Summary

SummaryI never imagined that behind cold bars I would find God’s warmest embrace. When Mary greeted me in that Missouri federal prison, my heart was stone-cold—bitter, angry, unwilling to believe. Yet her simple words, ‘It was good to see you in church on Sunday, John,’ haunted me until I returned to apologize. She asked if I believe in God, and though I scoffed, something stirred in me that night.

The next morning, still feeling the weight of my own vow—to never shed another tear—I knelt and prayed, ‘God, I have no hope and no help; it’s all up to You.’ As I whispered ‘Savior,’ a storm raged outside, masking my tears, and I felt my stone heart crack. From that moment, God’s promise in Ezekiel 36 came alive in me—I was washed, renewed, reborn.

Through small-group discipleship, Christmas-Eve visits, spiritual mentoring, and Mary’s unwavering friendship, I learned to walk in faith beyond prison walls. Forty-one years later, we stand married by His grace—a diamond in the rough polished by His love. 🙏💖

John and Mary met in a Missouri federal prison, where she served as a Christian volunteer and school teacher, and he was an inmate serving a 25 year sentence. Now married for more than 40 years, they share the story of God’s redemption, and how they discovered love where they least expected it.

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Time Chapters
 
01:10 First encounter with Mary
02:05 My apology in the Learning Center
07:05 Mary’s ultimatum: accept or reject Christ
08:05 Prayer of surrender and salvation
09:40 Realizing God gave me a new heart
13:42 Forming a small discipleship group
17:20 Deciding to marry by elders’ guidance
18:45 Wedding celebration and Psalm 118:23
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Snapshot Testimony
Snapshot Testimony is a short feature and podcast on Moody Radio. Through interviews and storytelling, host Ally Domercant brings listeners inside the unique moments when a life is transformed by the power of Christ. Whether it's an unmistakable answer to prayer, the comforting whisper of the Holy Spirit, or the unforgettable day of salvation, we all have pivotal moments when the hand of the Lord is obvious and personal. These stories are the snapshots that make up a life of faith.   
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