrested for the crime of first-degree murder and armed robbery," Eddie says. While in jail, God brought a man from a local church who shared the Gospel with Eddie.
"I got down on my knees and called upon the name of the Lord with tears streaming down my face, and God miraculously saved me in the jail cell," Eddie says.
A new creation—headed to death row
Not long after, Eddie was found guilty and sentenced to death. In prison, Eddie continued to grow in his faith. As God’s Word started to sink in, Eddie started seeing his crime from the perspective of the victim. He says, "It really weighed heavy on my heart."
So much so that when Eddie’s convictions were overturned and he was able to ask for a new trial, he did not. He says, "I purposed in my heart to accept responsibility for what I did."
Eddie pled guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life. Going back to prison was tough, but Eddie clung to Jesus. He spent the next 25 years behind bars serving as a leader in the prison church.
Once Eddie was released, he moved into transitional housing and got a job.
Unexpected blessings
And then, something he thought might never happen did. Eddie met someone special and got married and started a family. Now he has two kids. More blessings were in store for Eddie when he got to go back into a prison to share his testimony and the Gospel at a Prison Fellowship Hope Event.
Next, Eddie started volunteering with the Prison Fellowship Academy—a year-long intensive program designed to change the thinking and behavior of incarcerated men and women—at the same prison where he was once on Death Row.
Eddie's life was transformed by God's grace
Today, Eddie serves as the program manager for the Prison Fellowship Academy in North Dakota, helping prisoners grow in their faith!
"Each day I live, I’m in awe of the grace of God. It's just been an incredible journey," Eddie says.
His story is the story we wish we could tell about every man and woman who has seen the inside of a prison cell. And with your help, we can write more amazing stories of transformed lives. Will you give generously today to send Bibles and life-changing Christian content to prisoners?
We have an amazing opportunity to reach prisoners like Eddie once was with what they need most: God’s Word! Thank you for remembering those in prison.
Yours in His service,