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James was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is the youngest of 8 children in his family. Despite both of his parents working, his family was always involved in illegal activity. At a very young age, James began selling drugs. He saw the benefits it brought to those who did it.

He was arrested at the age of 20 for this very behavior. By the time he was 21, James was convicted by a jury and was sentenced to 40-years in Federal Prison.  His life changed in his first year of incarceration. He heard about the Lord and committed his life to Christ in 2000.

He spent the next almost 21 years growing in his faith and relationship with God and changing his perspective on what is good in this world. Miraculously, 10 days shy of 21 years, his sentence was commuted. This was done on the last day of Trump’s presidency with the support of about 30 other people he didn’t know. 

As he looks back on his experiences, he’s humbled by how God orchestrates people’s lives, and he’s grateful. “You never know whose life you are going to change” - James Cruz

We do a few shout outs and announcements then a devotional on being blinded by darkness. We honor Dalton on his last weekend with a trip to the Ranger game.

Don’t forget to have your family subscribe out in the world. Make sure you are subscribed on Pando.

To learn more about Forgiven Felons or to buy merchandise visit forgivenfelons.org/shop T

ell your loved one in prison or jail to watch on the Pando app on Forgiven Felons channel or listen on the podcast app on their tablet.

Please like, share, and subscribe. "Your background shouldn't HOLD you back, it should pay you back"

In this episode, Jay Dan and Jessa talk about the Ranger game they went to, do some shout outs, discuss FI-5’s in Texas, show off some drawings and do a devotion about not going back to the old you.

Then we get to hear from Dalton and Dakota. Dalton came to us from the Way Back connection which he talks about. After they got married, they both were on their own meth journey. They have kids of their own, as well as adopted kids, and they lost custody of them during their journey.

Dalton’s dad was in prison too and he’s the one who connected Dalton to us. Since Dalton has been at Forgiven Felons and Dakota got out of jail, they have leaned into Jesus and their lives, marriage, and journey to get their kids back have taken an amazing turn.

We can’t wait for you to hear this story. Let your loved ones inside prisons and jails know they can watch this episode on our Pando App channel Forgiven Felons Have a great week.

Zoom Call information coming soon.

Tell your loved ones to follow Forgiven Felons or Jay Dan Gumm on Facebook for all the information. If you're interested in joining us for Breakfast Bible Study, we have it every two weeks at the Forgiven Felons house. email us for more information, [email protected]

To buy our Forgiven Felons or Background Check merch visit https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Burns, from Trinity West Roofing and Construction to hear his story. We talk addiction, divorce of his parents, his love for the LA Dodgers, and who he thinks is the biggest crybaby in the NBA. We talk about how he got into roofing too.  

Jessa and I do the announcements and we talk with a newly released inmate from the Florida prison system, Jimmy Cowden. We also get some shout outs from the church I spoke at over our anniversary weekend.

This episode is best watched on our youtube channel. @forgivenfelon

To buy Forgiven Felons merchandise visit 

forgivenfelons.org/shop

To wrap up the Laws of Growth series, Jay Dan and Tuan traveled to Atlanta to interview Mark Cole in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Studio.

Mark talks about leadership, defining moments, which laws of growth are the most challenging for him, how he got started in the company, and his struggles and victories since becoming CEO.

Thanks to John Maxwell, Mark Cole, Jake Decker, and Kimberly Whetsell for making all this possible.

Also big shout out to Tuan Nguyen for taking time out of his busy schedule, to invest in the lives of so many men and women behind the walls, by recording this series with us.

You can buy merchandise or learn more about Forgiven Felons at:

https://www.forgivenfelons.org/

This episode is optimized for video and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=rJJWw_lJD60z-nLt

In this episode, Jay Dan and Jessa start things off with announcements including graduation celebrations at the Kyle, Hilltop, and O'Daniel units, jokes, prayer requests, prison recipes, and sports.

Then we welcome Ron Adkins, from episode 4, back along with the Judge who handed him his five 99 year sentences. This is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Please like, share, and subscribe.

Let your loved ones in prison and jails know about our podcast on their tablets.

You can buy merchandise or learn more about Forgiven Felons at:

https://www.forgivenfelons.org/

This episode is optimized for video and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=rJJWw_lJD60z-nLt

We highlight some amazing murals done by four men at the Ellis unit and highlight a soccer game held at the Allred unit.

Then we sit down with John Earle and talk about his days as a professional football player and how he got into prison ministry.

You can buy merchandise or learn more about Forgiven Felons at:

https://www.forgivenfelons.org/

This episode is optimized for video and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=rJJWw_lJD60z-nLt

In this episode, after a quick devotion, Jay Dan sits down with the legend, Korn guitarist, Brian Welch.

They talk addiction, religion, family, forgiveness, and more. You do not want to miss this episode. If you have a loved one in prison, let them know they can watch on the tablets through Pando App. If they're in jail with NCIC tablets, they can watch through a special channel.

Thank you Brian, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to hang with us and share your story to the inmate population across the nation.

For Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise visit our store: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop

This episode is optimized for video and you can watch on our YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=XBmGXRYfXeNxzhC6

Law of Growth Series for the inmates.  

We put this series on our channel because some inmates want to continue the series when they get out. We talk about the Law of the Rubberband from John Maxwell's book 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.

Jay Dan meets of guy, coming out of the bathroom at church, who listened to the podcast in prison. He talks with him.

We show the pictures of restricted inmates from building 12 on the Robertson unit getting baptized.

You can also watch this on our youtube channel @forgivenfelon

In this episode, Jessa nails the announcements, we do some shout outs to some ladies on life row in Florida, we talk sports, we read from mine and my mom's journals while I was in prison, and we do a devotional.  

Then we get into Richard and Ashanti's story including his past, how he got connected with TRM, how they met, and what all they are doing for the Kingdom of God today. It's truly incredible.

You can visit them at https://www.trmsouthdallas.org/ and

https://www.trmsouthdallas.org/the-well

Follow them on social media too.

facebook.com/trmdallas

Our interview with Pam Theroe from EWOP, Empowering Women Out of Prison. 

You can watch this video on our youtube channel.

https://youtu.be/RlnutnIAVYs?si=cK0C6BEv-LpzFGqr